November 13

John 10:22-42

I and the Father Are One

[22] At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. [24] So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” [25] Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, [26] but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. [30] I and the Father are one.”

[31] The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. [32] Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” [33] The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” [34] Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? [35] If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—[36] do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? [37] If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; [38] but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” [39] Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

[40] He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. [41] And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” [42] And many believed in him there.

1 John 2:24-29

[24] Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. [25] And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

[26] I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. [27] But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Children of God

[28] And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. [29] If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

Job 12

Job Replies: The LORD Has Done This

[1] Then Job answered and said:

    [2] “No doubt you are the people,

        and wisdom will die with you. 

    [3] But I have understanding as well as you;

        I am not inferior to you.

        Who does not know such things as these? 

    [4] I am a laughingstock to my friends;

        I, who called to God and he answered me,

        a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. 

    [5] In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune;

        it is ready for those whose feet slip. 

    [6] The tents of robbers are at peace,

        and those who provoke God are secure,

        who bring their god in their hand.

    [7] “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;

        the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; 

    [8] or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;

        and the fish of the sea will declare to you. 

    [9] Who among all these does not know

        that the hand of the LORD has done this? 

    [10] In his hand is the life of every living thing

        and the breath of all mankind. 

    [11] Does not the ear test words

        as the palate tastes food? 

    [12] Wisdom is with the aged,

        and understanding in length of days.

    [13] “With God are wisdom and might;

        he has counsel and understanding. 

    [14] If he tears down, none can rebuild;

        if he shuts a man in, none can open. 

    [15] If he withholds the waters, they dry up;

        if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. 

    [16] With him are strength and sound wisdom;

        the deceived and the deceiver are his. 

    [17] He leads counselors away stripped,

        and judges he makes fools. 

    [18] He looses the bonds of kings

        and binds a waistcloth on their hips. 

    [19] He leads priests away stripped

        and overthrows the mighty. 

    [20] He deprives of speech those who are trusted

        and takes away the discernment of the elders. 

    [21] He pours contempt on princes

        and loosens the belt of the strong. 

    [22] He uncovers the deeps out of darkness

        and brings deep darkness to light. 

    [23] He makes nations great, and he destroys them;

        he enlarges nations, and leads them away. 

    [24] He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth

        and makes them wander in a trackless waste. 

    [25] They grope in the dark without light,

        and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Ezekiel 33

Ezekiel Is Israel’s Watchman

[1] The word of the LORD came to me: [2] “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, [3] and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, [4] then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. [5] He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. [6] But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

[7] “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. [8] If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. [9] But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

Why Will You Die, Israel?

[10] “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ [11] Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

[12] “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. [13] Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. [14] Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, [15] if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. [16] None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.

[17] “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just. [18] When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. [19] And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this. [20] Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”

Jerusalem Struck Down

[21] In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been struck down.” [22] Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came; and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to me in the morning, so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.

[23] The word of the LORD came to me: [24] “Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’ [25] Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your eyes to your idols and shed blood; shall you then possess the land? [26] You rely on the sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife; shall you then possess the land? [27] Say this to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence. [28] And I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and her proud might shall come to an end, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that none will pass through. [29] Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed.

[30] “As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’ [31] And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. [32] And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. [33] When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Ezekiel 34

Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel

[1] The word of the LORD came to me: [2] “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? [3] You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. [4] The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. [5] So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; [6] they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.

[7] “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: [8] As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, [9] therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: [10] Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

The Lord GOD Will Seek Them Out

[11] “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. [12] As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. [13] And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. [14] I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. [15] I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. [16] I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

[17] “As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. [18] Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? [19] And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

[20] “Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. [21] Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, [22] I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. [23] And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. [24] And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken.

The LORD’s Covenant of Peace

[25] “I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. [26] And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. [27] And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. [28] They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. [29] And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. [30] And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord GOD. [31] And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD.”

Do You See Everyday Miracles?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

 

PONDER THIS

I was thinking about all the feasts and the meals that our Lord prepared for His disciples. The Lord Jesus Christ fed the five thousand. He prepared a table of replenishment when there was the enemy of inadequacy. And you know, He has done that for me so many times. I feel so inadequate, and I run out of resources, but the Lord just prepares a table before me. I can’t even explain how He meets my needs day by day.

