I Chronicles 28:1-19 - David's Final Charge to Israel

I Chronicles 28:1-19

So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God in order that you may possess the good land and bequeath it to your sons after you forever (verse 8). 

Message: David's Final Charge to Israel

Time: 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and focuses on David's reign though doesn't repeat David's sin with Bathsheba. It was written in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah or 538-333 BC while the Jews were dispersed throughout Persia, some having returned from Israel. The book lists genealogies, pr+iests, Levites, armies, temple officials, and other leaders of various ministries and devotes significant attention to proper worship of Yahweh and adherence to the regulations of the Law. It focuses on obedience that results in God’s blessing, the priority of the temple and priesthood, and the unconditional promises to the house of David.

What the Lord is Saying: David is dying and at the end of his life Solomon is now beginning to build the temple after David has started gathering the supplies and items to be included in the build. 

David assembles all of the leaders of Israel, including tribe leaders, commanders, those overseeing property and livestock. He mentions that God called him and his people to build a home for the ark , a house for His name, yet he would not build it but his son Solomon. This came from the Lord. "His kingdom forever for those that perform God's commandments and ordinances." Blessings occur from obedience. This is the covenant relationship established by God. Our works do not earn God's acceptance but our faithfulness to his commands is done to ensure God's continued blessings. True discipleship is marked by obedience in learning to do all that God commands though I have always approached this as doing so because we want to be faithful to Him because of His great love for us. Even as I read and study Proverbs, living in righteousness yields good outcomes. Thus, in verse 8 of this chapter, "seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God so that you may possess the good land." Deuteronomy 6:17, "You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His provisions and His statutes which He has commanded you." We need to be serious always about keeping God's laws. 

David also speaks directly to Solomon and tells him to (1) know God and (2) Serve Him wholeheartedly. This is our way of life and what we need to desire. I will go to church tomorrow and my ambition in church should be to know Him. I serve Him by serving others and I am struggling right now in this regard. I am 58 now and feel like I am struggling with working and serving others in the church. My ability to do numerous priorities daily is getting harder. I am spending time in His word and enjoying knowing Him but finding that my service of God is waning. David also tells Solomon to know and serve "with a willing mind." This suggests eagerness and readiness. I feel like I need to blot out distractions. Verse 9 is a great verse. "Be courageous and act." 

Next David gives more detailed instructions regarding the temple. The porch or the entrance from the secular to the sacred. Churches most often call this the foyer but it is there before one enters the sanctuary. He explained its buildings designed to facilitate worship; supply rooms or storehouses; upper rooms for prayer and meditation; the mercy seat or atoning cover where the priests sprinkled the blood once a year for atonement. These plans reflected God's plans for the house of the Lord. 

There are specific instructions for worship. There are divisions in the worship process in order to make sure that worship is done in an orderly fashion. David isn't only providing Solomon the individuals but he is also now laying out the specifics of the material that is being used for construction. Each lampstand is mentioned as it is the light in the temple. It is a critical part of the temple obviously, its placement and how it is constructed. My understanding comes from here. Verse 16 mentions, "The table of showbread, also known as the table of the Presence, was a sacred piece of furniture in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, where twelve loaves of bread were placed as an offering to God, representing the twelve tribes of Israel." The placement of the cherubim overhangs the ark of the covenant and its details are mentioned. 

Summary: David commissions Solomon to build the temple, to trust God, be obedient to His commands and gives him detailed instructions on the inside building of the temple and its attributes. 

Promise: Pay close attention to God's words and his instructions. 

Prayer: Lord, give me strength. Lord, I want to know You and want to serve You but I admit getting busy and procrastinating and not getting after it at times. But I need to simply try. Like with the men of the art of marriage class. You gave me a charge to spend time with them and perhaps get them involved regularly with other men in prayer and encouragement. I need to follow up with them. Help me to make this happen. Just as the Lord chose Solomon to build a temple, it seems Your Spirit pressed upon me to get these men involved in small groups. Help me to be courageous and act. Courage is something I need Lord. 

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

TABLETALK - April 2019

2019 looks at the history of Old Testament Israel showing that the failures and successes of the Israelites led to the coming of Jesus, the Savior who redeems us from sin and empowers us by His Spirit to bear spiritual fruit in obedience to Him. 

January 2019 (October 25, 2024 - January 23, 2025) - Joshua 1-14 - How the Lord brought Israelites into Canaan

February 2019 (January 24, 2025 - July 6, 2025) - Joshua 15 to Judges 11 - God calls his people to finish driving out the inhabitants of Canaan, but they fail. God disciplines them and saves them from destruction. 

March 2019 (July 7, 2025 - August 24, 2025) - Judges 12 to I Samuel 1 - God's people may fall into great sin, but there is always a righteous remnant. 

April 2019 (August 25, 2025 - January 20, 2026) - I Samuel 2 to I Samuel 17 - Israel transitions from the eras of the judges to the monarchy. And also see Israel's ongoing conflict with the Philistines. 

I Samuel 2 - Hannah's Song and Eli's Sons - Hannah praises God and then there is the contrast of Eli's sons who are worthless and do not follow the Lord compared to Samuel that is dedicated to the Lord for service. 

I Samuel 3:1 - 4:1 - The Lord Calls Samuel - Samuel, unlike Eli’s sons, is growing with the Lord God, as a prophet, and bringing God’s word to Israel. 

I Samuel 4:12-22 - The Glory Departs from Israel - Eli, after 40 years as judge, dies after hearing his sons have died, Israel has been defeated and the ark is taken by Philistines. Phinehas wife has a son, Ichabad meaning, "The Glory Departs from Israel." 

I Samuel 5 - Yahweh Versus Dagon - The Philistines took the ark to Dagon, their god as a sort of victory but Yahweh conquers Dagon and other cities for possessing the ark of God. 

I Samuel 6 - The Ark Returns to Israel - The Philistines turn over the ark, directed to by making a guilt offering of tumors and mice and it is received by offerings from the people as well. 

I Samuel 7 - Israel Puts Away Foreign Gods - Samuel leads the people to restoration from the hand of the Philistines. The people respond by putting away their foreign Gods and Samuel removes the evil, restores the good and God responds and makes a way for victory against the Philistines. 

I Samuel 8 - Israel Sinfully Demands a King - At the end of Samuel's life, the people want a new king of their own doing. God provides a king through Samuel, not giving them what they need, but what they want. 

I Samuel 9:1-2 - Saul, Son of Kish - God gives the people what they want in a leader - Saul - tall and handsome. 

I Samuel 9:3-27 - Samuel Meets Saul - Saul's father lost donkeys and sent Saul to find them. He ends up in a city and is led to a seer which is Samuel who is there to give a special word from the Lord to Saul.

