December 14

John 18:19-27

[19] The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. [20] Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. [21] Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” [22] When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” [23] Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” [24] Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

[25] Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” [26] One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” [27] Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Revelation 11

[1] Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, [2] but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. [3] And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

[4] These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. [5] And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. [6] They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. [7] And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, [8] and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. [9] For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, [10] and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. [11] But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. [12] Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. [13] And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

[14] The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

[15] Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” [16] And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, [17] saying, 

    “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

        who is and who was,

    for you have taken your great power

        and begun to reign. 

    [18] The nations raged,

        but your wrath came,

        and the time for the dead to be judged,

    and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,

        and those who fear your name,

        both small and great,

    and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

    [19] Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Job 34:21-37

    [21] “For his eyes are on the ways of a man,

        and he sees all his steps. 

    [22] There is no gloom or deep darkness

        where evildoers may hide themselves. 

    [23] For God has no need to consider a man further,

        that he should go before God in judgment. 

    [24] He shatters the mighty without investigation

        and sets others in their place. 

    [25] Thus, knowing their works,

        he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. 

    [26] He strikes them for their wickedness

        in a place for all to see, 

    [27] because they turned aside from following him

        and had no regard for any of his ways, 

    [28] so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,

        and he heard the cry of the afflicted—

    [29] When he is quiet, who can condemn?

        When he hides his face, who can behold him,

        whether it be a nation or a man?—

    [30] that a godless man should not reign,

        that he should not ensnare the people.

    [31] “For has anyone said to God,

        ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more; 

    [32] teach me what I do not see;

        if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’? 

    [33] Will he then make repayment to suit you,

        because you reject it?

    For you must choose, and not I;

        therefore declare what you know. 

    [34] Men of understanding will say to me,

        and the wise man who hears me will say: 

    [35] ‘Job speaks without knowledge;

        his words are without insight.’ 

    [36] Would that Job were tried to the end,

        because he answers like wicked men. 

    [37] For he adds rebellion to his sin;

        he claps his hands among us

        and multiplies his words against God.”

Micah 1

[1] The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

    [2] Hear, you peoples, all of you;

        pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it,

    and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you,

        the Lord from his holy temple. 

    [3] For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place,

        and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. 

    [4] And the mountains will melt under him,

        and the valleys will split open,

    like wax before the fire,

        like waters poured down a steep place. 

    [5] All this is for the transgression of Jacob

        and for the sins of the house of Israel.

    What is the transgression of Jacob?

        Is it not Samaria?

    And what is the high place of Judah?

        Is it not Jerusalem? 

    [6] Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country,

        a place for planting vineyards,

    and I will pour down her stones into the valley

        and uncover her foundations. 

    [7] All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces,

        all her wages shall be burned with fire,

        and all her idols I will lay waste,

    for from the fee of a prostitute she gathered them,

        and to the fee of a prostitute they shall return.

    [8] For this I will lament and wail;

        I will go stripped and naked;

    I will make lamentation like the jackals,

        and mourning like the ostriches. 

    [9] For her wound is incurable,

        and it has come to Judah;

    it has reached to the gate of my people,

        to Jerusalem.

    [10] Tell it not in Gath;

        weep not at all;

    in Beth-le-aphrah

        roll yourselves in the dust. 

    [11] Pass on your way,

        inhabitants of Shaphir,

        in nakedness and shame;

    the inhabitants of Zaanan

        do not come out;

    the lamentation of Beth-ezel

        shall take away from you its standing place. 

    [12] For the inhabitants of Maroth

        wait anxiously for good,

    because disaster has come down from the LORD

        to the gate of Jerusalem. 

    [13] Harness the steeds to the chariots,

        inhabitants of Lachish;

    it was the beginning of sin

        to the daughter of Zion,

    for in you were found

        the transgressions of Israel. 

    [14] Therefore you shall give parting gifts

        to Moresheth-gath;

    the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing

        to the kings of Israel. 

    [15] I will again bring a conqueror to you,

        inhabitants of Mareshah;

    the glory of Israel

        shall come to Adullam. 

