The Church's primary strategy is to provide 'food for your soul'. 2 Timothy 4:1–5 (NIV) In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2  Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3  For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5   But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 17: God’s Use of Means in Regeneration Just as the almighty work by which God brings forth and sustains our natural life  does not rule out  but requires the use  of means,  by which God, according to his infinite wisdom and goodness, has wished to exercise that divine power,  so also the aforementioned supernatural work by which God regenerates us  in no way rules out or cancels the use of the gospel,  which God in great wisdom has appointed to be  the seed of regeneration  and the food of the soul.  For this reason, the apostles and the teachers who followed them taught the people in a godly manner about this grace of God,  to give God the glory and to humble all pride,  and yet did not neglect meanwhile to keep the people,  by means of the holy admonitions of the gospel,  under the administration of the Word, the sacraments, and discipline.  So even today it is out of the question that the teachers or those taught in the church  should presume to test God by separating what God in his good pleasure has wished to be closely joined together.  For grace is bestowed through admonitions,  and the more readily we perform our duty,  the more lustrous the benefit of God working in us usually is,  and the better that work advances.  To God alone,  both for the means and for their saving fruit and effectiveness,  all glory is owed forever. Amen. If you’ve been blessed by Unfading Truth, help others discover it. A simple share on your socials could be the reason someone starts finding daily comfort and confidence in God’s Word. Perseverance of the Saints begins Monday → unfadingtruth.com/share Summary There was a time - not too long ago - that churches all over North America set out to craft catchy mission and strategy statements, as these were supposedly the key to unbridled growth. A mission statement defines an organization's purpose and goal, while strategy statements give an overview of how the mission will be accomplished. Committees were formed, consultants brought in, and word-smithing ensued, resulting in rambling, run-on sentences which were then proudly displayed so that all would know the what, why & how of each particular congregation. Having a mission/strategy statement for your church isn't a bad thing. It's just that the Bible had provided these statements long before they became trendy. Jesus launched the Church with the expressed mission to make disciples . And Paul here provides the strategy for doing so: PREACH THE WORD. There have been times in history where this strategy has been very much in season; churches were full on the Lord's Day (and often on the days in between as well), and there have been lots of times when preaching has been out of season; literally translated, there've been good times and bad times to be a preacher. I like the way the NET Bible translates it : preachers must be ready whether it is convenient or not . Paul writes that the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. In many regards, that time is continual. We've been reminded over and over this year of the noetic effect of sin , which causes people to instinctually flee from truth. So the fact that our culture seems to be so rabidly rejecting the Church's preaching ought not alarm you. It's nothing new; it only seems louder and more vicious since the internet amplifies it.   Dig Deeper   Paul here, inspired by the Holy Spirit, not only makes the church's strategy crystal clear: PREACH THE WORD, but he details what good preaching does. It: CORRECTS - Biblical preaching exposes the sin of those who set themselves under it. It doesn't do so just to lay on a heavy guilt trip, but rather to point the sinner to repentance and forgiveness in the grace of Christ Jesus. Biblical preaching then moves the listener from sin into habits and actions consistent with the full counsel of God's Word REBUKES - Calvin comments here that preachers must rebuke their congregations as needed in order to "shake off our sluggishness." ENCOURAGES - Preaching is NOT just heavy handed correction and rebuking. It also brings consolation and encouragement. The actual word Paul uses here is parakaleō, which means to call out from alongside. It describes one person coming alongside another to motivate and build up. The Bible uses the noun form of this word to describe the Holy Spirit. The Church's principle strategy - PREACHING THE WORD - must be done with great patience and careful instruction. It is the principle means of grace through which God saves His people. These verses are critical for preachers like me to prioritize my work, but keep in mind that although you probably don't do so from behind a pulpit, you too are a preacher in that you are equipped and expected to proclaim the gospel in the contexts in which you live and work on a daily basis. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who has given His Church a clear mission & strategy; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would set yourself under solid Biblical preaching each Lord's Day, and that you yourself would informally preach the Word whether it's convenient or not; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 2 Timothy 4