And I’m not just talking about physical needs. I want to ask you a question. Is there any way you can explain the feeding of the five thousand? There’s not any way except God. What is there about your life that cannot be explained apart from God?

If your neighbor can explain everything, and you’re just like him, only you’re religious, that won’t convince him. But when he sees God supernaturally meeting your needs and preparing for you a table of replenishment in your greatest need, then you’ll be believable. God will not only provide a table of replenishment but also a table of restoration.

When have you seen God work in a way you could not explain?

What are some areas in which you feel inadequate? How does God meet you in those times?

PRACTICE THIS

Write out the ways God is providing for your needs right now. Praise Him and share with someone else how He is working in your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

How Satan Serves God

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:11)

Behind all disease and disability is the ultimate will of God. Not that Satan is not involved — he is probably always involved in one way or another with destructive purposes (Acts 10:38). But his power is not decisive. He cannot act without God’s permission.

That is one of the points of Job’s sickness. The text makes it plain that when disease came upon Job, “Satan . . . struck Job with loathsome sores” (Job 2:7). His wife urged him to curse God. But Job said, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). And again the inspired author of the book (just as he did in 1:22) commends Job by saying, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

In other words: This is a right view of God’s sovereignty over Satan. Satan is real and may have a hand in our calamities, but not the final hand, and not the decisive hand.

James makes clear that God had a good purpose in all Job’s afflictions: “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).

So even though Satan was involved, the ultimate purpose was God’s, and it was “compassionate and merciful.”

This is the same lesson we learn from 2 Corinthians 12:7, where Paul says that his thorn in the flesh was a “messenger of Satan” and yet was given for the purpose of his own holiness — to keep him from becoming conceited. “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited!”

Now, humility is not Satan’s purpose in this affliction. Therefore, the purpose is God’s. Which means that here Satan is being used by God to accomplish his good purposes in Paul’s life. In fact, for God’s elect children, Satan cannot destroy us, and God turns all his attacks finally against him and for us.

John Piper 

November 12

John 10:11-21

[11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. [13] He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. [17] For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. [18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

[19] There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. [20] Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” [21] Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

1 John 2:18-23

Warning Concerning Antichrists

[18] Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. [19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. [20] But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. [21] I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. [22] Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. [23] No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

Job 11

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

[1] Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

    [2] “Should a multitude of words go unanswered,

        and a man full of talk be judged right? 

    [3] Should your babble silence men,

        and when you mock, shall no one shame you? 

    [4] For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure,

        and I am clean in God’s eyes.’ 

    [5] But oh, that God would speak

        and open his lips to you, 

    [6] and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!

        For he is manifold in understanding.

    Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

    [7] “Can you find out the deep things of God?

        Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? 

    [8] It is higher than heaven—what can you do?

        Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? 

    [9] Its measure is longer than the earth

        and broader than the sea. 

    [10] If he passes through and imprisons

        and summons the court, who can turn him back? 

    [11] For he knows worthless men;

        when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? 

    [12] But a stupid man will get understanding

        when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!

    [13] “If you prepare your heart,

        you will stretch out your hands toward him. 

    [14] If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,

        and let not injustice dwell in your tents. 

    [15] Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;

        you will be secure and will not fear. 

    [16] You will forget your misery;

        you will remember it as waters that have passed away. 

    [17] And your life will be brighter than the noonday;

        its darkness will be like the morning. 

    [18] And you will feel secure, because there is hope;

        you will look around and take your rest in security. 

    [19] You will lie down, and none will make you afraid;

        many will court your favor. 

    [20] But the eyes of the wicked will fail;

        all way of escape will be lost to them,

        and their hope is to breathe their last.”

Ezekiel 31

Pharaoh to Be Slain

[1] In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: [2] “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: 

    “Whom are you like in your greatness? 

    [3]     Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon,

    with beautiful branches and forest shade,

        and of towering height,

        its top among the clouds. 

    [4] The waters nourished it;

        the deep made it grow tall,

    making its rivers flow

        around the place of its planting,

    sending forth its streams

        to all the trees of the field. 