    [16] Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair,

        for the children of your delight;

    make yourselves as bald as the eagle,

        for they shall go from you into exile.

Micah 2

    [1] Woe to those who devise wickedness

        and work evil on their beds!

    When the morning dawns, they perform it,

        because it is in the power of their hand. 

    [2] They covet fields and seize them,

        and houses, and take them away;

    they oppress a man and his house,

        a man and his inheritance. 

    [3] Therefore thus says the LORD:

    behold, against this family I am devising disaster,

        from which you cannot remove your necks,

    and you shall not walk haughtily,

        for it will be a time of disaster. 

    [4] In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you

        and moan bitterly,

    and say, “We are utterly ruined;

        he changes the portion of my people;

    how he removes it from me!

        To an apostate he allots our fields.” 

    [5] Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot

        in the assembly of the LORD.

    [6] “Do not preach”—thus they preach—

        “one should not preach of such things;

        disgrace will not overtake us.” 

    [7] Should this be said, O house of Jacob?

        Has the LORD grown impatient?

        Are these his deeds?

    Do not my words do good

        to him who walks uprightly? 

    [8] But lately my people have risen up as an enemy;

    you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly

        with no thought of war. 

    [9] The women of my people you drive out

        from their delightful houses;

    from their young children you take away

        my splendor forever. 

    [10] Arise and go,

        for this is no place to rest,

    because of uncleanness that destroys

        with a grievous destruction. 

    [11] If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,

        saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”

        he would be the preacher for this people! 

    [12] I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob;

        I will gather the remnant of Israel;

    I will set them together

        like sheep in a fold,

    like a flock in its pasture,

        a noisy multitude of men. 

    [13] He who opens the breach goes up before them;

        they break through and pass the gate,

        going out by it.

    Their king passes on before them,

        the LORD at their head.

Micah 3

    [1] And I said:

    Hear, you heads of Jacob

        and rulers of the house of Israel!

    Is it not for you to know justice?—

    [2]     you who hate the good and love the evil,

    who tear the skin from off my people

        and their flesh from off their bones, 

    [3] who eat the flesh of my people,

        and flay their skin from off them,

    and break their bones in pieces

        and chop them up like meat in a pot,

        like flesh in a cauldron.

    [4] Then they will cry to the LORD,

        but he will not answer them;

    he will hide his face from them at that time,

        because they have made their deeds evil.

    [5] Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets

        who lead my people astray,

    who cry “Peace”

        when they have something to eat,

    but declare war against him

        who puts nothing into their mouths. 

    [6] Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,

        and darkness to you, without divination.

    The sun shall go down on the prophets,

        and the day shall be black over them; 

    [7] the seers shall be disgraced,

        and the diviners put to shame;

    they shall all cover their lips,

        for there is no answer from God. 

    [8] But as for me, I am filled with power,

        with the Spirit of the LORD,

        and with justice and might,

    to declare to Jacob his transgression

        and to Israel his sin.

    [9] Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob

        and rulers of the house of Israel,

    who detest justice

        and make crooked all that is straight, 

    [10] who build Zion with blood

        and Jerusalem with iniquity. 

    [11] Its heads give judgment for a bribe;

        its priests teach for a price;

        its prophets practice divination for money;

    yet they lean on the LORD and say,

        “Is not the LORD in the midst of us?

        No disaster shall come upon us.” 

    [12] Therefore because of you

        Zion shall be plowed as a field;

    Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,

        and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

Are You Exchanging Your Weakness for God’s Strength?

PRAY OVER THIS

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

 

PONDER THIS

The word renew, in Hebrew, literally means to exchange strength. In the context of this verse, Isaiah was saying God’s people shall exchange their strength. The Christian life is an exchanged life. Have you ever taken a Christmas present back to the store to exchange it? Similarly, we are to take our so-called strength, which is actually weakness, and exchange it for God’s strength. Those who wait upon the Lord shall exchange their strength. I give Him my strength, which is really weakness—for the weakness of God is stronger than men—and God gives His strength to me as an exchange. It’s the same thing the apostle Paul talked about in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” That is more than a changed life; it is an exchanged life.