God's Word brings deliverance and strength. au.pinterest.com/sangthomas/ Isaiah 45:22–25 (NIV) CONTEXT: These words of the LORD were prophetically written by Isaiah before Israel's exile to Babylon, but they were meant to comfort those who would be in exile, assuring them of the salvation that would come from their faithful covenant God. 22  “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23  By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24  They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are deliverance and strength.’ ” All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. 25  But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the LORD and will make their boast in him. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 17: God’s Use of Means in Regeneration Just as the almighty work by which God brings forth and sustains our natural life  does not rule out  but requires the use  of means,  by which God, according to his infinite wisdom and goodness, has wished to exercise that divine power,  so also the aforementioned supernatural work by which God regenerates us  in no way rules out or cancels the use of the gospel,  which God in great wisdom has appointed to be  the seed of regeneration  and the food of the soul.  For this reason, the apostles and the teachers who followed them taught the people in a godly manner about this grace of God,  to give God the glory and to humble all pride,  and yet did not neglect meanwhile to keep the people,  by means of the holy admonitions of the gospel,  under the administration of the Word, the sacraments, and discipline.  So even today it is out of the question that the teachers or those taught in the church  should presume to test God by separating what God in his good pleasure has wished to be closely joined together.  For grace is bestowed through admonitions,  and the more readily we perform our duty,  the more lustrous the benefit of God working in us usually is,  and the better that work advances.  To God alone,  both for the means and for their saving fruit and effectiveness,  all glory is owed forever. Amen. If you’ve been blessed by Unfading Truth, help others discover it. A simple share on your socials could be the reason someone starts finding daily comfort and confidence in God’s Word. Perseverance of the Saints begins Monday → unfadingtruth.com/share Summary God's invitation to salvation here near the end of Isaiah is remarkable for who it's extended to: not just His covenant people, Israel, but to all the ends of the earth! God now calls out to the same pagans who'd seduced the Israelites with idolatry. Yet notice that God doesn't just simply bestow salvation upon all, but He conditions it upon their repentance. He calls them to turn to Him and be saved. The effects of the LORD's gospel call will be universal. Before me, the LORD says, every knee will bow, by me every tongue will swear. Most of you will instantly recognize those words from Paul's famous ode to Christ in Philippians 2; now you know that Paul simply borrowed this language from Isaiah's prophecy. But the meaning in both passages is exactly the same: ALL people will humble themselves before the LORD. But the experience of this divine victory over sin and death will NOT be the same for all people. The descendants of Israel - that is, those who have put their faith and hope in God's covenant in both the Old and New Testaments - will find deliverance in the LORD and will make their boast in Him. But all those who have raged against Him will still bow their knees and confess with their tongues before the LORD for sure, but they will come to Him and be put to shame since they never repented of their sin.   Dig Deeper   This would have been an appropriate passage to corroborate nearly any aspect of the Doctrines of Grace that we've been working through this year, but we come to it today because it illustrates well the means by which the LORD alone is deliverance and strength. There are many ways that God could have worked out the salvation and judgment that ultimately will culminate in bent knees and confessing tongues. He could have offered each person a red pill or blue pill, with one leading to salvation and the other not. He could have zapped the elect with spiritual lightning bolts and instantly conformed them into the image of Christ. But today's passage reminds us that this isn't the way God saves people. Rather, the LORD has uttered a word that will not be revoked... which will bring deliverance for His people . Salvation comes verbally - written down and preserved through the ages. It was first proclaimed by prophets like Isaiah and apostles like Paul. It's been preached throughout the centuries by faithful men in nearly every tongue. And it continues to go out even now in our day and age, and will continue to do so until every knee bows. These last few weeks we've concentrated on the supernatural spiritual power God works upon those He's called to believe so that we willingly turn to Him and are saved. But the Canons remind us here that this miraculous work in no way rules out or cancels the use of the gospel [the preached Word],  which God in great wisdom has appointed to be the seed of regeneration and the food of the soul. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who alone is deliverance and strength; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for proclaiming His saving Word to you, and pray that your knees will bow and your tongue will proclaim and spread this word of salvation that God has uttered; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 2 Timothy 3

