The Excellence of Love

 S -  1 Cor 13 (NASB)

   If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may [a]glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it [b]keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [c]prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I [d]became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror [e]dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the [f]greatest of these is love,

O -  Love is the greatest of the characters of God that he wants us to example. Love is patient, kind, not jealous, not proud,  is humble.  It does not act disgracefully, and works not for its own good but for the glory of God.  Love is not easily provoked, and is quick to forgive when an offense against it is suffered. Paul is speaking all of these things to the church at Corinth and reminding them of the most important character trait to display.

A - The application for me is to make sure that I love well.  I am not to use these traits to get my way but rather love to get God's way.  I must trust in my faith in God that He will lead me to love His way.   I must put my hope in the Lord that He might restore my family and my ability to love them well.  I must plant seeds of love in my wife and my girls and cultivate and nurture them so it may grow strong and deep.   

P - Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for I once again have treated you daughter Abby poorly.  I pray that you would provide her comfort and healing and if it is your will provide these to her through me.  I pray all this in Jesus' name,  Amen. 

Avoid foolishness and fool

 S - Prov 26:4-12  (NASB)

Do not answer a fool [b]according to his foolishness,

Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be wise in his own eyes.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Like [c]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8 Like [d]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that [e]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 [f]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who repeats [g]his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

O - My observation is there is plenty to avoid when it comes to foolishness and the fool himself.    I am to no answer a fool in his foolish talk, but if I do answer , answer as he deserves.  Don't deliver a message by the had of a fool because the information will not travel far in the foolish.  I am not to hire fools  because they return to their foolishness like a dog to its vomit.   

A - The application for me is to wary of foolishness in those around me.   Foolishness walks on a different path that the way of truth in which I desire to walk.    Avoid fools and foolishness at all cost.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray that you would help me to keep my distance from foolishness,   my own foolish thoughts or those around me.  I pray all this in Jesus' name, amen.

The Holy Spirit, Our Victory

 Galations 5 (TPT)

16 As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self - life.[e] 17 For your self - life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your old self - life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self - life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.[f]

18 But when you are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit[g] of grace, you will no longer be living under the domination of the law, but soaring above it!

19 The cravings of the self-life are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, 20 chasing after things instead of God,[h] manipulating others,[i] hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, 21 being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions,[j] wild parties, and all other similar behavior.

Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things[k] will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!

22–23 But the fruit[l] produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:[m]

joy that overflows,[n]

peace that subdues,

patience[o] that endures,

kindness[p] in action,

a life full of virtue,[q]

faith that prevails,

gentleness of heart, and

strength of spirit.[r]

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.[s]

The sin that was not forgiven

 S - Numbers 15:30-36   (NASB)

30 “‘But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or foreigner, blasphemes the Lord and must be cut off from the people of Israel. 31 Because they have despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.’”

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

32 While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.” 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses.

O - Matthew Henry "

