Today we begin 2 Thessalonians. This book only contains three chapters. So, we’ll be able to finish it by mid-week. As you read, as yourself, what does God want us to get from this book today?

Chapter 1:

What’s New: “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to those who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels” (v6-7). This passage would also fit well in the “Who is God” section below. However, there are some new things standing out to me in this.

Those who create persecution and trials for Christians will receive their just payment. That being said, Paul is very specific, that “this will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed”. Meaning, they haven’t gotten it yet. It also implies that the Christians who have been persecuted, have not yet been given “relief”. Paul is telling us that both the judgment and joy will come when Jesus returns and resurrects those who are in Christ, at the end of the age.

Who is God: “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord” (v8-9). Why would God punish those who don’t obey the gospel of Jesus? Because human sin requires punishment from the Holy. Jesus took the wrath of the Father for our sins; he endured what should have been our punishment. Not just physically, but spiritually as well. Therefore, those who reject Jesus, also reject that their sins have been paid for. And as John 3:36 states, “God’s wrath remains on them.” God punish those who reject his Son. And because of his great holiness, he is just in doing so.

Psalm 72: This is an interesting Psalm. Initially, it can feel like Solomon is praying this over himself, which almost feels prideful. However, some scholars believe that this Psalm was initially sung and prayed by King David over his son, Solomon, the future king, while also using poetic language that points to the one true King, Jesus. With this knowledge, read it again. What do you think?

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Scripture Memorization: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4.

• God’s will for you is that you’ll learn to control your own body. Learning this verse gives us a good opportunity to examine what ways we lack self-control.

• Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit! Even if it’s been a struggle, you have power from On High to help say “No”!

• Read this verse 10x from the page, out loud. Recite it 10x out loud, only looking at the page as needed. Do this daily.

OK Men - This is what I have noticed in this first chapter of 2 Thessalonians. What is standing out to you? What’s new? How do you see the character of God? Leave a comment!

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Chapters 4 and 5 are incredible! There’s easily enough in these two chapters to do full in-depth studies, which means there’s plenty of material here to find the character of God and discover something new!

Chapter 4:

What’s New: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you” (v11). There is Godly wisdom in living a quiet peaceful life. There’s something funny to me about “You should mind your own business and work with your hands”. It sounds like a “Christian comeback” or “holy insult”! Can you imagine the kids involved in schoolroom gossip? “Well, I think you need to mind your business and work with your hands!” I might use this going forward.

There are additional new things that stood out to me in verses 13-18. Read them for yourself and you will see what I mean. There is so much there! Anything in that section new to you? If so, leave a comment!

Who is God: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality, that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God” (v3-5). If you’ve ever wondered what God’s will is for you and your life, first and foremost, it’s your sanctification through his Spirit. He cares deeply for your walk with him and the heart changes that it brings.

Secondly, his will is that you would do the things that lead to sanctification. There are many lifestyle guidelines named in other New Testament scriptures, but in this particular passage, the importance of sexual purity is stressed. Avoid sexual immorality, learn to control your own body, don’t live like those who don’t know God. Paul adds, “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit” (v7-8).

This is heavy and reveals how important it is to God. It also subtly reveals how far away from God societies and countries are based on the sexuality they allow and encourage.

Psalm 70: This Psalm is another outpouring from David while enemies surround him. It’s only five verses, therefore, what stands out is that it’s simply another outpouring from David! It shows his consistency of turning to the Lord when life was extremely challenging and not going his way. It shows that David received the promise from God to be Jerusalem’s king, and then had to wait. He had to experience the years of fleeing from Solomon in the caves. I have no doubts that that season of constantly turning to the Lord helped him when he finally took the reigns as ruler.

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Chapter 5:

What’s New: In his final exhortations, Paul gives some great reminders. “Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (v14), but the one that really struck me was “warn those who are idle” (v14). This indicates that an idle, lazy, or stagnant life is not Godly, and that we have authority to warn those who appear idle. However, this is a situation where we must first be cautious of the plank in our own eye.