Trusting in God's unfailing loves brings you true rest & blessings. DailyVerses.net Psalm 62 For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. 1   Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2   Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 3   How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence? 4  Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.  5  Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7   My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8   Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. 9   Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. 10  Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. 11  One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, 12   and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.” Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 16: Regeneration’s Effect However,  just as by the fall  humans did not cease to be human,  endowed with intellect and will,  and just as sin, which has spread through the whole human race,  did not abolish the nature of the human race  but distorted and spiritually killed it,  so also this divine grace of regeneration  does not act in people as if they were blocks and stones;  nor does it abolish the will and its properties or coerce a reluctant will by force,  but  spiritually revives, heals, reforms,  and—in a manner at once pleasing and powerful—bends it back. As a result,  a ready and sincere obedience of the Spirit now begins to prevail  where before the rebellion and resistance of the flesh were completely dominant.  In this the true and spiritual restoration and freedom of our will consists.  Thus, if the marvelous Maker of every good thing were not dealing with us,  we would have no hope of getting up from our fall by our own free choice,  by which we plunged ourselves into ruin when still standing upright. Summary Today's Summary is a slightly modified repost from December 15, 2023 As we've seen several times this year, in Hebrew poetry, the meaning often comes in the middle. Such is the case here in Psalm 62, where v7 is sandwiched between two 8 line stanzas. Everything that you have that has any lasting value - your salvation and your honor - are completely dependent upon God, your mighty rock and refuge. We have a tendency to think the world is more evil now than it's ever been, but that's probably not the case. Just like today, King David had enemies who delighted in telling lies as they attempted to topple him. He too was surrounded by hypocrites who bless with their mouths but in their hearts they curse. If you want to live in such a way that you will not be shaken no matter what goes on around you, then trust in Him at all times... pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge. In other words, as we've read so many times this year, fully depend on God's unfailing ḥěʹ·sěḏ love (v12). It's as you pour out your heart to Him that you will find rest (v5).   Dig Deeper   One of the primary reasons we've been using the Canons as our road map for reading the Bible this year is to build up our confidence and trust in our Savior, not just for our eternal salvation, but for His providence in every aspect of life. David's central claim in Psalm 62 is that his salvation and his honor - that is, every aspect of His life - completely depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. H. C. Leupold notes : “There is scarcely another psalm that reveals such an absolute and undisturbed peace, in which confidence in God is so completely unshaken, and in which assurance is so strong that not even one single petition is voiced throughout the psalm.” You'll notice that in the AAA prayer guide featured at the bottom of each day's post, there are suggestions for how to pray the day's passage back to God by A cknowledging who God is and the A ligning your life with God's will. But the final A , the one we often want to get to the quickest and which often dominates our prayers, where we A sk God for what we need is most often left blank. Part of that reason is that each of our readers needs something different, so each person needs to fill that blank in themselves. But if you follow David's prayer pattern, which he demonstrates here and in so many other psalms, and emphasize a cknowledging God and a ligning your life with His will as you pray, you'll likely find you need to a sk for less and less as you enjoy the confidence that comes from thoroughly understanding God's sovereign provision in your life. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is our rock and our salvation, He is our fortress, we will never be shaken; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will find rest in God as you put your hope in Him alone; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 2 Timothy 2

The most comforting truth is the one we hate the most. Photo credit: Gantas Vaičiulėnas via Unsplash Jeremiah 10:23–24 23   LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps. 24   Discipline me, LORD, but only in due measure— not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 16: Regeneration’s Effect However,  just as by the fall  humans did not cease to be human,  endowed with intellect and will,  and just as sin, which has spread through the whole human race,  did not abolish the nature of the human race  but distorted and spiritually killed it,  so also this divine grace of regeneration  does not act in people as if they were blocks and stones;  nor does it abolish the will and its properties or coerce a reluctant will by force,  but  spiritually revives, heals, reforms,  and—in a manner at once pleasing and powerful—bends it back. As a result,  a ready and sincere obedience of the Spirit now begins to prevail  where before the rebellion and resistance of the flesh were completely dominant.  In this the true and spiritual restoration and freedom of our will consists.  