I Samuel 10:1-16 - The Anointing of Saul - Samuel anoints Saul with oil as Saul is still to do the will of God in humble reliance on the Spirit of God. But given the opportunity to testify of God's work, Saul hides it. 

I Samuel 10:17-27 - A King in Hiding - Saul had been chosen by God and presented before the people and yet at this choosing, Saul cannot be found and appears to be hiding.

I Samuel 11 - Saul's Initial Witness - Saul experiences success in rallying a large contingent of people throughout Israel to defeat the Ammonites at Jabesh-Gilead and then is crowned king in Gilgal. 

I Samuel 12 - Hope for Israel - Samuel gives a beautiful summary of our life - we are to serve the Lord with all of our heart. We are the people of God. 

I Samuel 13 - God Rejects Saul's Kingdom - Saul is to wait 7 days for Samuel as the Philistines are approaching him in battle, but he does not and offers sacrifices himself, with the result that the Lord rejected Saul's kingdom. 

I Samuel 14:1-23 - Jonathan Defeats the Philistines - The people had in Saul the king they wanted and yet despite being called by God, anointed and set apart as king, in this instance it was his son that initiated the defeat of the Philistines. 

I Samuel 14:24-46 - Saul's Growing Alienation - Saul goes back and forth between his own way and seeking the Lord. He has to be reminded to speak to the Lord prior to making a decision. His decisions cause trouble among many. 

I Samuel 14:45-15:9 - Military Victories and Spiritual Loss - An overview of the victories Saul has been involved in is given and he is commissioned by Samuel to eradicate the Amalekites, he almost does it complete, but makes a few adjustments to fit his liking. 

I Samuel 15:10-35 - The Importance of Obedience - Saul gets told that the Lord regretted making Him king because he lacked complete obedience. 

I Samuel 16:1-13 - The Anointing of David - After Saul, the Lord shows Samuel perhaps an unlikely successor for king in David, as someone chosen by God and seen by God in His way.

I Samuel 16:14-23 - David's Ministry to Saul - David has been chosen, but for now he will play his harp, making Saul well in his court, after being terrorized by an evil spirit that God allows. 

I Samuel 17:1-37 - The Threat of Goliath - The Philistines have come to do battle and Goliath challenges anyone to fight him with the winner resulting in those people serving the other. David in coming to provide food for his brothers declares confidence that he can defeat Goliath because of God. 

Theology of the Cross - Buck Parsons - Satan is set on trying to destroy us and getting us to lose the astonishment of Christ and Him crucified. If we don't talk about the cross, then we don't talk of sin, the wrath of God, the holiness of God and God's eternal condemnation in hell of all those who do not repent at the foot of the cross. In the cross, we truly grasp the love of God for sinners. 

Federal Headship - Guy Prentiss Waters - I have studied this idea before through my time in Romans. I looked back at an entry I did in 2014 where I contrasted the notion that in life people are good versus the declaration in Romans that none are righteous. Then in 2020 when I was studying Romans, I looked at Romans 3 again. This time though mentioning that Romans 2 and 3 was Paul speaking to the Jew and letting them know that although they had a special status of being a Jew, this identification or status did not excuse their sin. As such in this article, Guy Waters echoes Romans 3:9 and the assertion that "with the exception of Jesus Christ, every human is by nature unrighteous, guilty, and worth of death." This idea of headship I believe is the premise that as men and women now we have inherited a condition or been imputed a condition and that is traced back to Adam. Adam is "the first man" and Jesus is "the last Adam" (I Corinthians 15:45). As such "every human being in every time and place...stands in representative relation either to Adam or to Jesus (I Cor. 15:47-49). The represented which I and every other human being is as well possesses the same as the representative. In Romans 5:19 the word "made" is more precisely "appointed." Waters states, "those whom Adam represents belong to a new legal category (sinners) and because of Jesus' obedience His people are granted entrance into a new legal category (righteous). [But there is a difference that this article does not mention at first glance. Jesus' obedience grants people the opportunity to enter the state of righteousness through faith alone. We are all legally sinners but we are not all legally righteous. The access of the righteousness is through faith. Thus, in Romans and elsewhere is the distinction of people being "in Christ."] Just as our legal status as sinners is imputed to us with no work of our own, our position "in Christ" is also imputed to us through no work of our own. That we are sinners is sort of "not fair" and that we are made righteous is sort of "not fair." The result is Jesus is just and we are justified from Him by our faith in Him (Romans 3:26). Our response now is to praise Him for what He has done and point others to Him for what He can do in them.  

The Twofold Obedience of Christ - Gregory K. Beale - What is the meaning of our union with Christ? In speaking of the imputation of Christ's righteousness we go to I Cor. 1:30, "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption." We share in these attributes, but we do not have the same as Christ possesses, but rather these godly traits have a beginning in us and they are increasingly characterized in us. That Christ has been redeemed refers to His deliverance from death and liberation from the bondage to the powers of Satan in the resurrection rather than the release from sin. As people we do not boast of our own ability here, but of the benefits resulting from our representation by Christ. 

Fighting for the Prize - Dr. Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer - As a Christian, we are at war with sin. While we want to give up at times, eternal life is the goal through God's grace and saving faith. Keep going. It is worth it. This eternal life is experienced also in the present. It is difficult. It is not meant to be easy. We persevere because He is worthy - "Worthy is the Lamb (Rev. 5:12)." He is God's son, humbling himself to be raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God and one day to judge the World. Keep fighting for Him. Lord, help me in this to keep fighting for You. Stay at the forefront of my mind. Don't let me get distracted by everything else going on in this world and even my life. Keep the main thing, the main thing. 

The Unchurched - Augustus Lopes - Lord God, there are many Christians that are not present in church and I wish they were. They are trying to find God outside of the church. Lord, you established your church and all are to have community, despite that there is no perfect church. Lord, I thank you for being a part of group where I am taught, corrected, admonished, and confirmed and when I stray, rebuked. Your Holy Spirit is the one usually doing this work as people I think struggle, even me, from taking these bold stances. The Church is necessary. Throughout Scripture you show us this with the vine and the branches (John 15), compared to the head and the body (Eph. 1:22-23), a husband and wife (5:22-33), and house and stone on which it is built (I Peter 2:4-8). The church has been present throughout the ages, establishing creeds, and the words of the Bible. I am to continue to make it work. Communion is needed in the company of a church. Lord, we need this accountability. I thank you for the Holy Spirit speaking in our lives, and pray that people would get back to church and accept the accountability and teaching and guidance it offers. 

I Samuel 15:10-35 - The Importance of Obedience

I Samuel 15:10-35

22 Samuel said,

“Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice,

[And] to pay attention is [better] than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is [as reprehensible] as the sin of divination,

And insubordination is [as reprehensible] as false religion and idolatry.

Since you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He has also rejected you from [being] king.”