As Americans, we live very comfortably. Therefore, we don’t typically handle discomfort very well. It’s becoming increasingly common to see a man’s personal comfort actually be his god. We get antsy if the church service goes too long. We get frustrated if the church AC isn’t working properly. Comfort breeds idleness, but that’s not the life we’re called to. The Thessalonians endured “severe suffering” (1 Thess. 1:6). Paul was continually persecuted, stoned, flogged, and in prison until he was finally beheaded. Very uncomfortable! So, before we can correct anyone in their perceived idleness, we must first ask ourselves how have we gotten uncomfortable for Christ?

Who is God: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (v16-18). God cares for your joy. He wants to hear your prayers. He wants you to praise him with gratefulness. This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Additionally, I think this shows that God wants us to learn to trust him in the good times so that we’re able trust him in the bad.

It says, “rejoice always”, but not every season of life feels joyous. It says, “pray continually”, but that can feel impossible in the midst of busyness, anxiousness, or deep sadness. It says, “give thanks in all circumstances”, but not all circumstances are welcome. Turning to Jesus in the darkest and most challenging seasons of your life is equally part of his will for you.

Psalm 71: “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come” (v18). I like that this verse connects to the one we’re memorizing this week. Remember the awesome things he has done for you personally, but then, go and tell about them! Tell them to the next generations. Like altars built in the wilderness, they will need reminders. Hearing what he’s done for you will help build their faith in him!

Scripture Memorization: “Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” Psalm 66:5.

OK Men - There’s so much in these chapters that we didn’t even get into the details of “The Day of the Lord”. I encourage you to read 4:13-5:11 multiple times in order to prepare yourself and know what’s biblical about that day and what isn’t. If something new has stood out to you, leave a comment!

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7^th Century Christian theologian Saint Maximus once said, “A person who is simply a man of faith is not a disciple.” Discipling Christ requires more than just belief. It’s modeled and proven in the way one lives his life. Discipleship is not just faith changing, but life changing, because the whole point is to become less like ourselves and more like Christ. This transformation gains it’s most powerful fuel when we fight to say “No” to our sinful thoughts and desires.

Obedience to Christ calls for self-sacrifice. This is done by denying ourselves. Arguably, this is the most difficult aspect of Christianity. It requires that we battle with our natural desires. And since we’re all fallen humans, those natural instincts are typically unholy. If there’s an element of the Christian walk that tends to be ignored, it’s this one. Self-denial doesn’t feel good, and our Western culture has a hard time being uncomfortable. But this necessary step comes directly from the mouth of Jesus. In Luke 9:23 he says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Must deny themselves. The true disciple of Jesus must do this, which of course implies that the man who doesn’t deny himself, cannot yet truthfully and Biblically, call himself a disciple.

Why is it so important for the Christian to deny himself? My pastor once said, “Whatever you feed grows. Whatever you starve dies. So feed your spirit daily and starve your sinful self.” It’s important to note that the Holy Spirit does the vast majority of the sanctifying work within us. However, when we take in something that isn’t of God, it feeds the sinful parts of our heart, and can stifle the work of the Spirit. Proverbs 25:28 says, “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” Without telling the sinful temptations “No”, the heart becomes unsecure. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. If it’s not trained to be fortified, it has no safeguards.

Self-control is a defense. If it’s not practiced and developed, it won’t be strong enough to help when the battles come. Jesus said that denying yourself is a daily choice. He’s of course, right, but denying the flesh and practicing self-control is not a one time a day choice. Denying the self in order to stay true to Christ is a decision we can make hundreds of times a day, as the battle against the flesh happens hour-by-hour, even minute-by-minute. But we’re not alone in this. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that the Holy Spirit “gives us power, love and self-discipline.” As a result of putting your faith in Christ, you’ve received the ability and power to practice self-control, but it needs to be cultivated.

If you’re suddenly remembering or feeling guilty for all the times you’ve failed to exhibit self-control, stop and realize this is everyone’s battle. Every man who’s serious about following Christ must fight to deny the ungodliness in his heart. For some, it’s lust and pornography. For others, it will be substance abuse and addiction. Some will struggle to deny their anxiety, unforgiveness, or rage. Some may be limited in their faith in God, and will have to work at denying their doubt. It is hard to deny fleshly temptations. Even with the Spirit, it’s much easier to deny elements of Christ and his teachings to increase personal comfort.