Thus, if the marvelous Maker of every good thing were not dealing with us,  we would have no hope of getting up from our fall by our own free choice,  by which we plunged ourselves into ruin when still standing upright. Summary In the Old Testament, God corresponded with His people via two different sets of intermediatories: priests represented the people to God, and prophets represented God to the people. We've read from the prophet Jeremiah several times already this year , and we've noted that while no true prophets of God had it easy, Jeremiah had a particularly tough calling. Prophets were not popular because they communicated divine truth - God's Word - and truth has never been popular, nor will it ever be until Christ returns. Remember, our biggest consequence for falling into sin is what we call the noetic effect - our ability to think properly has been deeply compromised, causing a deep seated resentment to truth in general, but especially divinely revealed truth. Jeremiah's prayer here begins with an admission of one of the most reviled truths of all times: that people's lives are not their own. Our lives are inextricably held in the LORD's almighty, sovereign hands. It's this truth that sin pokes at more than any other, for each of us was born with an intense desire to direct our own steps rather than follow God's sovereign direction. True and spiritual restoration and freedom of our will, as the Canons put it, rests in this truth that Jeremiah acknowledges at the beginning of his prayer. Freedom comes in realizing your dependence, not by continually trying to establish your independence. Thus, the Canons continue, if the marvelous Maker of every good thing were not dealing with us, we would have no hope of getting up from our fall by our own free choice, by which we plunged ourselves into ruin when still standing upright .   Dig Deeper   Jeremiah goes on to make a peculiar request in this short prayer: for the LORD to discipline him, or as other translations put it, to correct him. Most of us don't properly confess our sin as we pray, and when we do our prayers are simply for forgiveness or that our Father would mitigate the consequences of our sin. But Jeremiah here reminds us that we need to be corrected, not just forgiven. Jeremiah knows he can't handle the full measure of God's wrath. He prays that God would blunt His anger, lest you bring me to nothing . Although Jeremiah didn't know it at the time, this mediator for God's people was asking for the protection God would provide through our ultimate mediator Jesus Christ, who as our perfect prophet, priest and king would absorb all of God's just punishment for our sin. It's good for you to ask for God's forgiveness in Jesus' name, but don't forget to pray like Jeremiah here also, asking for discipline and correction. It's through these often painful measures that God spiritually revives, heals, and reforms  your will, and—in a manner at once pleasing and powerful—bends it back. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who directs our steps ; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that the LORD would discipline and correct you, that you would become more and more like Christ; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Timothy 6

The more you contemplate the Lord's glory, the more you are transformed into His image! Logos.com 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (NIV) 12  Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13  We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14  But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15  Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16  But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 16: Regeneration’s Effect However,  just as by the fall  humans did not cease to be human,  endowed with intellect and will,  and just as sin, which has spread through the whole human race,  did not abolish the nature of the human race  but distorted and spiritually killed it,  so also this divine grace of regeneration  does not act in people as if they were blocks and stones;  nor does it abolish the will and its properties or coerce a reluctant will by force,  but  spiritually revives, heals, reforms,  and—in a manner at once pleasing and powerful—bends it back. As a result,  a ready and sincere obedience of the Spirit now begins to prevail  where before the rebellion and resistance of the flesh were completely dominant.  In this the true and spiritual restoration and freedom of our will consists.  Thus, if the marvelous Maker of every good thing were not dealing with us,  we would have no hope of getting up from our fall by our own free choice,  by which we plunged ourselves into ruin when still standing upright. Summary What a way to contrast life in the Spirit with those whose hearts and minds have not been regenerated. Paul describes such people as having minds made dull (other translations: their minds are hardened / closed / blinded). Maybe you've played a game of some sort where you experienced the frustration of being blindfolded and having to grope your way around; this is what it's like for those outside of the Spirit as they navigate life: a veil covers their hearts (remember, hearts in the Bible represents our emotions, intellect and volition). Those who've turned to the Lord, however, have been freed from such spiritual blindness. Paul explains, the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. This freedom is a negative freedom; it's not that now you can do anything you like without repercussion, rather you have been freed from the constraint and domination sin formerly held you with. In other words, you're no longer held back by the unrepentant sinner you once were, now you have the freedom to become all that God created you to be.   Dig Deeper   You probably don't think about verb tenses very much in the overwhelming busyness of life. And that's ok. But understanding the verb tenses Paul uses in the final verse of today's passage are critical to achieving the fulfillment that has been made possible for you in Christ. We all, Paul writes, are being transformed into the Lord's image. Notice the passive tense of the verb. A passive tense verb is an action that's being done to you, not by you. The actual Greek word Paul uses here is one that you know well: you are being metamorphed . Just as a caterpillar is metamorphed - literally: its shape is changed - into a butterfly, you're being metamorphed into the Lord's image. This transformation doesn't happen all at once. Whereas you were fully justified the moment you put your faith in Christ, this process of sanctification occurs over a lifetime, with ever-increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. But this isn't an entirely passive process. It doesn't occur equally in all believers. It only happens to those whose unveiled faces contemplate / reflect the Lord's glory. The verb here is in the active tense - it's something you must do; it can't and won't be done for you. The more you contemplate the Lord's glory, the more transformed into His image you'll become. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, whose Spirit brings freedom; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will actively and increasingly contemplate and reflect the Lord's glory in your life; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Timothy 5