• I. The general doom passed upon presumptuous sinners.
  • 1. Those are to be reckoned presumptuous sinners that sin with a high hand, as the original phrase is (v. 30), that is, that avowedly confront God's authority, and set up their own lust in competition with it, that sin for sinning-sake, in contradiction to the precept of the law, and in defiance of the penalty, that fight against God, and dare him to do his worst; see Job 15:25. It is not only to sin against knowledge, but to sin designedly against God's will and glory.
  • 2. Sins thus committed are exceedingly sinful. He that thus breaks the commandment,
    • (1.) Reproaches the Lord (v. 30); he says the worst he can of him, and most unjustly. The language of presumptuous sin is, "Eternal truth is not fit to be believed, the Lord of all not fit to be obeyed, and almighty power not fit to be either feared or trusted.' It imputes folly to Infinite Wisdom, and iniquity to the righteous Judge of heaven and earth; such is the malignity of wilful sin.
    • (2.) He despises the word of the Lord, v. 31. There are those who, in many instances, come short of fulfilling the word, and yet have a great value for it, and count the law honourable; but presumptuous sinners despise it, thinking themselves too great, too good, and too wise, to be ruled by it. What is the Almighty that we should serve him? Whatever the sin itself is, it is contumacy that incurs the anathema. It is rebellion added to the sin that is as witch-craft, and stubbornness as idolatry.
  • 3. The sentence passed on such is dreadful. There remains no sacrifice for those sins; the law provided none: That soul shall be cut off from among his people (v. 30), utterly cut off (v. 31); and that God may be for ever justified, and the sinner for ever confounded, his iniquity shall be upon him, and there needs no more to sink him to the lowest hell. Thus the Jewish doctors understand it, that the iniquity shall cleave to the soul, after it is cut off, and that man shall give an account of his sin at the great day of judgment. Perhaps the kind of offence might be such as did not expose the offender to the censure of the civil magistrate, but, if it was done presumptuously, God himself would take the punishment of it into his own hands, and into them it is a fearful thing to fall. In the New Testament we find the like sentence of exclusion from all benefit by the great sacrifice passed upon the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and a total apostasy from Christianity.
• II. A particular instance of presumption in the sin of sabbath-breaking.
• 1. The offence was the gathering of sticks on the sabbath day (v. 32), which, it is probable, were designed to make a fire of, whereas they were commanded to bake and seeth what they had occasion for the day before, Ex. 16:23. This seemed but a small offence, but it was a violation of the law of the sabbath, and so was a tacit contempt of the Creator, to whose honour the sabbath was dedicated, and an incursion upon the whole law, which the sabbath was intended as a hedge about. And it appears by the context to have been done presumptuously, and in affront both of the law and to the Law-maker.
• 2. The offender was secured, v. 33, 34. Those that found him gathering sticks, in their zeal for the honour of the sabbath, brought him to Moses and Aaron, and all the congregation, which intimates that being the sabbath day the congregation was at that time gathered to Moses and Aaron, to receive instruction from them, and to join with them in religious worship. It seems, even common Israelites, though there was much amiss among them, yet would not contentedly see the sabbath profaned, which was a good sign that they had not quite forsaken God, nor were utterly forsaken of him.
• 3. God was consulted, because it was not declared what should be done to him. The law had already made the profanation of the sabbath a capital crime (Ex. 31:14, ch. 35:2); but they were in doubt, either concerning the offence (whether this that he had done should be deemed a profanation or no) or concerning the punishment, which death he should die. God was the Judge, and before him they brought this cause.
• 4. Sentence was passed; the prisoner was adjudged a sabbath-breaker, according to the intent of that law, and as such he must be put to death; and to show how great the crime was, and how displeasing to God, and that others might hear and fear and not do in like manner presumptuously, that death is appointed him which was looked upon as most terrible: He must be stoned with stones, v. 35. Note, God is jealous for the honour of his sabbaths, and will not hold those guiltless, whatever men do, that profane them.
• 5. Execution was done pursuant to the sentence, v. 36. He was stoned to death by the congregation. As many as could were employed in the execution, that those, at least, might be afraid of breaking the sabbath, who had thrown a stone at this sabbath-breaker. This intimates that the open profanation of the sabbath is a sin which ought to be punished and restrained by the civil magistrate, who, as far as overt acts go, is keeper of both tables. See Neh. 13:17. One would think there could be no great harm in gathering a few sticks, on what day so ever it was, but God intended the exemplary punishment of him that did so for a standing warning to us all, to make conscience of keeping holy the sabbath."
• A - There are sins in which a sacrifice and repentance is not able to restore the sinner. Here we see a man collecting firewood on the Sabbath and the people brought him to Moses and Aaron who asked God what should they do with this man.  The lord proclaimed he should be put to death.  Now this seemed harsh to me for simply gathering wood on a Sunday but the Matthew Henry commentary shed some light on this for me. This passage comes after the  Lord had gone through a series of atonements that the people would be required if they unknowingly sin.   But in verse 30 turns to a person who knowingly sins.   You see the man gathering wood on the Sabbath was not only working on the Sabbath was likely building a fire to cook or even worse offer his own sacrifices.  The Sabbath commandment had everyone on the 6th day gather enough manna for two days and cook it so they would have something to eat.  This man clearly was not following the commandment and must be made an example of to the congregation which is why the Lord has the congregation stone him.  For me i must desperately seek to look at myself and see where I might be defiantly disobedient to the commandments of the Lord.  I know I have coveted others and sinned by looking covetedly at other women.   I must stop doing this and when I am doing it recognize it as an act of rebellion against God.  I must confess and repent my sin.  Reconcile myself with God through Jesus and seek to right my marriage which is damaged by such acts.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion my it be sealed to my heart and convict me to avoid sin which breaks my covenant with God and with my wife.  I pray Lord you would forgive me for these acts of self indulgence and allow me to return to you and restore my relationship with you and my wife.  I pray all these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