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The Apostle Peter had a moment when he didn’t just deny the teachings of Christ, he denied knowing him altogether. John 18:25 says, “Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, ‘You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?’ He denied it, saying, ‘I am not.’” After following Jesus daily, as one of his closest disciples, Peter would deny knowing Jesus three times that night because he couldn’t deny the fear in his heart: his fear of judgment, rejection, or what might happen to him for being a follower. He gave in to the fleshly desire to run from Christ because of what the world was asking and accusing. The temptations we struggle to deny, whatever they may be, do not have to be viewed as obstacles to our Christ-likeness. We can use them as a means to push us closer to God. Paul writes, “Join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:8-9). Christ calls us to a holy life. He’s well aware we can’t achieve it on our own, he has the scars to prove it. He sends us the Spirit because we need the help. However, if the Christian man doesn’t attempt to deny himself in the way Christ teaches, he’s diminishing the Spirit’s power, and merely wants the grace of Jesus without having to live the life he’s instructed to.

Titus 1:16 says, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.” This was one of the verses I held onto tightly in my own personal fight against pornography. I didn’t want my actions to deny God. I wanted to deny the wickedness in my heart, but for a long time I wasn’t starving it, I was feeding it. When the temptation was satisfied, it only became more difficult to close the floodgates. For too long I didn’t say “No” to the things that a disciple of Jesus should have, and it created an opening for the enemy. Like Peter, I gave in to my fleshly desires to reject, avoid, and run from the hard parts of following Christ. And as a result, I was simply a man of faith, not a disciple.

Today, I have to be very intentional about my own self-denial. The discomfort it brings helps me become aware of my pride. It reveals that I still have thoughts and desires that are not products of God, but of my sinful self, and that side of me can still live and thrive if I let it. The temptations of my heart and flesh put a physical feeling to the truth that I will always need Christ. I long for the day that I’m finally free of this rebellious heart, yet also grateful that God is good, and he can still use a bad season of life for our own benefit and his glory. But sin has consequences. It harms us in many spiritual, mental, and emotional ways. What happens to the heart when we turn to pornography at every lustful temptation? How does the mind get formed when we consistently judge and think negatively about others? How is a man’s marriage impacted when he simply fails to deny these two things? When the Christian lives like this, he’s denying Christ the access to transform his heart and life.

Now, you and I can never be perfect. The good news is that we don’t have to be because we serve the one who is. Jesus left his throne in heaven to live as a human, experiencing every trial and temptation we face. He denied his flesh constantly, not giving in to any one of them. His work didn’t just save us from the wrath of the Father, it also saved us from the grip of sin. There is freedom from the flesh because of the Spirit! We can experience some of that freedom when we feed the Spirit wisely, through Scripture, prayer, and saying “No” to that which hurts our own sanctification.

Beginning to deny my flesh helped create the biggest transformation in my faith and relationship with Jesus. While it will always have its difficulties, and I can still fall short because of how many different ways the flesh can steer me wrong, I’ve learned that saying “No” also brings an opportunity to invite Jesus into the areas of my life where my sin and weakness rule. It gives me the chance to honestly come to him and ask, “Can you take this? Because I’m not strong enough to overcome it on my own.” When we deny the flesh in order to remain obedient to God, we’re living and experiencing humanity the same way Christ himself did.

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I love Paul’s New Testament writings. They’re so instructive. Most of them can be easily understood yet have so much depth that new things continue to reveal themselves the more you study. 1 Thessalonians is no exception.

Chapter 2:

What’s New: Rome wasn’t the only ones trying to stop the spread of the gospel of Jesus. The Jews, “God’s chosen people” were also ironically active in attempting to stop the spread of Christianity. “You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved” (v14-16).

Without giving God access to it, the heart of man is a vile and wretched thing. Paul describes how the Jews have strongly displeased God historically and are still doing so currently (at the time of this writing), as he reveals they’re trying to block Paul from reaching certain regions of Gentiles. These prideful actions always stem from a prideful heart. And as long as a man continues to deny God from accessing his heart, prideful it will remain.

Who is God: Paul gives the Thessalonians, as well as us, three great qualities for fathers, but there’s something deeper. “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (v11-12). Earthly fathers can’t properly demonstrate these qualities without first being shown these things by our heavenly Father.

