before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”— 2 purpose in creating man: to work and keep [literally: to serve/worship God and maintain holiness] (Genesis 2:15).

You likely are in authority over some and in submission to others. Humble yourself before the Lord in both roles. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 104 Q. What is God’s will for you in the fifth commandment? A. That I honor, love, and be loyal to my father and mother and all those in authority over me; that I obey and submit to them, as is proper, when they correct and punish me; and also that I be patient with their failings— for through them God chooses to rule us. Summary This famous account of David being confronted with his sin makes for an excellent model for how parents ought to discipline as well as how children ought to submit themselves to that discipline. Remember what we were reminded of yesterday, that the fifth commandment obligates us to not only honor our parents, but all those in authority over us. King David is a powerful, rich and very well established monarch, and normally men in his position are above the law and able to do as they please. The fact that David humbled himself before Nathan is a tremendous example of how even people and institutions who have authority over some spheres of life must submit themselves in other spheres. Parents have authority over their children, but must submit to the government and the Church. The Church must submit itself to the Lord and, to a much lesser extent, the government. The government, in an ideal world at least, submits itself to the people and to a lesser degree, the Church. In this way, everybody who has authority must also simultaneously be in submission. Ultimately, like David, we must recognize that all authority is delegated by the Lord, so all submission is ultimately to Him. It's likely that David felt internal guilt for the sins he had committed, as he writes about it so poignantly in Psalm 51. Even so, the initial inclination of most of us when we're called out for something we instinctively knew was wrong is to deny we did it or make excuses for why we did it. Yet David does none of that. We're so used to seeing those with power squirm their way out of trouble when they've been caught red handed, but David instantly and genuinely confesses his sin against the Lord. Dig Deeper Nathan provides a beautiful example of how to discipline those you've been given authority over. He responds to God's call to insert himself in a very awkward and potentially dangerous situation to confront sin (this is a call we all have to one degree or another). He doesn't maliciously attack or impugn David's character, but instead he winsomely guides David into condemning himself. And he instantly communicates God's grace upon David's heartfelt repentance while at the same time holding David accountable for the awful consequences that come as a result of the sin. Keep both of these humble, godly men in mind as you exercise both authority and submission in your life. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who uses authority figures to call us out of our sinful ways; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for the examples of David and Nathan and pray that you will fulfil the roles God has given you in a godly way; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Titus 3

'Keep your head in all situations' and don't follow your 'itching ears.' 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NIV) In the judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2   Today: 2 Timothy 2

Don't appear before God until you've lawyered-up. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 36 Q. How does the holy conception and birth of Christ benefit you? A. He is our mediator, and with his innocence and perfect holiness he removes from God’s sight my sin—mine since I was conceived. Summary As we noticed yesterday, we've been turning to the book of Hebrews often the last few weeks, and in fact, we're going to come right back to this same book again tomorrow. Whereas the gospel accounts focus on the things Jesus did historically, and Paul's epistles teach us about how the doctrines of grace Jesus made possible ought to shape our lives as we look forward to His return, the book of Hebrews explains how Jesus fulfilled the role of mediator that the Old Testament spends so much time introducing in books that are often hard to wrap our head around like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. A defense attorney is a good example of a mediator: a person who stands between the judge and the accused, making sure that the defendant's case is presented well and that all exculpatory evidence is made known. But there are some shortcomings with this analogy. The defense attorney can never perfectly represent the defendant because their experiences have been so different. The attorney is never as motivated to win as the defendant, because the attorney won't have to serve the sentence if convicted. Worst, the defense attorney has nearly zero chance of exonerating the defendant if the evidence is massively overwhelming, as it is in the case of our sin before God. But you can be confident that you have perfect representation before the throne of God in heaven, because Jesus is your 'merciful and faithful high priest (mediator).' He perfectly represents you before God in ways that no defense attorney ever could. In order for Jesus to be your perfect mediator, v17 indicates that 'He had to be made like his brothers in every way.' As amazing and powerful as what the angelic host is, there are no angels that are qualified to represent you before God, because ultimately, an angel will never know what it's like to be you. But Jesus does, because Jesus took on flesh and faced the same sort of trials you face: Because Jesus himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (v18). Dig Deeper This is the third time now that the catechism has mentioned the word 'mediator' when referring to Jesus, emphasizing the importance of this concept. The problem is that most Christians are not very quick to think of Jesus first of all as their mediator. People often consider Him their friend they can count on, especially when times are tough. For many Jesus is primarily a guide and example for how to live. Unfortunately, most people - even Christians - don't really know much at all about Jesus. Knowing Jesus is your friend and example in life is certainly important, but be sure to first of all know Jesus can be your perfect mediator. He does this by being a: Prophet: representing God to you by teaching you God's will for your salvation; Priest: representing you to God, not just presenting testimony on your behalf, but by providing His own innocence and perfect holiness as if it were your own. Jesus is able to be this perfect mediator because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He always was and will be fully divine, so since He perfectly represents God, you ought to listen to Him. But Jesus was also born of the virgin Mary. He took on your humanity and experienced the same temptations you do, so He can perfectly represent you before God. Be reminded that He continues to do so every minute of every day. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, sitting on the throne, before whom all people must give an account. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for your mediator, Jesus Christ, and pray for the strength to listen to Him and fully trust Him in every regard. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Matthew 1

Photo credit: Michael Maasen via Unsplash Exodus 15:1–18 (NIV) 15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. 2   “The L ORD is my strength and my defense; he has your holy dwelling. 14  The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. 15 Summary Moses' psalm here in Exodus 15 is comprised of five parts - parts that are technically referred psalms throughout scripture like Exodus 15.