Where have you sought to rely on your own strength over that which God offers?

How have you seen the reality that God’s strength surpasses ours in every way?

PRACTICE THIS

Go for a walk today, prayerfully considering the areas in which you are not waiting on the Lord but are instead seeking to work in your own strength. Ask Him to help you exchange your strength for His.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Final Reality Is Here

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. . . . They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” (Hebrews 8:1–2, 5)

We’ve seen it before. But there’s more. Christmas is the replacement of shadows with the real thing.

Hebrews 8:1–2, 5 is a kind of summary statement. The point is that the one priest who goes between us and God, and makes us right with God, and prays for us to God is not an ordinary, weak, sinful, dying priest as in the Old Testament days. He is the Son of God — strong, sinless, with an indestructible life.

Not only that, he is not ministering in an earthly tabernacle with all its limitations of place and size while getting worn out and being moth-eaten and being soaked and burned and torn and stolen. No, Hebrews 8:2 says that Christ is ministering for us in a “true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” This is not the shadow. It’s the real thing in heaven. This is the reality that cast a shadow on Mount Sinai for Moses to copy.

According to Hebrews 8:1, another great thing about the reality which is greater than the shadow is that our High Priest is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. No Old Testament priest could ever say that.

Jesus deals directly with God the Father. He has a place of honor beside God. He is loved and respected infinitely by God. He is constantly with God. This is not shadow-reality like curtains and bowls and tables and candles and robes and tassels and sheep and goats and pigeons. This is final, ultimate reality: God and his Son interacting in love and holiness for our eternal salvation.

Ultimate reality is the persons of the Godhead in relationship, dealing with each other concerning how their majesty and holiness and love and justice and goodness and truth shall be manifest in a redeemed people.

John Piper 

December 13

John 18:1-18

[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. [2] Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. [3] So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. [4] Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. [7] So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” [8] Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” [9] This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” [10] Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) [11] So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

[12] So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. [13] First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. [14] It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

[15] Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, [16] but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. [17] The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” [18] Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

Revelation 10

[1] Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. [2] He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, [3] and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. [4] And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” [5] And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven [6] and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, [7] but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

[8] Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” [9] So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” [10] And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. [11] And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”

Job 34:1-20

[1] Then Elihu answered and said:

    [2] “Hear my words, you wise men,

        and give ear to me, you who know; 

    [3] for the ear tests words

        as the palate tastes food. 

    [4] Let us choose what is right;

        let us know among ourselves what is good. 

    [5] For Job has said, ‘I am in the right,

        and God has taken away my right; 

    [6] in spite of my right I am counted a liar;

        my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ 

    [7] What man is like Job,

        who drinks up scoffing like water, 

    [8] who travels in company with evildoers

        and walks with wicked men? 

    [9] For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing

        that he should take delight in God.’

    [10] “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:

        far be it from God that he should do wickedness,

        and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. 

    [11] For according to the work of a man he will repay him,

        and according to his ways he will make it befall him. 

    [12] Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,

        and the Almighty will not pervert justice. 

    [13] Who gave him charge over the earth,

        and who laid on him the whole world? 

    [14] If he should set his heart to it

        and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, 

    [15] all flesh would perish together,

        and man would return to dust.

    [16] “If you have understanding, hear this;

        listen to what I say. 

    [17] Shall one who hates justice govern?

        Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, 

    [18] who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’

        and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’ 

    [19] who shows no partiality to princes,

        nor regards the rich more than the poor,

        for they are all the work of his hands? 

    [20] In a moment they die;

        at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,

        and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

Jonah 1

[1] Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, [2] “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” [3] But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

[4] But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. [5] Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. [6] So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

[7] And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. [8] Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” [9] And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” [10] Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

[11] Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. [12] He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” [13] Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. [14] Therefore they called out to the LORD, “O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” [15] So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. [16] Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

[17]  And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2

[1] Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, [2] saying, 

    “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress,

        and he answered me;

    out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

        and you heard my voice. 