(v. 22-23)

Message: The Importance of Obedience

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: In Chapter 15, Samuel tells Saul that the Lord had sent him to say to Saul that he should punish the Amalekites for the evil oppression they did toward Israel. Saul sets out to do this, but he doesn't do all that the Lord says and spares Kenites and the King Agag. 

Once again, in verse 10, "the word of the Lord came to Samuel" and he was regretting Saul as king because he "has not carried out My commands." All must be obeyed not partially. Partial obedience is seen as no obedience. This is hard and tough but even a little sin or Jesus would say, "a little leaven leavens or spoils the whole lump (I Corinthians 5:6)." We need to be about complete obedience. 

But in verse 13, Samuel believes he has been obedient and tells Saul as much. And yet the animals that he has spared in conquering the Amalekites are crying out, basically showing him something is wrong (v. 14). Saul in sparing them now says it is for the purpose "to sacrifice to the Lord your God. (v. 15)" 

Saul reviews with Samuel what has occurred up to this point. "The Lord anointed You king over Israel (v.17)." "And the Lord sent you on a mission...and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites (v.18)." So why did he spare some spoil (v.19)? 

Saul once again thinks he has done right (v.20). In verse 21-23 Samuel declares before Saul "to obey is better than sacrifice" and he tells Saul that "rebellion is as the sin of divination." In other words, we can't be partial in our obedience. Then Saul comes back and while he says he has sinned in verse 24 he brings up the people once again, shifting the blame to them, rather than completely on himself. He asks for a pardon.

Samuel said to Saul, "No." As Samuel is leaving, Saul seizes the edge of his robe. Saul pronounces this as a sign in that "the Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel (v. 28)." 

Samuel judges Agag and hewed him to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal (v. 33). "Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel (v. 35)."  

I can’t help myself but to have some sympathy for Saul, because in the way, he thought he was being obedient. But Samuel states that because he compromised that therefore his obedience was incomplete and therefore any good that Saul thought he had done was not seen. I suppose it is a good reminder of our need for grace and redemption. We are too often trained in the idea that we are expecting God to grade us on a curve. 

It still seems like, though the Lord regretted it, just as he sort of regretted mankind in sending Noah to lead a flood of the world that soul was still chosen of the Lord. Yes, our evil ways or a disappointment, clearly. Obedience or disobedience, does not make us more worthy or less worthy. God chooses his people and such as people on high because of that choice.

Summary: Saul gets told that the Lord regretted making Him king because he lacked complete obedience. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "Going through the motions—even if they are the right motions—is insufficient to fully please the Lord. He does not want our sacrifices if we do not intend to obey Him in other matters."

Prayer: God, I must admit, this is a tough lesson of obedience, maybe because of how I've been trained, on the curve and to do the best I can, but the bottom line is your grace covers me. I just wonder if it covered Saul. I have to think it did because you did work through Him. And maybe like him you have regrets about me. I suppose I have those regrets as well. Glory be to God for your mercy and love. For loving me always. And still bringing me to be together with you forever in paradise. 

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

Joshua 5:1-12 - Israel Obeys the Covenant

Joshua 5:1-12

verse 1, "their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them."

verse 5, "for all the people that came out were circumcised."

verse 9, "I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you."

verse 10, "they observed the Passover."

verse 12, "the manna ceased." 

Message: Israel Obeys the Covenant

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: I get sidetracked often in the morning, working on other things at times, rather than diving back into the Word. I spend time journaling and right now been talking to LDS missionaries and so reading up on that and thinking about what I might say to them. I get up later at times and don't focus myself on the Word. Today, I come back to my study of Joshua, having not really focused on it over the past 5 days. 

I was actually talking to a friend about this the other day and he commented and wondered why this book isn't a bigger deal. There is a lot of focus on Moses, but maybe not as much on Joshua. And yet he took Israel to the promised land (Canaan) after Moses passed away. Like Moses, a sea was divided or parted, this time the Jordan river. I think a common theme so far in these writings is the simple idea that God is with us, at least here God was providing his assurance to his people that he was there. I read that in the devotional and I think that got me off on the tangent of thinking about the lesson given in Sunday School two days ago by Dave Pitcher, a retired doctor in our class that is going to seminary but sounds like he has already gone. He is very astute and passionate about reading this Word and studying it. And maybe I realized for a moment that his message on Sunday, though a little hard to grasp, was basically another testament to that idea - God is with us. That this word of God that we read so casually each day is in fact very robust and clearly a divine book. It is deeper and wider than we could ever imagine. 

I get lost sometimes by our current teacher - Rob and what he gives us sometimes each Sunday - it is a lot of information and it amazes me also how he can glean so much from God's word. Maybe I get overwhelmed each week by all that is said. It is my nature to want to dive into all of it. I so appreciate the community of church and the people in the class and getting to know people and where they are at in their journey. 

Chapter 5 - verse 1 - the kings of the Amorites and kings of Canaanites heard about the Lord drying up the waters of the Jordan for the Israelites and their hearts melted and they had no spirit in them any longer. 

In the Joseph Benson (1748-1821) commentary, on this he says - "This (hearts melted and no spirit in them) did not happen without God’s special providence, that the Israelites might quietly participate of the two great sacraments of their church, circumcision and the Passover, and thereby be prepared for their high and hard work, and for the possession of the holy and promised land; which would have been defiled by an uncircumcised people."

This verse has meaning. People were impacted by this parting of the water. It went beyond simply impacting Israel. The work of God impacted others. They lost all courage. These people groups had terror and shock and amazement - to see what God could do and to see what he has done.  

The Israelites and Joshua have crossed the Jordan. From the last chapter in verse 19 they are camped at Gilgal, on the eastern edge of Jericho. This is confirmed in verse 10 of chapter 5. The Lord speaks to Joshua and tells him to circumcise the sons of Israel that have not yet been circumcised. The comment of "the second time (v.2) " does not mean men are circumcised a second time, but rather there is a second ceremony of circumcision taking place with those young men who were born in the wilderness and then came out of Egypt (v.4). Their fathers and other men had died coming through the wilderness. These are the children God has raised up in their place (v. 7). So they were circumcised and then remained their to be healed from that act. 

And in verse 9, the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Interesting choice of words - "rolled away." That phrase makes me think of Jesus, buried in the tomb, and the stone was rolled away. It seems something similar here in that by commanding the act of circumcision, the Lord is stating his commitment to the sons of Israel, that He is with them. And they are special and distinct. God had restored his covenant or promise to them. There obviously was some doubt and the Egyptians had made the people think at various times there was question of God keeping his promises. 

In Exodus 32:11-14 is the idea from Moses to the Lord that the Lord was somehow mad at his people of Israel. The Egyptians were speaking with the idea that God had left his people, as people were killed in the wilderness though Joshua 5:6 says they "perished because they did not listen to the voice of the Lord." But still there was that feeling that God had left them and so the Lord pleads with God to change His mind. I think this is what it looks like to us at times that God is wallowing back and forth between blessing his people and not blessing them. 