    [5] So it towered high

        above all the trees of the field;

    its boughs grew large

        and its branches long

        from abundant water in its shoots. 

    [6] All the birds of the heavens

        made their nests in its boughs;

    under its branches all the beasts of the field

        gave birth to their young,

    and under its shadow

        lived all great nations. 

    [7] It was beautiful in its greatness,

        in the length of its branches;

    for its roots went down

        to abundant waters. 

    [8] The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it,

        nor the fir trees equal its boughs;

    neither were the plane trees

        like its branches;

    no tree in the garden of God

        was its equal in beauty. 

    [9] I made it beautiful

        in the mass of its branches,

    and all the trees of Eden envied it,

        that were in the garden of God.

    [10] “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because it towered high and set its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height, [11] I will give it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations. He shall surely deal with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out. [12] Foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs have been broken in all the ravines of the land, and all the peoples of the earth have gone away from its shadow and left it. [13] On its fallen trunk dwell all the birds of the heavens, and on its branches are all the beasts of the field. [14] All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to towering height or set their tops among the clouds, and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height. For they are all given over to death, to the world below, among the children of man, with those who go down to the pit.

[15] “Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day the cedar went down to Sheol I caused mourning; I closed the deep over it, and restrained its rivers, and many waters were stopped. I clothed Lebanon in gloom for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it. [16] I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who go down to the pit. And all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the world below. [17] They also went down to Sheol with it, to those who are slain by the sword; yes, those who were its arm, who lived under its shadow among the nations.

[18] “Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? You shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the world below. You shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword. 

“This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD.” 

Ezekiel 32

A Lament over Pharaoh and Egypt

[1] In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: [2] “Son of man, raise a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: 

    “You consider yourself a lion of the nations,

        but you are like a dragon in the seas;

    you burst forth in your rivers,

        trouble the waters with your feet,

        and foul their rivers. 

    [3] Thus says the Lord GOD:

        I will throw my net over you

        with a host of many peoples,

        and they will haul you up in my dragnet. 

    [4] And I will cast you on the ground;

        on the open field I will fling you,

    and will cause all the birds of the heavens to settle on you,

        and I will gorge the beasts of the whole earth with you. 

    [5] I will strew your flesh upon the mountains

        and fill the valleys with your carcass. 

    [6] I will drench the land even to the mountains

        with your flowing blood,

        and the ravines will be full of you. 

    [7] When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens

        and make their stars dark;

    I will cover the sun with a cloud,

        and the moon shall not give its light. 

    [8] All the bright lights of heaven

        will I make dark over you,

        and put darkness on your land,

    declares the Lord GOD.

    [9] “I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries that you have not known. [10] I will make many peoples appalled at you, and the hair of their kings shall bristle with horror because of you, when I brandish my sword before them. They shall tremble every moment, every one for his own life, on the day of your downfall.

[11] “For thus says the Lord GOD: The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. [12] I will cause your multitude to fall by the swords of mighty ones, all of them most ruthless of nations. 

    “They shall bring to ruin the pride of Egypt,

        and all its multitude shall perish. 

    [13] I will destroy all its beasts

        from beside many waters;

    and no foot of man shall trouble them anymore,

        nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them. 

    [14] Then I will make their waters clear,

        and cause their rivers to run like oil,

    declares the Lord GOD. 

    [15] When I make the land of Egypt desolate,

        and when the land is desolate of all that fills it,

    when I strike down all who dwell in it,

        then they will know that I am the LORD.

    [16] This is a lamentation that shall be chanted; the daughters of the nations shall chant it; over Egypt, and over all her multitude, shall they chant it, declares the Lord GOD.”

[17] In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: [18] “Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt, and send them down, her and the daughters of majestic nations, to the world below, to those who have gone down to the pit:

    [19] ‘Whom do you surpass in beauty?

        Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised.’

    [20] They shall fall amid those who are slain by the sword. Egypt is delivered to the sword; drag her away, and all her multitudes. [21] The mighty chiefs shall speak of them, with their helpers, out of the midst of Sheol: ‘They have come down, they lie still, the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’

[22] “Assyria is there, and all her company, its graves all around it, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, [23] whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit; and her company is all around her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who spread terror in the land of the living.

