Faithlife.com 2 Corinthians 4:5–6 (NIV) 5   For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Article 12

Theology isn't just a trivial pursuit, it's the key to gaining the crown of life! Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 1 We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God— eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good. Summary James is a favorite book for many Christians since it gives such good and practical advice that applies to everyday situations. But today's passage illustrates that even the most practical advice is rooted deeply in theology. James begins here by reminding you to keep your eye on the prize: "the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him (v12)." This crown will come to those who have "persevered under trial," and who've "stood the test." This perseverance is not just a matter of brute force or mental/spiritual toughness. It comes from a recognition of theological reality: knowing that the temptations enticing you do not come from God, rather that they're the product of your "own evil desire (v14)." Last week we were reminded of God's simplicity, in that God defines not just Himself, but the attributes that describe Him. He's not just good, rather He defines the very concept of goodness! James reinforces this doctrine, writing that "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights (v17)." In other words, as our Confession puts it, "God is the overflowing source of all good." Every bit of goodness in this world - even the good things done by otherwise evil people - has its source in God our Father! Furthermore, you can count on what James wrote two millennia ago being just as true today because of another theological truth James reminds us of: our Father "does not change like the shifting shadows." Since God remains the same "yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8)," you can always count on God's overflowing goodness. Dig Deeper We sort of wandered away from the idea that James began this passage with, that you and I must "persevere under trial (v12)," but that's sort of what James intended! Since sin comes when you "are dragged away by your own evil desires," it makes sense that the more you focus on solid theology (knowing who and what God is), the less you'll be distracted by the enticing temptations of the world. Theology isn't just a trivial pursuit, it's the key to gaining the crown of life! This is James' point here: Every good and perfect gift originates with God, so by investing yourself fully in knowing Him, you're surrounding yourself with good things rather than enticing temptation. The best way for you to do this is by continually digging deeper into "the word of truth, that you might be a kind of firstfruits of all God created (v18)." AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the giver of every good and perfect gift, who does not change; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for "choosing to give birth to you through the word of truth, and pray that you would pursue it, and not the enticing temptations of the world; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Mark 9

Isaiah 53:4-12 (NIV) 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12

Ephesians 5:21-27 (NIV) 21  Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22  Wives, submit yourselves same level of excitement, love and genuine care that one would expect to see in the most passionate of romances

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NIV) 5  This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” 5  And now the LORD God "forms in the womb" (v1, 5), or as Psalm 139:13 puts it, God knits people together.

Habakkuk 2:4-5 (NIV) “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness — 5  indeed, wine betrays him; he

Stay busy building life even as you expect Jesus to return at any moment. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 (NIV are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5   throttle them back a little bit in his second letter, since many had quit their jobs (2 Thess. 3:6-12

You're commanded to be anchored to your parents (it's not as bad as it sounds). 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 The fifth commandment contains one short imperative: honor your father and your mother, and then it goes on to provide two huge benefits for keeping this command. As we've seen before, God's commands are not given to us as a 'keep them or else' type of coercion. Through His Law, our Father teaches us how to live well and enjoy life. But it's easy for us to get this imperative wrong, by reducing this command to a simple reminder to love, obey, submit to, and care for our parents. Certainly those are ways to properly keep the fifth commandment, but the word God chose here goes a step farther: the literal translation of 'honor' is to give weight to, or let your parents be heavy in your life. In other words, your life ought to be anchored by your parents. All of us have people that we truly love and care for, and even at times submit to and obey, without having tethered our entire life to their particular worldview. Although you may enjoy a warm relationship with such people, you live in a way contrary to their core beliefs, even if you outwardly conform your behavior when they're around. But you are not commanded to just have a friendly but shallow relationship with your parents. Rather, God has commanded you to honor your parents so as to keep you anchored to His ways. Notice the reward for keeping the fifth commandment is limited: God commands you to honor your parents so that it might go well with you, but God is not promising here that if you honor your parents things will go well for you in whatever you choose to do or however you choose to live. You are to honor your parents so that it might go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. The Israelites who first heard this would have understood that God was commanding them to anchor themselves to the Promised Land they were heading towards by continuing to let their parents 'weigh them down' in that particular place as they lived godly lives just as previous generations had done. Jesus expanded the Promised Land from a particular geographical area to the spiritual Kingdom of Heaven. Dig Deeper This command to anchor yourself to your parents' core beliefs makes total sense for those of us whose parents had their worldview shaped by God's Word and acted consistently with it. But what if you didn't have these kinds of parents? Must you remain anchored to a sinking rock? Certainly not. The first seven verses of Psalm 95 are some of the most beautiful words in the Bible; you've likely sung and recited them often. But in verse 9, God breaks into this beautiful song of praise to order His people to do the opposite of what He set forth in His fifth commandment. He tells His people to cut themselves free of their fathers who had hardened their hearts generations before and rebelled against God. If your parents have set themselves against God, you still must honor them in the limited sense of loving, caring and even obeying and submitting to them when doing so isn't contrary to God's other commands. But your true Honor, that is, the true weight that anchors your life, must be your Heavenly Father. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who is the ultimate parent we must honor so that it might go well with us in His Kingdom; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God if you can fully honor your parents as commanded, and pray that you will set a good example so that your children can fully keep this command as well; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Titus 1

Acts 5:27–32 CONTEXT: This week we'll be working through selections from the book of Acts looking at Here in Acts 5, the early Church is experiencing persecution from the Sadducees, the majority political