David writes of this in Psalm 106:45, "He remembered His covenant for their sake, and relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness." This is the way we see it. We say that God remembered, but I don't think God ever forgets but we see it this way about Him. I think what we don't understand is God's entire purpose and so we say words about God so that it makes sense to us. 

Numbers 14:13-16 is another passage that speaks of the Egyptians thinking that God rescued his people but then they were slaughtered in the wilderness and so God could not bring this people into the land he had promised them (v. 16). Thus, there is a reproach by Egypt as spoken in verse 9 of Joshua 5. This passage speaks of that idea that God is over them, going before them in a pillar cloud by day and a pillar fire by night and yet somehow won't be fulfilling His promises. This is what the Egyptians think. 

Deuteronomy 9:25-29 is Moses again falling before the Lord, now for 40 days and nights imploring God to not destroy His people. His destruction was God telling them they would be punished for their sin (Exodus 32:34). If not, the land (of Egypt) will say God could not do this work of blessing His people. 

 God promises a land to His people - and blessings to His descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). And God will always come back to this. Yes, His people will turn their back from him and because of this there will be consequences but He gave a promise to Abraham and that promise will be made. We can bank on this. The Egyptians and many others will think it is not so, but God will be with His people and He will bless them. 

In verse 10 of Joshua 5, after this circumcision came the Passover. This is the 3rd Passover. The first two were kept under Moses—(1) in Egypt, when the Lord delivered them; (2) the second at Sinai, when He had “brought them unto Himself.” (3) The third is on the other side Jordan under Joshua. Circumcision was necessary prior to the Passover. Just as today we say that a person must make a commitment to the Lord, have an inner change of their life prior to partaking of the sacrament, the Lord's Supper. 

Then in verse 12, "the manna ceased." From a search on the web it says, "manna is a food that God provided to the Israelites during their 40-year journey in the desert after leaving Egypt. It was described as a white, powdery substance that fell like hoar frost at night. Exodus 16:31 says that manna tasted like wafers made with honey and was similar in size to a coriander seed." Manna would no longer be needed. It was needed for a time, while Israel was in the wilderness. He provided it but now it is no longer needed. 

Summary: The people of the land of Canaan are amazed at God's provision. The sons of Israel are circumcised and Passover is held for the 3rd time and then the manna ceases to be provided by God. 

Promise: Outward acts of obedience like circumcision and baptism are important, but it doesn't prove genuine faith. Faith must be present and obedience naturally follows. 

Prayer: Lord, it has taken me some time to read through this text. I do other things at times, but after taking time to really study it, I am amazed at its teaching and how you provided for the people of Israel and you kept your promises. Lord, your Word confirms that You are sovereign. You are in charge. And you are leading your people to promised lands, blessing people in the process. Lord, it seems throughout scripture and these lessons You are doing things and speaking to people and providing yourself and we are questioning at times, choosing our own solutions to situations rather than submitting to You. And You continue to show that you are real, like with Israel and the parting of waters and we can celebrate this and respond with obedience while You continue us on the journey. On this earth, that journey is to the places you provide for us. Beyond this earth, it is living with you forever. Lord, help me to keep trusting in You and believing in You and following Your ways, looking for opportunities to come alongside others and help them understand what you show me through Your word. I am a witness and it is good to be a witness and talk to others along the way. Many don't believe this and many others have different ways to You. Keep me close to You and Your word and thank You Spirit for continuing to teach me, I believe in Your ways. 

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

Joshua 1:10-18 - Israel Accepts Joshua's Command

Joshua 1:10-18

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it.’”

12 To the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God gives you rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”

Message: Israel Accepts Joshua's Commands

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: After Joshua has received words of encouragement from the Lord to be strong and courageous and to know that the Lord is with him, he gives charge to the officers of the people to speak to the people and prepare them to cross the Jordan in 3 days time. 

Joshua speaks to those of the 12 tribes, but gives words first to convey that the land has been given to them and so it is there's. "Prepare yourselves...to go in to possess the land." The land is given to them by the Lord. But he then later also tells them they need to prepare for a battle: "you shall cross before your brothers in battle array." 

After Joshua gives them the charge, they respond. People did not and do not always respond in obedience and it is necessary and needed to explain when they do. "All that you have commanded us we will do." It is also interesting to me that they state, "Just as we obeyed Moses in all things" when actually I remember they did not always obey Moses. More recently, there was obedience to Moses and so perhaps these people are referring to themselves only and their recent obedience and yet previous generations had not been as obedient. 

Summary: Joshua commands the people to prepare to cross the Jordan and possess Canaan. The people respond in obedience to his words. 

Promise: We are to be subject to the leaders God has called and support them in their work. 

Prayer: God, you have given me leaders and I need to obey them. I admit, I have not always. I have questioned often. Give me discernment always in the right way to go, in upholding your truths. Thank you your great love and giving the example of Joshua and those that were obedient to His words. 

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

John 15:14-17 - Friends of the Savior

John 15:14-17

14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another. 

Message: Friends of the Savior

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 continues this long discourse with his disciples. I am taking these words slow, breaking them apart, and yet this is a discourse that is not lasting long in time, though Jesus is speaking a lot. A lot of what I have read and see in these words are words of comfort and encouragement that Jesus is sharing with His disciples. But there are also words of responsibilities we have as believers and followers. 

I use the devotional Tabletalk, a ministry of Ligonier, to guide me through these lessons. It is interesting because I have seen recently in the lessons that speak of commands and appear to give these conditional statements like today in verse 14, "If you do what I command you" and verse 7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you" and verse 4-6, "Abide in Me, and I in you" to bear fruit or Jesus will cast us out -- as those conditional statements are made, Tabletalk makes a point to say - now don't think these statements are conditional. I don't necessarily disagree with this, though I find it interesting that these statements must be made because it tells me there is potential for misunderstanding. 

And yet on a high level, Jesus is communicating a responsibility that believers have living in Christ. There is a responsibility they have with themselves towards Christ, with how they relate to others, and even the world at large which I will get to later. 

In this passage, Jesus says we are His friends, but says we are to do what He commands as He has previously mentioned the importance of keeping His commandments (v.10) and that the commandment is to love one another (v.12).  We are friends, not slaves any longer. And Jesus speaks of the special-ness or the intimacy that we now have with Him as His friends knowing what He is doing. Jesus receives from the Father and has shared with us. We are close to Him. 