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New convenant in new wineskins

 S - Mark 2: 21-22 (NASB)

21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, [k]the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”

O -  This passage Jesus speaks to his followers following a meal that He eats with a bunch of Tax Collectors , likely at Matthew's (Levi) house.  The Pharisee's were grumbling that He was eating dinner with tax collectors , when Jesus said to them I came for the the sick , not the healthy, and that this new covenant message would be poured into new followers the same way new wine is poured into new wineskins which are made of new skin that can stretch and expand.  If you put new wine into old wineskins they would burst.  And if you tried to put a new patch on an old leaky wineskin the patch will pull away from the old leaving a bigger hole.  

A - The application for me is recognize I am new wineskin and the Lord has poured out His message of salvation into me.    Now I am to allow it ferment and expand inside of me and allow it to be poured out onto those who have not received His message of grace and salvation. 

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would seal this message to my heart.  That my heart would be filled with your Holy Spirit and that the fullness of my heart would be shared with those that you have put before me .  I pray all this in Jesus' name,  Amen. 

Healing by Jesus

 S - Mark 1:40-45    (NASB)

40 A man with leprosy[h] came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41 Jesus feeling compassion, reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

O - This healing was at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.   He was beginning to have large crowds follow Him and the crowds  would bring their sick and demon afflicted.    Jesus having compassion on them healed them but commanded them to not tell anyone who did the healing but rather go to the priests and give the offerings expected to one who has been healed by God.   Jesus tried to limit the crowds so that they didn't become out of control.  Once they became two large and in danger of the crowds making Him King before His time, he would leave and go somewhere new.

A - The application for me is to remember to come humbly before the Lord when seeking healing.  The man with leprosy came humble seeking healing if Jesus was willing.  He proclaimed he knew Jesus was able,  and that only if He was willing would He heal the man.  I too face some ailments which I know in my heart Jesus is able to heal.  My diabetes and my bipolar depression are the top of my list.  I need only to humble myself and come before Jesus willing to accept his decision on if He would heal me.  I am to come not to test His abilities but to strengthen my faith.  

P - Dear heavenly Father I thank you for today's reminder that you are a God who heals, and that you are willing and able to heal me of my ailments.  Lord I come now humbly seeking your healing from my diabetic condition and from my bipolar depression.  I know you are willing and able.  I accept you healing in  whatever its form and timing.  I ask that you help me to know and understand you plan and I repent from any sin that may have brought on these ailments, whether it be generational sin or sin that I myself have committed.   I pray all this in Jesus' name, amen. 

The good shepherd

 S -  Psalm 23 (NASB)

The Lord is my shepherd,
I will not be in need.  He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For the sake of His name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
 Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life,
And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.

O - David's psalm about times spent in the valley has given many Christians a sense of hope during valley seasons in their life.   The premise of the Psalm is that God is our Shepherd, and not just any shepherd He is the good shepherd who comforts and protects us;  provides a safe place for us to eat and rest. He restores our worn and tattered soul and then shows us the path to righteousness.  And when we find ourselves journeying through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear nothing because we know He will guide us and and direct us to ensure our end does not come.   In the presence of my enemies He provides for my well being,  my cup is overflowing with the springs that give life,  and surely goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my house as I live in the house of the Lord forever.

