September 21

Luke 24:1-12

[1] But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. [2] And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. [5] And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? [6] He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, [7] that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” [8] And they remembered his words, [9] and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. [10] Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, [11] but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. [12] But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Hebrews 11:32-40

[32] And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—[33] who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [34] quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. [35] Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. [36] Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. [37] They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—[38] of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

[39] And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, [40] since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Proverbs 28:15-28

    [15] 

    Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

        is a wicked ruler over a poor people. 

    [16] 

    A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

        but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. 

    [17] 

    If one is burdened with the blood of another,

        he will be a fugitive until death;

        let no one help him. 

    [18] 

    Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,

        but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall. 

    [19] 

    Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

        but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. 

    [20] 

    A faithful man will abound with blessings,

        but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 

    [21] 

    To show partiality is not good,

        but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong. 

    [22] 

    A stingy man hastens after wealth

        and does not know that poverty will come upon him. 

    [23] 

    Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

        than he who flatters with his tongue. 

    [24] 

    Whoever robs his father or his mother

        and says, “That is no transgression,”

        is a companion to a man who destroys. 

    [25] 

    A greedy man stirs up strife,

        but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched. 

    [26] 

    Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

        but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. 

    [27] 

    Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

        but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. 

    [28] 

    When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,

        but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Isaiah 54

    [1] “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;

        break forth into singing and cry aloud,

        you who have not been in labor!

    For the children of the desolate one will be more

        than the children of her who is married,” says the LORD. 

    [2] “Enlarge the place of your tent,

        and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;

    do not hold back; lengthen your cords

        and strengthen your stakes. 

    [3] For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,

        and your offspring will possess the nations

        and will people the desolate cities.

    [4] “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;

        be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;

    for you will forget the shame of your youth,

        and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. 

    [5] For your Maker is your husband,

        the LORD of hosts is his name;

    and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,

        the God of the whole earth he is called. 

    [6] For the LORD has called you

        like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,

    like a wife of youth when she is cast off,

        says your God. 

    [7] For a brief moment I deserted you,

        but with great compassion I will gather you. 

    [8] In overflowing anger for a moment

        I hid my face from you,

    but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”

        says the LORD, your Redeemer.

    [9] “This is like the days of Noah to me:

        as I swore that the waters of Noah

        should no more go over the earth,

    so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,

        and will not rebuke you. 

    [10] For the mountains may depart

        and the hills be removed,

    but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

        and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”

        says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

    [11] “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,

        behold, I will set your stones in antimony,

        and lay your foundations with sapphires. 

    [12] I will make your pinnacles of agate,

        your gates of carbuncles,

        and all your wall of precious stones. 

    [13] All your children shall be taught by the LORD,

        and great shall be the peace of your children. 

    [14] In righteousness you shall be established;

        you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;

        and from terror, for it shall not come near you. 

    [15] If anyone stirs up strife,

        it is not from me;

    whoever stirs up strife with you

        shall fall because of you. 

    [16] Behold, I have created the smith

        who blows the fire of coals

        and produces a weapon for its purpose.

    I have also created the ravager to destroy; 

    [17]     no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,

        and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

    This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD

        and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”

Isaiah 55

    [1] “Come, everyone who thirsts,

        come to the waters;

    and he who has no money,

        come, buy and eat!

    Come, buy wine and milk

        without money and without price. 

    [2] Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

        and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

    Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

        and delight yourselves in rich food. 

    [3] Incline your ear, and come to me;

        hear, that your soul may live;

    and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

        my steadfast, sure love for David. 

    [4] Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,

        a leader and commander for the peoples. 

    [5] Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,

        and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,

    because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,

        for he has glorified you.

    [6] “Seek the LORD while he may be found;

        call upon him while he is near; 

    [7] let the wicked forsake his way,

        and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

    let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,

        and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

    [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

        neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 

    [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

        so are my ways higher than your ways

        and my thoughts than your thoughts.

    [10] “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

        and do not return there but water the earth,

    making it bring forth and sprout,

        giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

    [11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

        it shall not return to me empty,

    but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

        and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

    [12] “For you shall go out in joy

        and be led forth in peace;

    the mountains and the hills before you

        shall break forth into singing,

        and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

    [13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

        instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

    and it shall make a name for the LORD,

        an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

The Seed that Breaks Any Bond

 

PRAY OVER THIS

“He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6

 

PONDER THIS

Years ago, I read about a woman who thought that she would somehow protect her body from decay or vandalism after death. She was a very rich woman. So she made plans in her will to have her body buried in a great concrete vault. Then she had steel bands put around that vault so it could not be opened. She had written on that steel vault, these words: “Sealed for Eternity.”

You know what happened? There was a hairline crack in that vault and a seed fell in that crack, sprouted, and began to grow. And the pressure of that seed and those roots went out, cracked that vault wide open, and a mighty tree grew over that vault. She said it was sealed for eternity, but one little seed cracked that vault wide open. Likewise, there are people whose hearts are hard as concrete with steel bands around them, but the Word of God is so powerful that it can break any hardness.