Then in verse 16 and 17 is another summary that Jesus gives and these words do make us think those previous words that appear to be conditional are not. He says, "I chose you." We did not choose Him. This is correct. He called the disciples, the followers of Him and they responded, but Jesus did the choosing. And with that choosing is a task to go and bear fruit. I've been remembering the words of God in Genesis 1:28 when God says to Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth." God created and God called. He says He chose us to bear fruit. That we are to ask of Him so that He will provide. He wants to provide. Again He says, "Love one another." Here it is again - (1) Believe, (2) Ask, (3) Obey, (4) The Helper helps and maybe I could add to love one another but I think that is part of obedience. 

Summary: We are Jesus' friend, no longer slaves. He chose us to bear fruit, and we can ask Him in His name and He will give it. We are to love one another. 

Promise: Though we are friends with Jesus, we still receive commands from Him that we are to obey. 

Prayer: Lord, you have called me your friend, choosing me, being transparent with me by telling me what You have done and done for me and will do. Thank you God for your honesty toward me and helping me throughout my days and my life. You keep me close to You always. Give me that strength to love one another and encourage them always to live for You. 

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

John 14:21-24 - The Indwelling of the Father and the Son

John 14:21-24

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me, and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him. 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world? 23 Jesus answered and said to Him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. 

Message: The Indwelling of the Father and 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: Ever since John 13:31 I have seen Jesus talking about (1) Believe, (2) Pray, (3) Love or Obey, (4) He (Holy Spirit) will help. Now I don't believe obey is necessary for salvation as I think consistently I see Jesus speaking about believing in Him and through that trust in Him alone a person will have eternal life. The idea of Him being living water is He lives in us and works through us. I believe the Bible teaches salvation by grace throughout the entire book. Others talk about ages and that God saves in different ways at different periods of time, but I think our scripture is consistent that only God saves. God definitely wants people that are obedient to Him but this is not a condition for our salvation ever but always a confirmation. And let's face it, life is better for us when we are obedient. 

In Verse 21, Jesus remarks our need to keep the commandments. Again, keeping commandments like He says, "he it is who loves Me." We love him and so we keep His commandments. But verse 21 at first is a interesting progressing -- "Keep commandments - Show your love for Jesus - if loved by Jesus you are loved by the Father - and Jesus will love you - and will disclose Himself to you." So here is this idea keeping commandments has a result of Jesus loving us. 

Now we have another disciple asking Jesus questions. Interesting - Peter, Thomas, Philip, and now Judas. I find it interesting that John is providing all of these different disciples with their questions. Judas wonders in verse 23 about the words that Jesus mentioned of disclosing Himself. I must admit, if I were there, I would probably be asking the same thing. "Disclosing seems like an interesting word." 

Jesus responds by repeating somewhat the words of verse 21 but adding a word, "Abode." The idea seems to be love Him and do His commandments and Father/Jesus will set up an abode with that person. Conversely, if you don't love Him you don't keep His words. 

It seems the onus on these words is our love for the Father. That seems to be the focus here - that we need to focus on our love for God rather than thinking it is a tit for tat: I do this, he does that. 

But when we do the commands - God's love is guaranteed and this love is both from the Father and the Son. Obedience does not result only in God's acceptance, but God and His Son's acceptance. Again, as Jesus has stated many other times, the Son and the Father are together in their mission. Prior to being obedient to the commands is the giving of the Spirit of God, so that in our obedience we have the Spirit in us. The Spirit is working in us and through us and this is our obedience as we surrender to Him. 

The disclosing of Jesus to us perhaps is an allusion to the relationship between our obedience and His operation in us. Our obedience intensifies our relationship with Him. We will know Him more as we obey Him more. 

Summary: Disciples are to love Jesus and in the process, Jesus will disclose Himself to us, the Father and the Son, growing in closeness to God. 

Promise: If we are not seeking to grow in conformity to Christ, we should not expect to grow in the deeper things of God.

Prayer: Lord God, you are great and wonderful and thank you for the privilege of knowing You better as we grow in Your word and You. How awesome that you reveal yourself to us. 

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 3:36 - Believing in and Obeying the Son

John 3:36

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Message: Believing In and Obeying 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: This chapter is beginning to come to a close and it is chapter full of a lot that we hold dear in the faith. Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus still boggles my mind into thinking about the fact that to be born again happens by being "born of the Spirit (v. 8)." And the turning point in each person being born again is they are allowing their sin to be exposed to God (v. 20 - For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed). I don't know it is an amazing turn of the events for me. As people of God, it remains central to me that the difference between the follower and the non-follower is really recognizing our sin and our distance from God because of it. And yet what changes our condition is the Spirit of God working in us. And the reality is that Jesus is God in the flesh. God has given Jesus everything, the fullness of the Spirit (v. 34), speaking the words of God (v. 34) as God gives Jesus all things (v. 35). It is about Him increasing (v. 30) and conversely I decrease.  

And now it is the crescendo of the passage, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life." Stated again, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life." And yet, we have seen that mere belief is not enough. The turning tide of every Christian is His obedience. "he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." A Christian works. We are created in Christ Jesus for "Good works. (Eph. 2:10)" We are to be about these deeds. Our life must change if we are truly in Christ; we must be a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). 

O God, in my life I just think of these people in my life that are lost and even those that are engulfed in a religion in which it seems to be so complicated in the deeds it expects from its flock. I think of the man the other day that is engulfed in Mormonism and I've spoken to so many like him. They are on this course that is not to glorify only God and live only for Jesus. Rescue him. Rescue. Awaken your spirit in my son Derek, in my Dad. Bring them into the life of Jesus and knowing Him as Savior and Lord. It is the only way. It is the only way. There is no greater joy knowing You and yet there is no greater angst and hurt than those who don't know you. I find that I want there to be something that saves them. Lord, I love your gospel and I must admit God, I hate it at the same time. I love you have saved me, but it hurts that others are taking a different course. I keep wanting their to be a different answer and yet it all comes down to you Jesus and the Spirit of God changing people's lives. O how I heart for these people that train themselves daily in the things of the flesh, steering their lives more and more away from submitting to God to submitting to self. They are becoming hardened, captured away from You God. Turn the tide God. Turn the tide in people's lives. 

Summary: It's simple and profound, the Spirit draws us, we believe in Jesus, and we obey. All are needed. All must happen. 

Promise: We must urge people to repent and believe today when we give them the gospel.

Prayer: O God, I've said it and I will continue to say. Knowing You is not because of me, but because of You. You get all the glory. You've given me eternal life. Help me to keep on getting out of the way and keep on remembering my sin and training myself for Godliness. 

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

Ephesians 6:1-4 - The Vocation of Parents and Children

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Message: The Vocation of Parents and Children

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: Each believer, each follower of Jesus, is commissioned to have a vocation. In one of the first foundational messages for this series of lessons on vocation, I looked at I Peter 2:9 where each of us is set aside--like the priest of Israel was--to serve the Lord. All of us. As today's passage mentions, both children and adults have a vocation in their positions, in their roles. 

