Devotional Notes Psalm 125+John 13

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MORNING

Psalm 125

B1 What does this mean?

C1 Two topics

D1 Trusting in God

E1 2 Kings 18:5-6 GNB Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; Judah never had another king like him, either before or after his time. 6 He was faithful to the LORD and never disobeyed him, but carefully kept all the commands that the LORD had given Moses.

E2 Isaiah 28:16 GNB This, now, is what the Sovereign LORD says: "I am placing in Zion a foundation that is firm and strong. In it I am putting a solid cornerstone on which are written the words, 'Faith that is firm is also patient.'

E3 Verse 3, Clarke writes: Rod, here. may be taken for persecution, or for rule; and then it may be thus interpreted: "The wicked shall not be permitted to persecute always, nor to have a permanent rule."

D2 A contrast between the believer and the rejecter in life and the after life.

E1 Believer will receive good from God. Good is defined by God as perfect, so compare creation.

F1 Good, that is perfectly good, is a character trait of God. With the grace given by the Holy Spirit, we also are to be and do good.

F2 Contrasted: Psalms 52:3 GNB You love evil more than good and falsehood more than truth.

F3 Example of one who is enemy of good: the magician in Acts 13:10 GNB and said, "You son of the Devil! You are the enemy of everything that is good. You are full of all kinds of evil tricks, and you always keep trying to turn the Lord's truths into lies!

F4 Good is not something in our human nature: Paul writes: Romans 7:18 GNB I know that good does not live in me—that is, in my human nature. For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it.

F5 God does the preparing, we do the work: Ephesians 2:10 GW God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.

E2 The rejecter

F1 Will be rejected by God.

G1 Proverbs 11:20 GNB The LORD hates evil-minded people, but loves those who do right.

G2 Proverbs 6:16-19 NRSV There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil, 19 a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one who sows discord in a family.

F2 Has no peace and no future goodness: Isaiah 57:21 NRSV There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.

C2 1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

B2 How do I apply this to my life? Believe and serve Yahweh.

EVENING

John 13

B1 What does this mean?

C1 Jesus Washes the Disciple’s Feet

D1 Most Christians do not take this passage in its plain, normal sense. I certainly will not argue. It is a memorial and is humbling, and serving our fellow believers with love. But, the question should be asked, “Am I willing?”

D2 It also shows the attitude we must have for all. Some take advantage of this serving and love to abuse. We are not to serve this type of person. God will serve them with justice at judgment.

D3 Ryle commenting on this passage writes:

Well would it be for the Church if this very simple truth was more remembered, and real humility was not so sadly rare. Perhaps there is no sight so displeasing in God's eyes as a self-conceited, self-satisfied, self-contented, stuck-up professor of religion. Alas, it is a sight only too common! Yet the words which John here records have never been repealed. They will be a swift witness against many at the last day, except they repent.

C2 Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

D1 100% fulfilled prophecy is truly an authentication of one’s credentials. Jesus is Messiah, the I AM.

D2 Verse 21, again the emotions of Jesus. The word distress (troubled in KJV) has the idea of being disturbed. It is the opposite of being calm.

D3 Verse 22, those who followed Jesus the closest did not know who Jesus was speaking of. Judas must have been an awesome fake. How many of our church people might be the same. We should at least be aware of the fact.

D4 Verse 26, as others have pointed out, this was the last appeal to Judas.

C3 Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

D1 Ryle commenting on verse 33 writes:

Of course the words applied to the Jews meant that Jesus was going to a place where spiritually and morally the Jews were unfit to go, and in their impenitent state could not go. The words applied to the disciples only meant that Jesus was going into a world where they could not follow Him till they died. They were remaining on earth, and He was going to heaven.

D2 Jesus showed love to His disciples in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. He expressed these in many speeches, many miracles, many fulfilled prophecies, etc.

B2 How do I apply this to my life?

How is God Good?

What is "good," and what is "bad?"

We can only know what is good or bad by God's interaction with creation. God is totally consistent. We sees God's goodness in God sending the rain on the just and unjust. We see God's goodness in that He sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to be the savior of whosoever will. Now, it must be said, we are not born "good." We are evil to the core. We have original sin which is we choose our own way and thoughts as being the best, the ultimate, and our own comfort is first. Nor, is there some spark in us that in our own strength we can see God. We do not seek God! "

What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. Just as it is written: "There is none righteous, no not one. There is none who understands; there is none who seeks God. All have turned aside; together they became unprofitable; there is not one doing kindness, there is not so much as one." (Romans 3:9-12, EMTV)

Salvation is initiated by God Himself. If God did not initiate salvation, no one would ever be saved, forgiven, or go to heaven.

I know what evil is, because God shows us His character, which is good. The opposite then is bad, evil. God has a way of life:

1. "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." (Genesis 18:19, NKJV)
   
2. Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9, NKJV)
   
3. He said, "O full of all guile and all craft, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? (Acts 13:10, EMTV)
   

Sinners (all of us) have a different way of life.

1. Who in the generations gone by permitted all the Gentiles to walk in their ways. (Acts 14:16, EMTV)
   
2. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime to accomplish the will of the Gentiles—having walked in wantonness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. (1 Peter 4:3, EMTV)
   

Dr. Roger Olsen penned an article on his Patheos blog that is a very worthy read.

C. S. Lewis Said It: God's "Goodness" Cannot Be Wholly Other

For years now I have been insisting that the main reason I am not a Calvinist (or any kind of divine determinist) is that, taken to its "good and necessary consequences," Calvinism makes God morally monstrous. I fully realize and understand that many Calvinists do not see this and disagree. Of course they do. In my opinion, most simply close their eyes to the fact that if God creates some people, created in his image and likeness, for hell or even merely "passes over some" when he could save them (because election is unconditional and grace irresistible), then God is not good in any meaningful sense. If God does this, then "God is good" means nothing other than "God is God"—a tautology. "Good" tells us nothing about God in addition to "he is God."

When I push this "button" on Calvinism to a Calvinist he or she usually retreats…

The difference between a Calvinist (full TULIP) and Classical/Reformed Arminian is wide. This article definitely is worthy of 5 minutes of your time.