How have you seen the power of the Word of God break hardness in your own life?

How should remembering our own hardness prior to receiving Christ give us confidence to share Him with others?

PRACTICE THIS

Take some time this week to plant a seed, reflecting on the seed of God’s Word that never fails and is powerful enough to overcome anything. 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Not Nearly Hedonistic Enough

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19–20)

The message that needs to be shouted from the houses of high finance is this: Secular man, you are not nearly hedonistic enough!

Quit being satisfied with the little 2% yields of pleasure that get eaten up by the moths of inflation and the rust of death. Invest in the blue-chip, high-yield, divinely insured securities of heaven.

Devoting a life to material comforts and security and thrills is like throwing money down a rat hole. But investing a life in the labor of love yields dividends of joy unsurpassed and unending:

“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. [And thus] provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail” (Luke 12:33).

This message is very good news: Come to Christ, in whose presence are fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. Join us in the labor of Christian Hedonism. For the Lord has spoken: It is more blessed to love than to live in luxury! More blessed now, and forever.

John Piper 

September 20

Luke 23:50-56

[50] Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, [51] who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. [52] This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. [53] Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. [54] It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. [55] The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. [56] Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. 

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. 

Hebrews 11:17-31

[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, [18] of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” [19] He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. [20] By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. [21] By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. [22] By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

[23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. [24] By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, [25] choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. [26] He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. [27] By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. [28] By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

[29] By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. [30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. [31] By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Isaiah 51

    [1] “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,

        you who seek the LORD:

    look to the rock from which you were hewn,

        and to the quarry from which you were dug. 

    [2] Look to Abraham your father

        and to Sarah who bore you;

    for he was but one when I called him,

        that I might bless him and multiply him. 

    [3] For the LORD comforts Zion;

        he comforts all her waste places

    and makes her wilderness like Eden,

        her desert like the garden of the LORD;

    joy and gladness will be found in her,

        thanksgiving and the voice of song.

    [4] “Give attention to me, my people,

        and give ear to me, my nation;

    for a law will go out from me,

        and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. 

    [5] My righteousness draws near,

        my salvation has gone out,

        and my arms will judge the peoples;

    the coastlands hope for me,

        and for my arm they wait. 

    [6] Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

        and look at the earth beneath;

    for the heavens vanish like smoke,

        the earth will wear out like a garment,

        and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;

    but my salvation will be forever,

        and my righteousness will never be dismayed.

    [7] “Listen to me, you who know righteousness,

        the people in whose heart is my law;

    fear not the reproach of man,

        nor be dismayed at their revilings. 

    [8] For the moth will eat them up like a garment,

        and the worm will eat them like wool,

    but my righteousness will be forever,

        and my salvation to all generations.”

    [9] Awake, awake, put on strength,

        O arm of the LORD;

    awake, as in days of old,

        the generations of long ago.

    Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces,

        who pierced the dragon? 

    [10] Was it not you who dried up the sea,

        the waters of the great deep,

    who made the depths of the sea a way

        for the redeemed to pass over? 

    [11] And the ransomed of the LORD shall return

        and come to Zion with singing;

    everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

        they shall obtain gladness and joy,

        and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

    [12] “I, I am he who comforts you;

        who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,

        of the son of man who is made like grass, 

    [13] and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker,

        who stretched out the heavens

        and laid the foundations of the earth,

    and you fear continually all the day

        because of the wrath of the oppressor,

    when he sets himself to destroy?

        And where is the wrath of the oppressor? 

    [14] He who is bowed down shall speedily be released;

        he shall not die and go down to the pit,

        neither shall his bread be lacking. 

    [15] I am the LORD your God,

        who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—

        the LORD of hosts is his name. 

    [16] And I have put my words in your mouth

        and covered you in the shadow of my hand,

    establishing the heavens

        and laying the foundations of the earth,

        and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”

    [17] Wake yourself, wake yourself,

        stand up, O Jerusalem,

    you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD

        the cup of his wrath,

    who have drunk to the dregs

        the bowl, the cup of staggering. 

    [18] There is none to guide her

        among all the sons she has borne;

    there is none to take her by the hand

        among all the sons she has brought up. 

    [19] These two things have happened to you—

        who will console you?—

    devastation and destruction, famine and sword;

        who will comfort you? 

    [20] Your sons have fainted;

        they lie at the head of every street

        like an antelope in a net;

    they are full of the wrath of the LORD,

        the rebuke of your God.

    [21] Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted,

        who are drunk, but not with wine: 

    [22] Thus says your Lord, the LORD,

        your God who pleads the cause of his people:

    “Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering;

    the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more; 

    [23] and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors,

        who have said to you,

        ‘Bow down, that we may pass over’;

    and you have made your back like the ground

        and like the street for them to pass over.”