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." He quotes the 5th commandment - Exodus 20:12 -- “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you." (Also repeated in Deuteronomy 5:16 - "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.") And yet in this obedience it is "in the Lord." Obedience is according to the Lord's ways so children are not to engage in sinful ways that the parents may lead. 

Why? Or rather, what will be the outcome? Life will be better for the child that obeys. Days will be prolonged. Life will be better for those who are obedient, but they also need to have parents that put forth Godly principles. 

And so also the parents have a role - "do not provoke your children to anger." I know I did not do a good job with this one. One of my bigger regrets in life is the anger I modeled and struggled with in my life while the kids were growing up and the anger that I then passed along and see displayed in them to this day. It is hard. I think I was ready to be a husband but not sure I knew how to be a father. I should have gotten more help in this. I missed out. My kids are only the way they are because hopefully they ignored me and they learned the opposite way. I made issues too big. I would rather have a do over. The words of Tabletalk mark my failure further - Don't set expectations on them they cannot fulfill. I tried. I set up rules, but only wanted 100% obedience. I think I was only doing things right when I was coaching them, but I never coached Tyson except for the 3v3. 

O God, make what I did wrong, right. I do know your mercy is key. 

Summary: Children are to obey parents and in the process their life will be better off. Parents are to not provoke their children to anger, setting reasonable expectations for them. 

Promise: Parents should strive to clearly communicate their expectations and make sure that these expectations are reasonable. 

Prayer: Lord, you know my failures. I see those failures in my memories and it pains me. I know there were good times, but I hate the memories of my toughness, my not smiling, my strange expectations. Heal me and heal those kids of mine. Help them stand up and take hold of the good memories. Lord, help my children be much better parents than I was. At least Lord, they know the wrong way. Thank you for the good parents you gave me and the great mom I had and the great provider my father was to me and the great love they always showed us. 

Romans 6:15-23 - The Antinomian Error

Romans 6:15-23 

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Message: The Antinomian Error 

Time: Paul wrote to Rome, a city he had never visited, from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57. He writes 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: Often we see the extremes in life. The Pharisees and much of our world believe that salvation or eternal life is earned instead of given and there are elaborate systems or rules that must be followed to earn this salvation. On the other end are those that accept grace but along the way believe it is completely a free gift and Christians can live however they want, for the law is in no way binding for believers. 

Today's passage makes it clear that in understanding the gospel is understanding that we are about obedience no matter what; it is never an option. Prior to Christ being in our lives we were slaves to sin. And now we are slaves to righteousness. It is actually an interesting paradigm shift that has occurred in our lives in that we remain slaves; our life and how it is lived takes on a different meaning. As a slave to sin we are a slave to perfect obedience in order to merit salvation. The fact that we do not live under grace means that all of our deeds are worthless before God because our sin is not excused or not paid for. In this framework these verses iterate that we are slaves to impurity and lawlessness resulting in greater lawlessness. Sin multiplies and continues and we need more sin as it feeds upon itself. As a slave to sin, righteousness is not even an option though. 

But now life is different and we have been freed from sin and freed from the penalty of sin, resulting in sanctification and eternal life. Our destiny is secure. We are free and free indeed. The wages of the gift of God now is eternal life. Before the wages of sin was death. 

Promise: By possessing saving faith there is now the desire to fulfill the commandments. We do so as a response to God's love and to please Him not looking to merit or earn salvation through our deeds. 

Prayer: O God thank you for the beauty of your Gospel message and I look to You continually God for salvation. It is in You. It is in Christ. Thank you for showing me at 14, just shy of 15, that there was nothing I could do to earn my way to eternal life and it is a free gift. You confirm this daily and the message never gets old. Help me to continue to be true to the reading of your word and applying it in the correct way, so as to bring you all of the glory. 

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.

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. 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.

My Utmost for His Highest - June 8th - What Next?

Determine to know more than others.  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. - John 13:17

    If you do not cut the moorings, God will have to break them by a storm and send you out. Launch all on God, go out on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and you will get your eyes open. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the smooth waters just inside the harbor bar, full of delight, but always moored; you have to get out through the harbor bar into the great deeps of God and begin to know for yourself, begin to have spiritual discernment.

    When you know you should do a thing, and do it, immediately you know more. Revise where you have become stodgy spiritually, and you will find it goes back to a point where there was something you knew you should do, but you did not do it because there seemed no immediate call to, and now you have no perception, no discernment; at a time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-possessed. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to go on knowing. 

    The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you work up occasions to sacrifice yourself; ardour is mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is a great deal better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. "To obey is better than sacrifice. (I Samuel 15:22)" Beware of harking back to what you were once when God wants you to be something you have never been. "If any man will do . . . he shall know. (John 7:17)" 

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

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My thoughts

Moorings - Lines that tie you to the dock. Don't stay in the safe place and never out on the water. Get out to the depths. Don't pause when told by God to do something. Don't plan on doing things for God; let God instruct you daily and then follow Him to do it. Knowing more is trusting more and doing more. 

Romans 1:16-17 - The Fruit of Faith

Romans 1:16-17 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Message: The Fruit of Faith

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying:

Faith clearly gets a bad rap, because it often is inferred that our faith is blind but it is not. We hold true to the evidence of God's word and the evidence of living rightly and seeing the benefits of right living and seeking first the Kingdom of God in our lives. The idea is very reasonable that I cannot save myself if God is holy and so therefore he expects our holiness to mirror His. And He is trustworthy and will do what He says and has shown this throughout history. 

And life is more rational and has a higher meaning. It is odd to me that once people know you are a Christian, the thought is a person must be perfect and have no sin. The fact that we understand sin does not though make us exempt from it; rather, we simple know it and know it's impact on our lives. 

Yet, with Christ in our lives it is true that we bear righteousness. As I've seen lately in my study the righteous person recognizes his need and is therefore a teachable person. They recognize something higher than them and they are more apt to obedience because they recognize their need to be different and submit to a creator's ways. 

Today's passage from Romans 1:16-17 stating that our obedience is not what declares us righteous as righteousness is not earned but is received by faith and once acknowledged this faith is confirmed throughout out life and moves us to greater and greater obedience. Every day we put our trust in Him. Every day when I seek Him First I am acknowledging my faith in Him and that faith is greater than anything else in my life. It takes first place. Other things take second, but each day that faith in Him takes first place. Each day my loyalty is to Him first as I pledge and live my life out to Him. 

And in turn He gives me a compassion for others and I am loyal to them and want the best for them. It means I trust in Him each day and I want to be obedient and keep my commitment to Him. And I want to keep my commitment to others. 

Promise: As I live by faith, I want to be more trustworthy to others. 

