"When the shift gets heavy"
One verse, one thought—something steady for whatever the day brings.
Week 16
The Piety of knowing God:
John 14:21 ESV
[21] Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
Whosoever keeps Christ's commandments loves Christ, but what does it mean to keep his commandments? Does it mean our perfect obedience? No, for in the Gospel we look to Christ’s obedience and righteousness, not our own, for salvation (Rom. 5:19; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 2:8-9). Should we then say, “let us sin that grace may abound”? God Forbid! Paul speaks clearly against it in Romans 6:1-11. What then is the right relationship between the Law and the Gospel? The answer is love for God.
Think of the sinful woman who wiped Christ’s feet with her hair and tears in Luke 7:47. Of her Christ says, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” We are saved by grace through faith alone; there is no room for our performance. It is Christ alone. This great act of divine mercy in our lives completely dissolves a heart of stone and irresistibly turns it towards loving God. Whosoever keeps God’s commandments, then, loves Him, and His love will abound forever in the hearts of His children who turn to Him in faith for the forgiveness of their sins. For in Christ, we have died to the crushing perfection of the law to now be free to love God rather than sin.
Thank you, Father, for your great mercy towards us sinners. Though we continue to struggle against sin, you have softened our hearts to taste sin for the bitter vomit it is. Help us, Lord, as we devote our life to you, to grow in your love and rest in your grace. Amen.
John 14:21 ESV
[21] Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
Whosoever keeps Christ's commandments loves Christ, but what does it mean to keep his commandments? Does it mean our perfect obedience? No, for in the Gospel we look to Christ’s obedience and righteousness, not our own, for salvation (Rom. 5:19; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 2:8-9). Should we then say, “let us sin that grace may abound”? God Forbid! Paul speaks clearly against it in Romans 6:1-11. What then is the right relationship between the Law and the Gospel? The answer is love for God.
Think of the sinful woman who wiped Christ’s feet with her hair and tears in Luke 7:47. Of her Christ says, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” We are saved by grace through faith alone; there is no room for our performance. It is Christ alone. This great act of divine mercy in our lives completely dissolves a heart of stone and irresistibly turns it towards loving God. Whosoever keeps God’s commandments, then, loves Him, and His love will abound forever in the hearts of His children who turn to Him in faith for the forgiveness of their sins. For in Christ, we have died to the crushing perfection of the law to now be free to love God rather than sin.
Thank you, Father, for your great mercy towards us sinners. Though we continue to struggle against sin, you have softened our hearts to taste sin for the bitter vomit it is. Help us, Lord, as we devote our life to you, to grow in your love and rest in your grace. Amen.
Week 15
Priority of knowing God:
Jeremiah 9:24 ESV (Tie in with John 17:3)
[24] but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.
Though the world treasures wisdom, power, and riches, those who have been enlightened by God know that the true treasure of existence is knowing who God is and understanding His sovereign and Holy will over our lives (Jer. 9:23-24). Knowing God therefore allows us to rest in a peace that surpasses all understanding since it is not dependent on careers, social standing, saving accounts or even friends and family but on God’s faithfulness to all those who seek refuge in Him.
In chapters 15-16 of the Gospel of John, Christ soberly warns that Christians will encounter hardship in the world. Therefore, let us consider His words and not fall prey to a false gospel that promises riches, and comfort. This is not to say Christians will live in poverty, and their basic needs won't be provided for. On the contrary, God promises to provide for our sustenance and clothing (Matt.6:31-33).
Instead, the warning from John 15-16 is for us to examine what our hearts trust, need, find refuge in, and worship. Afterwards Christ encourages us to reorient our hearts to find our peace in Him. By prioritizing knowing God through Christ, our eternal standing as His sons and daughters is assured and He is our true comfort in life and death (John 16:33; 17:1-3).
Father, we praise you for your redeeming power. Thank you for saving us from the world and bringing us into communion with you through your Son. Help us O Lord, to keep our eyes on you rather than the worries of the world. Help us to prioritize growing in faith and resting in you as our Father and refuge. Amen.
Jeremiah 9:24 ESV (Tie in with John 17:3)
[24] but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.
Though the world treasures wisdom, power, and riches, those who have been enlightened by God know that the true treasure of existence is knowing who God is and understanding His sovereign and Holy will over our lives (Jer. 9:23-24). Knowing God therefore allows us to rest in a peace that surpasses all understanding since it is not dependent on careers, social standing, saving accounts or even friends and family but on God’s faithfulness to all those who seek refuge in Him.
In chapters 15-16 of the Gospel of John, Christ soberly warns that Christians will encounter hardship in the world. Therefore, let us consider His words and not fall prey to a false gospel that promises riches, and comfort. This is not to say Christians will live in poverty, and their basic needs won't be provided for. On the contrary, God promises to provide for our sustenance and clothing (Matt.6:31-33).
Instead, the warning from John 15-16 is for us to examine what our hearts trust, need, find refuge in, and worship. Afterwards Christ encourages us to reorient our hearts to find our peace in Him. By prioritizing knowing God through Christ, our eternal standing as His sons and daughters is assured and He is our true comfort in life and death (John 16:33; 17:1-3).