    [3] For you cast me into the deep,

        into the heart of the seas,

        and the flood surrounded me;

    all your waves and your billows

        passed over me. 

    [4] Then I said, ‘I am driven away

        from your sight;

    yet I shall again look

        upon your holy temple.’ 

    [5] The waters closed in over me to take my life;

        the deep surrounded me;

    weeds were wrapped about my head 

    [6]     at the roots of the mountains.

    I went down to the land

        whose bars closed upon me forever;

    yet you brought up my life from the pit,

        O LORD my God. 

    [7] When my life was fainting away,

        I remembered the LORD,

    and my prayer came to you,

        into your holy temple. 

    [8] Those who pay regard to vain idols

        forsake their hope of steadfast love. 

    [9] But I with the voice of thanksgiving

        will sacrifice to you;

    what I have vowed I will pay.

        Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

    [10] And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

Jonah 3

[1] Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, [2] “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” [3] So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. [4] Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” [5] And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

[6] The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. [7] And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, [8] but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. [9] Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

[10] When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Jonah 4

[1] But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. [2] And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. [3] Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” [4] And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

[5] Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. [6] Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. [7] But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. [8] When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” [9] But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” [10] And the LORD said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. [11] And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

All Good Deeds Do Not Glorify God

PRAY OVER THIS

“So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.’” Exodus 18:17-18

 

PONDER THIS

One of the ways we become physically worn out is by doing things God never intended for us to do. There’s enough time in every day to gracefully do everything God wants us to do, isn’t there? Moses was doing something God didn’t want him to do and called it serving God. He believed he was doing it for the people. But Jethro said, “The thing that you do is not good.”

Consider everything you’re doing you think is so important. We need to eliminate some things, delegate other things, and then dedicate the rest. There are some things other people can do. That’s how Moses learned to delegate. And then there are other things that need to be eliminated altogether. Our doing is not worthwhile if it is not honoring God and blessing others. We need God’s wisdom to discern what is best each day.

What things do you feel God clearly has called you to in your life?

If you used this as a standard for your everyday activity, what might you give away for others to do? What might you eliminate altogether?

PRACTICE THIS

Write out a list of the activities that keep you busy each week. Ask God to help you discern what you might delegate and what you might eliminate so you might serve Him well in the things He has given you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Replacing the Shadows

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. (Hebrews 8:1–2)

The point of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, has not just come to fit into the earthly system of priestly ministry as the best and final human priest, but he has come to fulfill and put an end to that system, and to orient all our attention on himself, ministering for us first on Calvary as our final Sacrifice and then in heaven as our final Priest.

The Old Testament tabernacle and priests and sacrifices were shadows. Now the reality has come, and the shadows pass away.

Here’s an Advent illustration for kids — and those of us who used to be kids and remember what it was like. Suppose you and your mom get separated in the grocery store, and you start to get scared and panic and don’t know which way to go, and you run to the end of an aisle, and just before you start to cry, you see a shadow on the floor at the end of the aisle that looks just like your mom. It makes you really hopeful. But which is better? The hopefulness of seeing the shadow, or having your mom step around the corner and it’s really her?

That’s the way it is when Jesus comes to be our High Priest. That’s what Christmas is. Christmas is the replacement of shadows with the real thing: Mom stepping around the corner of the aisle, and all the relief and joy that gives to a little child.

John Piper 

December 12

John 17:20-26

[20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. [24] Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. [26] I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Revelation 9

[1] And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. [2] He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. [3] Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. [4] They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. [5] They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. [6] And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

[7] In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, [8] their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; [9] they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. [10] They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. [11] They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

[12] The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.

[13] Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, [14] saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” [15] So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. [16] The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. [17] And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. [18] By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. [19] For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.

[20] The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, [21] nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Job 33:12-33

    [12] “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,

        for God is greater than man. 

    [13] Why do you contend against him,

        saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’? 

    [14] For God speaks in one way,

        and in two, though man does not perceive it. 