Prayer: Lord, I pray that I would be a trustworthy person always. Thank you Holy Spirit for quickening me always to live by faith each day and to put you number one in my life and let all other things in my life fall into place. Thank you for these lessons on faith and this past year of studying faith. It has taken me a while to get through these lessons and yet they have been rich and I am thankful for the consistency of Your word and its completeness. Help me to hold onto these truths. Lord, help me to be sensitive to sinners each day, as they look to themselves as truth and they are defining and redefining each day in them what is truth. Lord, help me to be a person that radiates truth and if I can point them to their sin and help them acknowledge it, direct me in this way. Thank you for your Law and that it radiates truth and speaks of obedience, but the complete obedience that is needed and reminds me every day of how much I need you because I can never be perfect. Yes, Lord, I need to be a person that keeps your Law but as a response to what you have done not as a condition to be accepted by You, because the only way for me to be justified is by Your Son Jesus. Jesus, you completed obedience as I was and am incapable of this. You have saved me simply out of Your kindness. It is only through you that I can be righteous and because of this I have a right and perfect relationship with You for all eternity. I am still a sinner, but because of your claim on My life You see me as righteous because of Jesus in me. Thank you for the simplicity of faith that sprung up in my life in 1982 and still lives in me today and has only gotten stronger and stronger. I am saved. By faith alone in Christ alone and will live for Christ alone. 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 26th - The Supreme Climb

He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” - Genesis 22:2

    Character determines how a man interprets God's will (cf. Psalm 18:25-26). Abraham interpreted God's command to mean that he had to kill his son, and he could only leave this tradition behind by the pain of a tremendous ordeal. God could purify his faith in no other way. If we obey what God says according to our sincere belief, God will break us from those traditions that misrepresent Him. There are many such beliefs to be got rid of, e.g., that God removes a child because the mother loves him too much--a devil's lie! and a travesty of the true nature of God. If the devil can hinder us from taking the supreme climb and getting rid of wrong traditions about God, he will do so; but if we keep true to God, God will take us through an ordeal which will bring us out into a better knowledge of Himself.

 
    The great point of Abraham's faith in God was that he was prepared to do anything for God. He was there to obey God, no matter to what belief he went contrary. Abraham was not a devotee of his convictions, or he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was the voice of the devil. That is the attitude of a fanatic. If you will remain true to God, God will lead you straight through every barrier into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself; but there is always this point of giving up convictions and traditional beliefs. Don't ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did --"I will do anything, I will go to death with Thee. (Luke 22:33)" Abraham did not make any such declaration, he remained true to God, and God purified his faith.

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

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

 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 15th - The Relapse of Concentration

But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days. - 2 Chronicles 15:17 

    Asa was incomplete in his external obedience, he was right in the main but not entirely right. Beware of the thing of which you say--"Oh, that does not matter much" (The fact that it does not matter much to you may mean that it matters a very great deal to God.) Nothing is a light matter with a child of God. How much longer are some of us going to keep God trying to teach us one thing? He never loses patience. You say--"I know I am right with God"; but still the "high places" remain, there is something over which you have not obeyed. Are you protesting that your heart is right with God, and yet is there something in your life about which He has caused you to doubt? Whenever there is doubt, quit immediately, no matter what it is. Nothing is a mere detail.

    Are there some things in connection with your bodily life, your intellectual life, upon which you are not concentrating at all? You are all right in the main but you are slipshod; there is a relapse on the line of concentration. You no more need a holiday from spiritual concentration than your heart needs a holiday from beating. You cannot have a moral holiday and remain moral, nor can you have a spiritual holiday and remain spiritual. God wants you to be entirely His, and this means that you have to watch to keep yourself fit. It takes a tremendous amount of time. Some of us expect to "clear the numberless ascensions" in about two minutes.

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

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

My Utmost for His Highest - March 28th - Isn't There Some Misunderstanding?

Then after this He *said to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.” The disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and yet You are going there again?” - John 11:7-8

I may not understand what Jesus Christ says, but it is dangerous to say that therefore He was mistaken in what He said. It is never right to think that my obedience to a word of God will bring dishonour to Jesus. the only thing that will bring dishonour is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honour in place of what He is plainly impelling me to do is never right, although it may arise from a real desire to prevent Him being put to open shame. I know when the proposition comes from God because of its quiet persistence; When I have to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate come in, I am bringing in an element that is not of God, and I come to the conclusion that the suggestion was not a right one. Many of us are loyal to our notions of Jesus Christ, but how many of us are loyal to Him? Loyalty to Jesus means I have to step out where I do not see anything (cf. Matthew 14:29); loyalty to my notions means that I clear the ground first by my intelligence. Faith is not intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I see no way.

Are you debating whether to take a step in faith in Jesus or to wait until you can see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with glad reckless joy. When He says something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a conception of His honour which is not His honour. Are you loyal to Jesus or loyal to your notion of Him? Are you loyal to what He says, or are you trying to compromise with conceptions which never came from Him? "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

Romans 4:1-5 - Faith and Righteousness

Romans 4:1-5

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh has found? For if Abraham was justified by works he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. 

Message: Faith and Righteousness

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying: 

I am not yet halfway through this month of studies on justification - how man is reconciled to God, accepted by God. Thus far in these studies I have seen that all people are sinners and their sin results in all people being guilty. And keeping laws only works if completely obedient to all otherwise the Law reminds us we are guilty. Jesus was always obedient. God gave us Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. We access this through faith. 

But, let's break this down even further. Because of sin, man has violated God's order and ways. Thus, we are lawbreakers. Lawbreakers incur a debt that must be paid. In life, serious lawbreakers incur the sentence of life imprisonment. Often there is a hope that an inward transformation will occur in a person that might result in being paroled or relieved of serving the entire sentence. This is available to some but those that committed more serious crimes, even this is not available. 

Deuteronomy 25:1 reminds us what occurs in a court of law: If there is a dispute between men andt hey go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. And it says the guilty are beaten but the righteous are justified and can return to their life. 

This word for acquittal is the Greek word dikaioo used in Romans 4:5 - Him who justifies the ungodly. God acquits are pronounces "not guilty" those who are lawbreakers. But God is not changing a person, but simply declaring that person does not have a debt to Him. Like in our court system, people incur a debt to the court or the ruling body, mankind incurs a debt to God for breaking the commandments. Yet God will justify some. 

The basis of righteousness is Jesus. Again Romans 5:19 says - through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. Man acquires this by calling on God and having faith - 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner.' 

But let's be clear - faith does not make us righteous. We are counted as righteous by faith. Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness as recorded in Genesis 15:6. Righteousness though is what makes our debt paid before God.  

Promise: Faith is what God uses in us to build the bridge to being accepted by God and restored to a right relationship with Him, but ultimately it is Jesus and His obedience that results in us being seen as continually righteous. 