A - The application for me is to recognize I have a good shepherd who leads and protects me.  Wherever He leads me he provides for all my needs.  He gives me food and rest in the abundant pastures He leads me to and protects me from my sinful nature and from the attacks of the devil.  As I travel through the valley seasons in my life he guides me and makes a way for me to survive the trying times.  

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this psalm of Davide reminding me of who you are, my good shepherd who comforts and guides me.  I pray that you would guide me where I need to be this year and where I am to put my hand to the plow.  I  pray all these things, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Reconciled through Christ

 S - Psalm 22;1-5, 15-18 (NASB)

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my [b]help are the words of my [c]groaning.
2 My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but [d]I have no rest.
3 Yet You are holy,
You who [e]are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You rescued them.
5 To You they cried out and they fled to safety;
In You they trusted and were not [f]disappointed.

...

My strength is dried up like a piece of pottery,
And my tongue clings to my jaws;
And You lay me [m]in the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
[n]A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
[o]They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
18 They divide my garments among them,
And they cast lots for my clothing.

O - This psalm is a revelation of the coming savior Jesus, who had been persecuted by the people of Israel,  captured and beaten He was sentenced to death on a cross.  While hanging on the cross, he paid the price for all of humanities sin.  It was while he was on the cross his captures cast lots for His clothing.   

A - The application for me is to remember the cross and the salvation it bought for me.   For while I was alone in my sin,  Jesus died for me, so that I might be reconciled with the Father.  

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for the words of this psalm written to prophesy the life of Jesus , whom you sent from heaven to reconcile us all with you.   I pray that you would help me draw from this knowledge and walk in reconciliation to you.  I pray all this in Jesus' name, Amen.  

A humble heart

 S - Proverbs 18 (NASB)

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.

 O- My observation is that humility is a key trait of an effective Christian.   Without humility,  pride rules the day and causes one to make decisions that are unwise.  A humble heart however carefully considers his position and does not seek to elevate oneself but rather humbly serve.

A - The heart of a humble servant leads to a way of prosperity and peace.   I need to remember not who I am but rather whose I AM.    As a humble servant of God and His people, and will use my gifts to serve and glorify the Lord.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's word of wisdom, may it be sealed to my heart.   I pray all this in Jesus' name, Amen.

A Joyful heart

 S - Proverbs 17: 4-5 (NASB)

A joyful heart [i]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

O - My observation is that God has created us to be healed and whole.  It starts with inside us for from a joyful heart comes healing from within.  Our bodies are held up by our strong bones which are made strong by our spirit within us.  A broken spirt dries up the bones, but a peaceful spirit strengthens our bones.

A- The application for me is to recognize that I must fill and maintain a joyful heart and allow the spirit in me to strengthen my bones.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's reminder to live heart first filled with a strong spirit.  I pray that you would  seal this message to my heart.  I pray all this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Committ my works to the Lord

 S - Proverbs 16: 1-3 (NASB)

16 The plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord examines the [a]motives.
3 [b]Commit your works to the Lord,
And your plans will be established.

O -  My observation is the wisdom of Solomon  is this , to commit my works to the Lord.   For those who plan ahead it is important that they understand their motives for their plans and that they are clean and formed by the knowledge of who God is.   When my words and actions are from the Lord they shall be established.

A -  The application for me is to understand that I can and need to partner wit the Lord on the plans that I make.  I must be sure my motives are pure and commit my plans to the Lord and he will establish my plans.    I must seek the Lord for my post Navy retirement plans.  In my heart I want to make a way that is fully provisioned for my family , and one that fulfills me.   

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's proverbs may their wisdom be sealed to my heart and guide me in all my ways.   I pray Lord that you would show me the way for my vocation and calling in my life.  I pray all this in Jesus' name, Amen.