Your Father is aggressively and gently drawing you to Him. FaithLife.com John 6:43-47 (NIV) CONTEXT: This is the fifth time this year that we've come to this theologically rich sixth chapter of John's gospel, which begins with Jesus miraculously feeding 5,000 men and ends with many of his disciples turning back and no longer following Him because His teaching is hard. The Jews had begun grumbling here because Jesus claimed to be the bread that came down from heaven... 43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 16: Regeneration’s Effect However,  just as by the fall  humans did not cease to be human,  endowed with intellect and will,  and just as sin, which has spread through the whole human race,  did not abolish the nature of the human race  but distorted and spiritually killed it,  so also this divine grace of regeneration  does not act in people as if they were blocks and stones;  nor does it abolish the will and its properties or coerce a reluctant will by force,  but  spiritually revives, heals, reforms,  and—in a manner at once pleasing and powerful—bends it back. As a result,  a ready and sincere obedience of the Spirit now begins to prevail  where before the rebellion and resistance of the flesh were completely dominant.  In this the true and spiritual restoration and freedom of our will consists.  Thus, if the marvelous Maker of every good thing were not dealing with us,  we would have no hope of getting up from our fall by our own free choice,  by which we plunged ourselves into ruin when still standing upright. Summary Jesus teaches a key lesson here on how to handle difficult conversations. It obviously upset those listening to Him here when He claimed to be bread from heaven , and most people would get sucked into the grumbling (John borrows this word from Moses' depiction of the Israelites during the exodus) and attempt to argue their way out of it. But Jesus isn't most people. He tells those listening to stuff it, and keeps control of the conversation. He keeps the discussion point to that which is critically important: the salvation not just offered by, but completely worked out from start to finish by our sovereign God and Father. Jesus here, no doubt with a tinge of holy frustration in His voice as He talks to this obstinate bunch, uses a strong word to describe how our Father saves people. Jesus says that the Father draws them to Jesus so that He can raise them up at the last day. One lexicon defines the verb Jesus uses as "to pull or drag, requiring force because of the inertia of the object being dragged—‘to pull, to drag, to draw.’" In other words, God's sovereignty in our salvation is aggressive! Commentator Robert Mounce describes it this way: "God brings men to Himself although by nature they prefer sin... No one is able to come to the Father unless the Father draws him or her... In his sacrificial death, Jesus will draw to himself people of every cultural, social, and ethnic background (12:32), but unless a specific person is drawn, that person cannot come to Christ."   Dig Deeper   At first glance, the Canons summary of the Bible's teaching here seems at odds with Jesus' aggressive language. Jesus describes His Father using the same brute force in saving people we might use to compel a stubborn Jersey cow into the milking parlor for the first time. But the Canons use much gentler terms. The Canons explain that this divine grace of regeneration does not act in people as if they were blocks and stones; There's no coercion of a reluctant will by force. Rather, our Father, through the Holy Spirit, spiritually revives, heals, reforms, and—in a manner at once pleasing and powerful—bends our will back . But of course the Canons are not at odds with the authoritative words of our Savior! Calvin explains, "those persons are drawn whose understandings God enlightens, and whose hearts he bends and forms to the obedience of Christ... As to the kind of drawing, it is not violent, so as to compel men by external force; but still it is a powerful impulse of the Holy Spirit, which makes men willing who formerly were unwilling and reluctant." This is the tension we must understand God's sovereignty in. On the one hand, it's aggressive and even forceful; What God has ordained will be accomplished! But on the other, our Father draws His children in such a way that is gentle and loving, so that nobody is forced or compelled into the Kingdom. Rather, God's grace is made to be irresistible to those whose hearts and minds have been sovereignly regenerated. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who draws His children to Him; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will not resist as your Father draws more and more of your life into conformity to His holiness; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Timothy 4