    [15] In a dream, in a vision of the night,

        when deep sleep falls on men,

        while they slumber on their beds, 

    [16] then he opens the ears of men

        and terrifies them with warnings, 

    [17] that he may turn man aside from his deed

        and conceal pride from a man; 

    [18] he keeps back his soul from the pit,

        his life from perishing by the sword.

    [19] “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed

        and with continual strife in his bones, 

    [20] so that his life loathes bread,

        and his appetite the choicest food. 

    [21] His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,

        and his bones that were not seen stick out. 

    [22] His soul draws near the pit,

        and his life to those who bring death. 

    [23] If there be for him an angel,

        a mediator, one of the thousand,

        to declare to man what is right for him, 

    [24] and he is merciful to him, and says,

        ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;

        I have found a ransom; 

    [25] let his flesh become fresh with youth;

        let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’; 

    [26] then man prays to God, and he accepts him;

        he sees his face with a shout of joy,

    and he restores to man his righteousness. 

    [27]     He sings before men and says:

    ‘I sinned and perverted what was right,

        and it was not repaid to me. 

    [28] He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,

        and my life shall look upon the light.’

    [29] “Behold, God does all these things,

        twice, three times, with a man, 

    [30] to bring back his soul from the pit,

        that he may be lighted with the light of life. 

    [31] Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;

        be silent, and I will speak. 

    [32] If you have any words, answer me;

        speak, for I desire to justify you. 

    [33] If not, listen to me;

        be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Obadiah 1

[1] The vision of Obadiah. 

    Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom:

    We have heard a report from the LORD,

        and a messenger has been sent among the nations:

    “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” 

    [2] Behold, I will make you small among the nations;

        you shall be utterly despised. 

    [3] The pride of your heart has deceived you,

        you who live in the clefts of the rock,

        in your lofty dwelling,

    who say in your heart,

        “Who will bring me down to the ground?” 

    [4] Though you soar aloft like the eagle,

        though your nest is set among the stars,

        from there I will bring you down,

    declares the LORD.

    [5] If thieves came to you,

        if plunderers came by night—

        how you have been destroyed!—

        would they not steal only enough for themselves?

    If grape gatherers came to you,

        would they not leave gleanings? 

    [6] How Esau has been pillaged,

        his treasures sought out! 

    [7] All your allies have driven you to your border;

        those at peace with you have deceived you;

    they have prevailed against you;

        those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you—

        you have no understanding.

    [8] Will I not on that day, declares the LORD,

        destroy the wise men out of Edom,

        and understanding out of Mount Esau? 

    [9] And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,

        so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.

    [10] Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob,

        shame shall cover you,

        and you shall be cut off forever. 

    [11] On the day that you stood aloof,

        on the day that strangers carried off his wealth

    and foreigners entered his gates

        and cast lots for Jerusalem,

        you were like one of them. 

    [12] But do not gloat over the day of your brother

        in the day of his misfortune;

    do not rejoice over the people of Judah

        in the day of their ruin;

    do not boast

        in the day of distress. 

    [13] Do not enter the gate of my people

        in the day of their calamity;

    do not gloat over his disaster

        in the day of his calamity;

    do not loot his wealth

        in the day of his calamity. 

    [14] Do not stand at the crossroads

        to cut off his fugitives;

    do not hand over his survivors

        in the day of distress.

    [15] For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.

    As you have done, it shall be done to you;

        your deeds shall return on your own head. 

    [16] For as you have drunk on my holy mountain,

        so all the nations shall drink continually;

    they shall drink and swallow,

        and shall be as though they had never been. 

    [17] But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape,

        and it shall be holy,

    and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. 

    [18] The house of Jacob shall be a fire,

        and the house of Joseph a flame,

        and the house of Esau stubble;

    they shall burn them and consume them,

        and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau,

    for the LORD has spoken.

    [19] Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau,

        and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines;

    they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria,

        and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. 

    [20] The exiles of this host of the people of Israel

        shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,

    and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad

        shall possess the cities of the Negeb. 

    [21] Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion

        to rule Mount Esau,

        and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.