Prayer: O God, you have made me righteous through the obedience of Jesus my Savior and Lord. You knew that my crime could only result in His obedience. Thank you for bringing me to this saving faith. You sunk it into me on August 10, 1982 and I'm still trying to understand it. Thank you for sealing me forever. Keep instructing people in this truth. Thank you for this study and Ligonier ministry. 

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 June is about justification; May was 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.

Mankind's Condition - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. 

The Law Speaks - The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. Human Inability - the simple reminder that man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. 

Only Justified through Christ (God) - The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. God's Initiative In Justification - God initiates the act of justification through the work of Christ alone; he saves us out of His kindness. Faith and Justification - no one is continually righteous; only through Jesus one will be made righteous; to be made righteous one must believe in God, ask for His mercy. 

 

Habakkuk 2:4 - Faith and Justification

Habakkuk 2:4 

Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith. 

Message: Faith and Justification

Time: Habakkuk is mentioned 2 times and we know little of him (could be a professionally trained prophet in Law of Moses and/or a priest involved in worship). He mentions the imminent Babylonian invasion which probably puts the time period as 609 - 598 BC, in Jehoiakim's reign. Chapters 1 and 2 is an extended dialogue between Habakkuk and God. Habakkuk was frustrated, but he took out his frustrating in prayers. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

I continue to march through these devotional messages about justification. I'm in the 6th month of this 12 month study of key doctrines related to the 2017 500th year celebration of the reformation. The subject matter has been meaty and intense. I'm 2 years into it, having started December 18, 2018. It is slow going. 

Justification. Previously there was an entire month about salvation by grace alone and to me this message of justification is a close partner. As recorded in the introduction, justification is the key idea of religion, the crux of the message. It is not the only message but it speaks to how we can be reconciled to our Creator. 

I'm 53 now. I've been in church all my life. I had a turning point in August 1982, a month shy of my 15th birthday when at that moment, I prayed to receive Jesus as my savior. I turned a corner that day and since then I've been on a journey to understand this salvation, as well as live it. Part of what I am doing in these studies is reading the conclusions that are voiced in these devotions and then as I study seeing if I walk away with the same conclusion. 

The message of justification here now is that I am justified or found to be acceptable by God which then results in fellowship with Him, eternal life with Him, peace with Him and peace in life, and it all begins with answering the question of -- what must I do to be in a right relationship with God? 

Ecclesiastes 7:20 - Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

No one is good continually or all of the time or always. Everyone has sin. 

Genesis 8:21 - ...for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth;

This is a strong statement by the Lord given after He has flood the earth. Yet, he gave a similar statement prior to the flood in Genesis 6:5 -- every intent of the thoughts of his (man's) heart was only evil continually. 

No one is good continually. And also the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth. It sounds like that man has a bent towards evil and this bent has been prominent since his youth. 

Romans 3:9-11 - ...both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God. 

None of us has keep God's law. Paul seems to be making this point in Romans 3 toward the Jew who may have thought that as a Jew and being God's chosen people, that they have a special relationship with God. That might be so but in the manner of being righteous, the Jew is not, just like the Gentile. There is none righteous. Again, the intent of man's heart is evil. And there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good. Thus, if one believes that it is righteousness that makes us right before God and on one is righteous continually, then if the standard is continuous righteousness then none of will be worthy. Thus, righteousness must come outside of ourselves. 

One of the questions that springs up in me is this -- is perfect obedience the standard? I think the crux of this is that 'on my own, I cannot attain righteousness.' Can someone be righteous and yet not continually righteous? The following verse speaks to Christ and His obedience making us righteous. 

Romans 5:19 - For as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

So this verse answers the question that partial righteousness is not a goal. For it is only through Jesus One will be made righteous.

Now, it could be that all of the above discussion is focused on grace - that righteousness occurs only through Jesus. Yet, this month we are focused on how does one obtain this righteousness. Is it open to everyone simply because Jesus died? Or does man become a benefactor of Christ's work through a means? 

It seems what a person must do is call on God - believe God - put their trust and faith in God. 

Luke 18:9-14

And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt; "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner.' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

There is a contrast here: the Pharisee is thanking his own work. He is proud of himself. He is proud that he is unlike others because of what he is and that he behaves differently from others. The Pharisee is religious and practices his religion. And this is the point of the parable for the Pharisee trusted in themselves that they were righteous and others were therefore not. But the contrast is that the tax-gatherer looked only to God. 'Lord have mercy.' This man had humility. 

Romans 4:2-3 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 

Abraham believed God. Abraham had faith in God. Abraham focused on God.   

Habakkuk lived in the late 7th century BC. He was bothered that God seemed to be silent and inactive. The people of Judah were guilty of sin, so he wondered why God was not judging them. 

Habakkuk 1:2-4 - How long, O Lord, will I call for help, and Thou wilt not hear?...Why dost Thou make me see iniquity...the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. The wicked surround the righteous.

God replies to Habakkuk in 1:5-11 that He will send the Chaldeans/Babylonians to judge the people - Look! Observe! I am doing something - I am raising up the Chaldeans...rulers are a laughing matter to them; they will sweep through the wind and pass on, but they will be held guilty. 

Habakkuk was surprised in verse 12 - thou, O Lord, hast appointed them to judge. For they approve evil. And Habakkuk ultimately declares in 2:1 that he will keep watch to see what God will speak to him and how he may reply. 

In verse 4, God says -- Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith. God replies that proud people are not right within themselves, but it is only the righteous who will live by his faith. And then Habakkuk ends his book by saying in 3:19, The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places. 

God is the one. God does it. And I access this through acknowledging this continually in my life - believing in God, asking for His Mercy, declaring the Lord is my strength, trusting in Him. 

Promise: At the most basic level, what I need is God. I believe in Him. I call out for His mercy for I am a sinner. He is my strength. I obviously do not depend on me because in me is evil intentions. Only Jesus makes me righteous.  

Prayer: O Lord, thank you for these truths and taking me through these texts to better understand me and better understand You. I put my trust in You God. I believe in You. Have Mercy on Me God, a sinner. You are my strength. It is You and only You that I need. Keep my eyes on you. Holy Spirit, thank you for speaking to me and illuminating me with your words of truth. I don't want to get distracted from this simple message. I pray that I remain focused on you God as the author of truth. I live in this world but I don't want to live by its distracting message, but I want instead to trust in You God only, always. Keep my eyes more focused on you than the events of my world. Thank you for knowing that I need a substitute and that Jesus and His obedience has made me righteous. I cry out to you God in faith. Like Habakkuk I will continue to wait patiently for Your words to speak to me.     

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 June is about justification; May was 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.

- The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. Human Inability - the simple reminder that man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. God's Initiative In Justification - God initiates the act of justification through the work of Christ alone; he saves us out of His kindness.