People will frustrate you this week, but remember who & what they are! BiblePic.com Genesis 9:1–6 ( LSB ) CONTEXT: Noah and his family and all the animals have just exited the ark after being preserved from God's judgment upon mankind in the flood. 9 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. 2 “And the fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given. 3 “Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; as with  the green plant, I give all to you. 4 “However, flesh with its life, that is , its blood, you shall not eat. 5 “Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every living thing I will require it. And from every  man, from each man’s brother I will require the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 16: Regeneration’s Effect However,  just as by the fall  humans did not cease to be human,  endowed with intellect and will,  and just as sin, which has spread through the whole human race,  did not abolish the nature of the human race  but distorted and spiritually killed it,  so also this divine grace of regeneration  does not act in people as if they were blocks and stones;  nor does it abolish the will and its properties or coerce a reluctant will by force,  but  spiritually revives, heals, reforms,  and—in a manner at once pleasing and powerful—bends it back. As a result,  a ready and sincere obedience of the Spirit now begins to prevail  where before the rebellion and resistance of the flesh were completely dominant.  In this the true and spiritual restoration and freedom of our will consists.  Thus, if the marvelous Maker of every good thing were not dealing with us,  we would have no hope of getting up from our fall by our own free choice,  by which we plunged ourselves into ruin when still standing upright. Summary Those of us who eagerly espouse and teach these doctrines of grace that we've been working through this year (sometimes also referred to as Calvinism) are often derided by fellow Christians as being perennially dour and downcast. It's not hard to understand why so many think this way of us, when one of our primary claims is that we live in a world that's totally depraved , in which everything is predisposed to sin and evil. But we're not always dour and downcast (and when we are, it's not because of our theology!). We maintain a very high view of humanity; not just for those whom God in His grace has chosen for salvation, but all people - both believers and those who reject God's truth. The covenant that God establishes with Noah here in Genesis 9 after the flood is a big reason why we hold all people in high honor. In other words, we value mankind because our God values mankind. Isn't it amazing that the first thing the LORD does after recognizing man's utter sinfulness ( Genesis 6:5 ) and justly destroying all but a tiny remnant in the flood is to re-establish our value, placing its basis in the fact that He created us in His image. It's for this reason that many Christians, who value mercy and forgiveness also understand the need for capital punishment, which God mandates here as He resets society. For more on this, see our post on this passage from 2023 as we studied the Heidelberg Catechism .   Dig Deeper   We're looking at this passage from a slightly different angle today. Notice the tension that the Canons hold us in as they summarize scripture. On one hand, sin has spread through the whole human race. It's ubiquitous, having infected every aspect of our life and even our entire society. The fear and terror of us experienced by every beast of the earth is a continual reminder of sin's pervasive and continual effects. Things are not the way they're supposed to be. But on the other hand, the Canons remind us that humans did not cease to be human, endowed with intellect and will and that our sin did not abolish the nature of the human race, but distorted and spiritually killed it. Vestiges of God's image remain present in all people. This means that all people retain the ability to know right from wrong; enough so that society can and must continue to be ordered according to God's design in all communities - not just 'Christian' ones. Notice that God will demand an accounting from every living thing - man and beast. As the old hymn puts it, And though the wrong is oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who despite our sinful and fallen condition, still calls us to b e fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will treat all people with the dignity they deserve as image bearers of God; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Timothy 4

God blesses you so that you can bless others. FaithLife.com Psalm 67 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. 1   May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—  2   so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 3  May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 4   May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. 5   May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 6   The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. 7   May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 15: Responses to God's grace God does not owe grace to anyone.  For what could God owe to those who have nothing to give that can be paid back?  Indeed, what could God owe to those who have nothing of their own to give but sin and falsehood?  Therefore  those who receive this grace owe and give eternal thanks to God alone;  those who do not receive it either  do not care at all about these spiritual things and are satisfied with themselves in their condition,  or else in self-assurance foolishly boast about having something which they lack.  Furthermore, following the example of the apostles,  we are to think and to speak in the most favorable way  about those who outwardly profess their faith and better their lives,  for the inner chambers of the heart are unknown to us.  But for others who have not yet been called, we are to pray to the God who calls things that do not exist as though they did.  