Father, we praise you for your redeeming power. Thank you for saving us from the world and bringing us into communion with you through your Son. Help us O Lord, to keep our eyes on you rather than the worries of the world. Help us to prioritize growing in faith and resting in you as our Father and refuge. Amen.
Week 14
Perversity of Rejecting the True God:
Psalm 14:1 ESV
[1] The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
The fool says there is no God. This belief, whether declared openly or held privately, corrupts the heart of man. If God is not real, there is no objective foundation for right and wrong. Even our consciences can be hardened and trained to justify what is convenient rather than what is virtuous.
Therefore, Scripture calls the atheist a fool, for every human being possesses a conscience that testifies to right and wrong and which holds us accountable to our actions. Yet without God, there is no objective standard by which we ought to live, leaving only our subjective desires to govern us. Love becomes self-centered, justice becomes our will, and good becomes whatever brings us pleasure.
On the other hand, those whose hearts have been illuminated by God can recognize the truth, beauty, and goodness in creation which point to our creator and redeemer. Now being saved from the bondage of sin, we are free to live to God. Though we still stumble and wrestle with sin, we no longer trust sin to save us; instead, we cry out to our Lord Jesus to save us from ourselves.
Anselm portrays this beautifully, "I do not seek, Lord, to reach your heights, for my intellect is as nothing compared to them. But I seek in some way to understand your truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but rather believe in order to understand." Amen.
Psalm 14:1 ESV
[1] The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
The fool says there is no God. This belief, whether declared openly or held privately, corrupts the heart of man. If God is not real, there is no objective foundation for right and wrong. Even our consciences can be hardened and trained to justify what is convenient rather than what is virtuous.
Therefore, Scripture calls the atheist a fool, for every human being possesses a conscience that testifies to right and wrong and which holds us accountable to our actions. Yet without God, there is no objective standard by which we ought to live, leaving only our subjective desires to govern us. Love becomes self-centered, justice becomes our will, and good becomes whatever brings us pleasure.
On the other hand, those whose hearts have been illuminated by God can recognize the truth, beauty, and goodness in creation which point to our creator and redeemer. Now being saved from the bondage of sin, we are free to live to God. Though we still stumble and wrestle with sin, we no longer trust sin to save us; instead, we cry out to our Lord Jesus to save us from ourselves.
Anselm portrays this beautifully, "I do not seek, Lord, to reach your heights, for my intellect is as nothing compared to them. But I seek in some way to understand your truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but rather believe in order to understand." Amen.
Week 13
The Possibility of Knowing the True God:
Isaiah 43:10 ESV
[10] “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
Scripture speaks of Satan's deception over the world and those whose minds have been blinded from knowing God (Rev. 12:9, 2 Cor. 4:4). Thankfully by grace we are not left in such darkness for the Lord has made Himself known to us who know, believe, and understand that He alone is God and Savior (Isa. 43:10, 2 Cor. 4:6).
Because of this, we can have confidence that God who has begun a good work in us will see it through to completion (Phil. 1:6). He does not relate to us as strangers, but as a Father who has great patience, love, and wisdom to guide us through the growing pains of our spiritual life. We have been saved from an existence apart from Him and instead called to grow in intimacy with Him. Not just as His servants but as His children and heirs of His heavenly kingdom. As Martin Luther writes, "if a man could comprehend the great excellency of this matter...this man would esteem all the power and riches of all the kingdoms of the world, but as dung, in comparison to his eternal inheritance."
Father, we praise you for your abounding grace towards us who know you. Though the world walks in darkness and apart from your light, you have chosen us to be your sons and daughters. Therefore, help us through this present sojourning in this spiritual wilderness and remind us of our eternal inheritance with you as we grow to trust and know you. Amen.
Isaiah 43:10 ESV
[10] “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
Scripture speaks of Satan's deception over the world and those whose minds have been blinded from knowing God (Rev. 12:9, 2 Cor. 4:4). Thankfully by grace we are not left in such darkness for the Lord has made Himself known to us who know, believe, and understand that He alone is God and Savior (Isa. 43:10, 2 Cor. 4:6).
Because of this, we can have confidence that God who has begun a good work in us will see it through to completion (Phil. 1:6). He does not relate to us as strangers, but as a Father who has great patience, love, and wisdom to guide us through the growing pains of our spiritual life. We have been saved from an existence apart from Him and instead called to grow in intimacy with Him. Not just as His servants but as His children and heirs of His heavenly kingdom. As Martin Luther writes, "if a man could comprehend the great excellency of this matter...this man would esteem all the power and riches of all the kingdoms of the world, but as dung, in comparison to his eternal inheritance."
Father, we praise you for your abounding grace towards us who know you. Though the world walks in darkness and apart from your light, you have chosen us to be your sons and daughters. Therefore, help us through this present sojourning in this spiritual wilderness and remind us of our eternal inheritance with you as we grow to trust and know you. Amen.
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