Isaiah 52

    [1] Awake, awake,

        put on your strength, O Zion;

    put on your beautiful garments,

        O Jerusalem, the holy city;

    for there shall no more come into you

        the uncircumcised and the unclean. 

    [2] Shake yourself from the dust and arise;

        be seated, O Jerusalem;

    loose the bonds from your neck,

        O captive daughter of Zion.

    [3] For thus says the LORD: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” [4] For thus says the Lord GOD: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing. [5] Now therefore what have I here,” declares the LORD, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the LORD, “and continually all the day my name is despised. [6] Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”

    [7] How beautiful upon the mountains

        are the feet of him who brings good news,

    who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,

        who publishes salvation,

        who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 

    [8] The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;

        together they sing for joy;

    for eye to eye they see

        the return of the LORD to Zion. 

    [9] Break forth together into singing,

        you waste places of Jerusalem,

    for the LORD has comforted his people;

        he has redeemed Jerusalem. 

    [10] The LORD has bared his holy arm

        before the eyes of all the nations,

    and all the ends of the earth shall see

        the salvation of our God.

    [11] Depart, depart, go out from there;

        touch no unclean thing;

    go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves,

        you who bear the vessels of the LORD. 

    [12] For you shall not go out in haste,

        and you shall not go in flight,

    for the LORD will go before you,

        and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

    [13] Behold, my servant shall act wisely;

        he shall be high and lifted up,

        and shall be exalted. 

    [14] As many were astonished at you—

        his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,

        and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

    [15] so shall he sprinkle many nations.

        Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,

    for that which has not been told them they see,

        and that which they have not heard they understand.

Isaiah 53

    [1] Who has believed what he has heard from us?

        And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 

    [2] 

    For he grew up before him like a young plant,

        and like a root out of dry ground;

    he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

        and no beauty that we should desire him. 

    [3] 

    He was despised and rejected by men,

        a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

    and as one from whom men hide their faces

        he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

    [4] 

    Surely he has borne our griefs

        and carried our sorrows;

    yet we esteemed him stricken,

        smitten by God, and afflicted. 

    [5] 

    But he was pierced for our transgressions;

        he was crushed for our iniquities;

    upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

        and with his wounds we are healed. 

    [6] 

    All we like sheep have gone astray;

        we have turned—every one—to his own way;

    and the LORD has laid on him

        the iniquity of us all.

    [7] 

    He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

        yet he opened not his mouth;

    like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

        and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

        so he opened not his mouth. 

    [8] 

    By oppression and judgment he was taken away;

        and as for his generation, who considered

    that he was cut off out of the land of the living,

        stricken for the transgression of my people? 

    [9] 

    And they made his grave with the wicked

        and with a rich man in his death,

    although he had done no violence,

        and there was no deceit in his mouth.

    [10] 

    Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

        he has put him to grief;

    when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

        he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

    the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 

    [11] 

    Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

    by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

        make many to be accounted righteous,

        and he shall bear their iniquities. 

    [12] 

    Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,

        and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,

    because he poured out his soul to death

        and was numbered with the transgressors;

    yet he bore the sin of many,

        and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Do You See God’s Power?

PRAY OVER THIS

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

 

PONDER THIS

The Bible has incredible power. The Bible says of itself in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword” (KJV). The word quick literally means alive. It comes from the Greek word zoion. It’s the word we get our word zoology or zoo from. It speaks of living things. The Bible is quick and powerful. The word powerful comes from the Greek word energes. It’s the word we get our word energy from. And what it literally means is the Bible is alive and it pulsates with power. We read other books, but this one reads us.

In Romans 1:16, Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” The word he used for power there is the Greek word dunamis, the word we get dynamite from. It is the dynamite of God that is in this Book.

How have you seen the living power of the Bible work in your life?

Where do you currently need the living and active power of God in your life?

PRACTICE THIS

Make a list of the ways you long to see God’s power currently. Pray over those things, asking God to speak to you as you read His living and powerful Word.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Our Unspeakable Privilege

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)

One implication of the magnificent name, I AM WHO I AM, is that this infinite, absolute, self-determining God has drawn near to us in Jesus Christ.

In John 8:56–58 Jesus is answering the criticism of the Jewish leaders. He says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” The Jews then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Could Jesus have taken any more exalted words upon his lips? When Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am,” he took up all the majestic truth of the name of God, wrapped it in the humility of servanthood, offered himself to atone for all our rebellion, and made a way for us to see the glory of this infinite, absolute, all-sufficient God — without fear.

In Jesus Christ we who are born of God have the unspeakable privilege of knowing Yahweh as our Father — I AM WHO I AM — the God

who exists

whose personality and power is owing solely to himself

who never changes

from whom all power and energy in the universe flows

and to whom all creation should conform its life.

May those who know the name of God put their trust in him (Psalm 9:10).

John Piper