In no way, however, are we to pride ourselves as better than they, as though we had distinguished ourselves from them. Summary Today's Summary and Dig Deeper post is condensed from Professor Mark Futato's excellent commentary on Psalms . We often pray that God would bless us in all sorts of ways. But if we are honest, it is far too easy for those blessings to become ends in themselves. We pray to be blessed simply so that we might be blessed. Psalm 67 challenges us instead to seek blessing with God’s own outcome in view. [In other words, asking God to A lign our lives with His will must be a big part of our prayer structure!] Psalm 67 is chiastically arranged [the wedge shape outline we see so often in ancient Hebrew poetry in which the principle point comes in the middle]: v1–2 pray for blessing that leads to the nations knowing God’s salvation v3–5 pray that the nations might glorify and enjoy God v6–7 return to blessing that again spills outward to the nations. The structure itself pushes us away from a narrow view of blessing. God blesses us for the sake of others. The psalm begins with words that echo the Aaronic benediction. At the heart of the blessing is God’s shining face—his favorable presence with his people. This is further described as “your saving power,” which means salvation in all its fullness. To be blessed is to know God near in mercy and grace.   Dig Deeper   At the center of the psalm is the prayer that the nations would enjoy God himself. They will know the joy of God’s just rule, setting right what is broken in their world. They will know the joy of God’s guidance, as he once led Israel through the wilderness into the promised land. And this joy will overflow in grateful praise. Glorifying God and enjoying him always go hand in hand. To experience his salvation is to be filled with joy. To be filled with joy is to give him glory. This is the vision of Psalm 67 for the whole earth. The psalm closes with confidence: God will bless us. His blessing will be tangible, like an abundant harvest. His blessing will be visible, so that people everywhere see and desire it. And those people will join in worshiping the true and living God. In this way, Psalm 67 teaches us to long for blessing—not merely so that we might have more, but so that others too might know God’s abundant life. We want to be blessed and be a blessing, that we might experience great joy in God and give great glory to him. And ultimately, we see the heart of this psalm in Christ himself, through whom Jews and Gentiles are blessed by faith. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, God, our God, who blesses us; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God's ways will be known on earth through your words and deeds; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Timothy 3

Ditch the day's distractions and dwell on one of the Bible's most profound claims. Christian Pictures Blog Romans 4:16–17 (NIV) 16  Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17  As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”  He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed— the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 15: Responses to God's grace God does not owe grace to anyone.  For what could God owe to those who have nothing to give that can be paid back?  Indeed, what could God owe to those who have nothing of their own to give but sin and falsehood?  Therefore  those who receive this grace owe and give eternal thanks to God alone;  those who do not receive it either  do not care at all about these spiritual things and are satisfied with themselves in their condition,  or else in self-assurance foolishly boast about having something which they lack.  Furthermore, following the example of the apostles,  we are to think and to speak in the most favorable way  about those who outwardly profess their faith and better their lives,  for the inner chambers of the heart are unknown to us.  But for others who have not yet been called, we are to pray to the God who calls things that do not exist as though they did.  In no way, however, are we to pride ourselves as better than they, as though we had distinguished ourselves from them. Summary The final clause of Romans 4:17 is one of the most stunning statements ever written. It attributes two abilities to God that cannot be attributed to anyone or anything else. As is often the case with profound verses like this, all of the major English translations render it slightly differently, not because each thinks the other is wrong, but because even though Paul's original words are simple and straightforward, there are multiple different ways to properly express it. Let's start with the first half of the clause: NIV, ESV - the God who gives life to the dead... LEB, NET - the God... who makes the dead alive... My favorite here is the good 'ol KJV - God, who quickeneth the dead... My literal translation: God, the life-maker of the dead... It's the second half of the clause that's even more stunning. Again, Paul's original verbiage is both simple and elegant: God calls mē onta hōs onta. But again, there's more than one good way to translate: NIV: God... calls into being things that were not . ESV: God.. calls into existence the things that do not exist. LEB: God... calls the things that are not as though they are. NET: God... summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do. KJV: God... calleth those things which be not as though they were. My literal translation: God... calls non-being to be.   Dig Deeper   We're bombarded nearly each and every moment with carefully crafted distractions designed to channel our attention to whatever product or service the distractor intended. Clicking on one slightly amusing short-form video quickly leads to a half hour or more scrolling through more slightly amusing videos. A sudden pop up ad causes us to covet a product we didn't even know existed until that point. High resolution digital billboards vie for our attention as we drive through town. So take some time today to pull yourself away from the continual distractions and instead take time to dwell on one or both of these amazing truths: that God makes the dead alive, and that He makes things be out of nothing. The Canons embrace Paul's profound theology here to bring comfort to those whose loved ones seem to continually dismiss the promises of the gospel. But for others who have not yet been called, the Canons confess, we are to pray to the God who calls things that do not exist as though they did . You and others may have tried everything to convince your loved one of God's truth, but nothing seems to work. The Canons here remind you in this sad and desperate situation to put your faith and trust in the God who is the life-maker of the dead and the One who made all things out of nothing. Only He can bring new life to the lost. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God will give life to those you know who ignore or reject His gospel truth; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Timothy 2