[24] “Elam is there, and all her multitude around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who went down uncircumcised into the world below, who spread their terror in the land of the living; and they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit. [25] They have made her a bed among the slain with all her multitude, her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for terror of them was spread in the land of the living, and they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are placed among the slain.

[26] “Meshech-Tubal is there, and all her multitude, her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for they spread their terror in the land of the living. [27] And they do not lie with the mighty, the fallen from among the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid under their heads, and whose iniquities are upon their bones; for the terror of the mighty men was in the land of the living. [28] But as for you, you shall be broken and lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword.

[29] “Edom is there, her kings and all her princes, who for all their might are laid with those who are killed by the sword; they lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.

[30] “The princes of the north are there, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who have gone down in shame with the slain, for all the terror that they caused by their might; they lie uncircumcised with those who are slain by the sword, and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.

[31] “When Pharaoh sees them, he will be comforted for all his multitude, Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword, declares the Lord GOD. [32] For I spread terror in the land of the living; and he shall be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD.”

Are You Excited for Heaven?

PRAY OVER THIS

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20

 

PONDER THIS

Many people ask what Heaven is going to be like. Are we going to have beds? Are we going to sleep? Will we eat? How old will we be? What will we do? I don’t know the answers to those questions, but that doesn’t bother me.

For 1 John 3:2 says, “It has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” You don't have to know. Let me tell you what Heaven is going to be like. It’s going to be the presence of all that is good and the absence of all that is evil.

Now, if that doesn’t satisfy you, let me give you something else. Heaven is going to be all that the loving heart of God can conceive, and the omnipotent hand of God can prepare. That is what Heaven is going to be. It’s a present place; it’s a perfect place; and it’s a purposeful place.

What questions about Heaven have you wrestled with?

What does it look like to hold to the certainty of Heaven without knowing exactly what it will be like?

PRACTICE THIS

Cast on the Lord your fears and questions about death and Heaven. Ask Him to grow your trust in Him, believing His Word even if you don’t have all the answers.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

We Are His House

Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses — as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:3–6)

The people who boast and hope in Jesus Christ are the house of God. Which means that Jesus this very day — not just back in Moses’s day or in his own days on earth — but this very day is our Maker, our Owner, our Ruler, and our Provider.

Jesus is called the “builder” of this house. Moses was not the builder. He was part of the house. So it says, “Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses — as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” So Moses, as great as he was in leading the house, and giving God’s word to the house, was still just a part of the house. But Jesus built the house.

So if we boast in Jesus and hope in Jesus, we are the house, and Jesus is our Builder, and Owner and Ruler and Provider. He does not let his house be destroyed or fall into ruin.

Then the writer changes the imagery — from builder and house, to son and servant. “Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant . . . but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son.” So Christ did become part of the house — part of the household — he built. But even so, his honor is far above Moses. Moses was a servant. Christ is the Son. The heir.

And we are part of this household. Hebrews 3:6: “And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” By all means, let us respect and give Moses his due. But the point of the whole book of Hebrews is: Christ is greater. Greater in every way. He is the builder of the house of God’s people. And he is the Son in the house of God’s people. Let us respect Moses. But let us worship Jesus — our Maker, our brother.

John Piper 

How Do We Sin Against God

Psalm 119:11

    [11] I have stored up your word in my heart,

        that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 51:1-3

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

    [1] Have mercy on me, O God,

        according to your steadfast love;

    according to your abundant mercy

        blot out my transgressions. 

    [2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

        and cleanse me from my sin!

    [3] For I know my transgressions,

        and my sin is ever before me.

Psalm 37:31

    [31] The law of his God is in his heart;

        his steps do not slip.

Psalm 51:4-6

    [4] Against you, you only, have I sinned

        and done what is evil in your sight,

    so that you may be justified in your words

        and blameless in your judgment. 

    [5] Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

        and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

    [6] Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

        and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Sin begins in our heart in the form of rebellion.

We rebel by willful disobedience.

It is the very nature of Satan who by his disobedience was thrown out of Heaven.

He is a liar. 

He entices you to sin by breaking God's holy commandments.

He wants you to deny God.

He wants you to put self forward and do all the evil things the mind can conjure.