Luke 2:8–14 (NIV) 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their see this many times throughout Scripture, but especially we see it at the birth of our Lord, in Luke 2:

It's not until you realize what Christ gave up that you truly realize how amazing His grace is. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 24 Q. How are the three articles of the Apostle's Creed divided? A. Into three parts: God the Father and our creation; God the Son and our deliverance; God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification. Summary In demonstrating what it means to have the same mindset of Christ, this passage is one of the Bible's clearest christologies; meaning it's a fantastic resource to understand who and what Jesus, the second member of the Trinity, is: He's by nature God, but He then also assumed the nature of man. Having successfully completed His mission, God exalted Christ above all things. Paul writes that atheism is a temporary condition in v11 - every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord - even the atheists will need confess this truth! But in order to gain the everlasting benefits that come from confessing Jesus as Lord, you need to confess it here and now. Imagine one of your best life long friends, who gained success in every area of life, only to give up all they had to take all of the guilt and blame and consequences for all of the wrongs you had committed in your life. That's the picture that this passage paints of who Jesus is and what He did. Dig Deeper For many people, the fact that people sing in public at our worship services seems weird. After all, there are few places in our society where people sing together out loud! But it's quite likely that this passage was one of the church's first hymns. Even though singing seems weird in our society, God's people have always sung God's Word back to Him. Singing helps cement the words into your memory. This is why as we worship, after God's Word is read, the congregation often responds by singing God's Word like an echo. You may or may not be a good singer. It really doesn't matter. As you join your congregation in corporate worship, pay attention to the words that you're singing and notice how it reflects the scripture that's been read. Then belt it out, because as you do you'll become more and more certain of who your Triune God is and what He's done for you. What are some of your favorite songs to sing at church? Use the comment box below to share! AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The one who is above all things and to whom all glory is due (v9 & 11) ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will vave the same love and purpose that Jesus did because you are united to Him. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Acts 23

Summary The focus of 2 Corinthians 5 is reconciliation.

You can either worry about your problems or pray short prayers acknowledging who God is. Which one will bring you true peace? Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 117 Q. How does God want us to pray so that he will listen to us? A. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed himself in his Word, asking for everything he has commanded us to ask for. Second, we must acknowledge our need and misery, hiding nothing, and humble ourselves in his majestic presence. Third, we must rest on this unshakable foundation: even though we do not deserve it, God will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord. That is what he promised us in his Word. Summary One of King Nebuchadnezzar's problems is that he was surrounded by dozens of 'yes men' - guys who kept their spots at the king's well stocked table by simply telling him what he wanted to hear when he wanted to hear it. But just a year into his reign, God sent dreams to Nebuchadnezzar which troubled him so much that he couldn't sleep. Suddenly the sheen of his army of 'yes men' began to wear away as the king began to see through their charades when these supposed magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers couldn't even explain a simple dream. This chorus of fakers had wasted Nebuchadnezzar's time for long enough now, and he was done with them. And when the king had no more use for them, he made sure nobody else would either. The problem was that Daniel and his friends were considered part of this cadre of wise men, even though they didn't utilize the same gimmicks the other ones did. Even so, they were set to be executed with the rest. Daniel utilized true wisdom as he spoke to the king's commander, and was able to gain audience with the king so that he might interpret the dream for him. As Daniel gathered his faithful friends, they didn't spend any time at all strategizing as to how to weasel their way out of the predicament they were in. Rather, Daniel urged them to "plead for mercy from the God of heaven." As the Heidelberg Catechism would put it thousands of years later, they knew they "must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed Himself in His Word." Dig Deeper The Bible doesn't record the words Daniel and his friends prayed initially. Only Daniel's prayer of thanksgiving he prayed after God gave them the interpretation they'd asked for is recorded. But my hunch is that as they "pleaded for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery," that their prayers of petition were structured very similar to this prayer of thanksgiving. Over the next couple of months, we'll be be referring often to the three components that nearly every Biblical prayer includes: Acknowledging who God is, Aligning our life with God's will, and then finally Asking God for what we need. What we'll notice is that so many of the Biblical prayers that we're called to emulate are like Daniel's: they're fairly short, and they put the bulk of their emphasis on the first two A's - Acknowledging who God is and aligning their lives with God's will. Imagine the peace that swept over Daniel and his friends, even as they faced imminent doom, as they acknowledged who God is: All wisdom and power are his, He deposes kings and raises others, He gives wisdom to the wise, and He reveals deep and hidden things. Be sure to experience this peace for yourself. Pray lots of short prayers all through the day, with the emphasis on acknowledging who God is, reminding yourself in the process that all things - even your biggest problems - are under His control. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Open your prayer the same way Daniel did: pray the words in v19-23; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God to make it your instinct to plead for mercy from the God of heaven when you face challenges, rather than worrying and fretting about them; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 17

Articles 1-7 Article 1: God’s Right to Condemn All People Romans 5:12-14 - Mis-Markmanship Deuteronomy 28:15 -20 - Not A Tame Lion Genesis 2:15-17 - Or Else Luke 15:11-16 - Prodigious Deprivation Psalm 143 - Aggressive Article 3: The Preaching of the Gospel 1 Timothy 2:1-7 - God Our Savior Isaiah 52.7 - Good News! God’s Eternal Decree Isaiah 45:21-25 - Irrevocable Ezekiel 36:24-27 - A Whole New Reality Romans 9:15 -21 - God's Mercy, Not Your Effort 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - Love The Truth Psalm 81 - Call To Worship