Even when fakes appear, God’s grace is genuine. Acts 8:9–24 (NIV) 9   Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10  and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11  They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12  But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13  Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14  When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15  When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16  because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17  Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18  When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19  and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20  Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21  You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22  Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23  For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24  Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 15: Responses to God's grace God does not owe grace to anyone.  For what could God owe to those who have nothing to give that can be paid back?  Indeed, what could God owe to those who have nothing of their own to give but sin and falsehood?  Therefore  those who receive this grace owe and give eternal thanks to God alone;  those who do not receive it either  do not care at all about these spiritual things and are satisfied with themselves in their condition,  or else in self-assurance foolishly boast about having something which they lack.  Furthermore, following the example of the apostles,  we are to think and to speak in the most favorable way  about those who outwardly profess their faith and better their lives,  for the inner chambers of the heart are unknown to us.  But for others who have not yet been called, we are to pray to the God who calls things that do not exist as though they did.  In no way, however, are we to pride ourselves as better than they, as though we had distinguished ourselves from them. Summary Simon was a showman as much as he was a sorcerer. Luke, the historian who wrote Acts, doesn't elaborate on the type of magic Simon practiced, but it probably contained a smidgen of demonic powers combined with a whole bunch of smoke and mirrors. Simon boasted that he was someone great, and the crowd ate it all up. All the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is rightly called the Power of God." But then the real Power of God showed up and Simon lost his crowd. God showed up in the preaching of Philip , who was everything that the flashy Simon was not. Philip was one of the men the church called on to help the widows (Acts 6) and who would go on in the next passage to explain scripture to an Ethiopian official in the middle of nowhere. The crowds that used to be amazed by Simon now believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. Even Simon himself believed and was baptized, and from that point on he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. What a remarkable transformation, right? A man who used to market magic who now believed and jumped into the life of the church with both feet. But as you've likely already figured out, we're not reading Simon's story today because it has a happy ending.   Dig Deeper   It doesn't take long for Simon's true colors to show. When Peter & John give the Spirit by laying on their hands (Luke refers here to Spiritual gifts, not Spiritual regeneration), Simon immediately senses the opportunity and wants in. His offer to purchase the apostles' ability even sounds noble: "so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter immediately exposes Simon and calls him to repent , stating that Simon's heart is not right before God. Peter sees that Simon had just been going through the Christian motions. Simon had just been following the crowd that once followed him. Simon's heart wasn't regenerated, rather he was full of bitterness and captive to sin. Even Simon's 'confession' rings hollow; he only sought to avoid divine punishment rather than submit himself to Christ's Lordship. The Church always has been and always will (until Christ returns) had people in it who, as the Canons put it, outwardly profess their faith and better their lives but who don't truly put their hope, trust, faith and allegiance in Christ alone. Sometimes their shallowness becomes apparent, as did Simon's, but just as often such people maintain the ruse for their entire lives. Our lesson today is to be like Phillip, who had accepted Simon's profession of faith on its face. Indeed, that's all we can do, for the inner chambers of the heart are unknown to us.  When blatant hypocrisy displays itself, then we must certainly call it out as Peter did. Apart from that we are to think and to speak in the most favorable way  regarding all those who affiliate themselves with the body of Christ. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who enables those He's called to grow even in the midst of weeds and tares; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the grace to think and to speak in the most favorable way of all who visibly believe; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Timothy 1