If an earthly father is expected to be encouraging, comforting, and instruct his children in the ways of the Lord, then God also does this for us, his sons. Any good qualities that are within us, were first given to us by God because he was already those things. God is encouraging. He is comforting. He urges (and helps!) us to live a holy life. I encourage you to sit with this today: How has he encouraged and comforted you? How has he guided you into holy ways of living?

Psalm 68: Honestly, a lot of this Psalm is a bit confusing. It’s loaded with poetic imagery. But one thing really stood out to me. “The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng” (v11). In context, this psalm is about God himself winning a great victory. He sent no army out on his behalf because the battle is not one men can win; it’s a holy victory. But as the women announce the victory of God, they are the ones described as an army! “The women who proclaim it are a mighty throng!” For those who claim that the Bible is offensive to women, this is a royal privilege that God has bestowed on his beloved daughters.

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Chapter 3:

What’s New: Paul wanted to visit the Thessalonians sooner, but Satan derailed those plans (2:18). As a result, he feared that they had fallen away from the faith. “I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain” (v5). This reveals a couple of interesting things:

1. Despite how close to God Paul continually was, the Lord did not reveal to him how the Thessalonians were doing, despite Paul praying for them often. Sometimes God doesn’t reveal things right away. Sometimes we just have to wait for his timing. Eventually Timothy was able to return to Paul and reveal to him that they had remained strong in their faith.

2. Paul worried. I imagine he experienced anxiousness and emotional anguish at times, as a result. A devout man of God stressed out! It’s okay if you do too from time to time. It almost feels like a small lapse in faith for Paul. However, he used that trial to push himself closer to God in prayer. “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again” (v10). Whatever trial you’re currently in, let it take you to the feet of Jesus, night and day.

Who is God: God is our ultimate source of strength and encouragement. Because he’s been that for us, we can then provide those things for others. “We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them” (v2-3). Rejection, and even persecution, are bound to happen when we choose the side of Christ. But strength and encouragement are part of God’s design for the church. Of course, we need to spread the gospel message, but support for the believers themselves and the trials they are enduring is a biblical role. Christians need strength and encouragement to endure the trials of life. Timothy was that man for the Thessalonians. Who are those people in your church? Who can you provide that support and encouragement for?

Psalm 69: I certainly noticed David’s despair and anger in this Psalm. See verses 27-28. He’s not praying for his enemies in the way Christ instructed! However, I also noticed multiple verses that point to Christ. “Zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me” (v9). As well as, “I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst” (v20-21). This Psalm of David is all over the place emotionally, which tells us that we can come to God in any emotional state.

Scripture Memorization: “Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” Psalm 66:5.

• What awesome deeds has God done for you previously?

• Read this verse 10x out loud, from the page. Recite it 10x out loud, only looking at the page as needed.

OK Men - This is what has stood out to me. What is standing out to you? What’s new? How are you seeing the character of God? Leave a comment!

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Today we begin our study of 1 (followed by 2nd) Thessalonians, while continuing our study of the Psalms. I’m excited to get into these New Testament books over the next two weeks, as well as see how they might pair with the Psalms. Let’s see what’s new today and discover God’s character.

Chapter 1:

What’s New: The Thessalonians have been a model church. “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (v6). However, they weren’t able to do this on their own. It came about “with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction” (v5).

It’s important to be reminded of Romans 8:1 here: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” If you have put your faith in Jesus, and battle with the guilt of sin, the condemnation you may feel is not from God. It’s either self-imposed or pushed on you by the enemy. Conviction, however, is very much something the Holy Spirit brings. But that’s a good thing! That’s how we know the difference between sin and righteousness. That’s how we know we’re no longer dead in our sins. Conviction is proof that you have the Holy Spirit on you, and therefore, have the assurance of heaven. There’s a difference between condemnation and conviction. Take peace in that, but it’s also worth reflecting on.

For the Thessalonians to have become the model church of the region, they had to be “deeply convicted” of some major wickedness. This means they had an unholy past, just like the rest of us! Remember Christ’s forgiveness, then let conviction be an indicator of the direction he wants to lead you in.

Who is God: “Wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” (v10). There is a holy wrath that is coming, and putting your faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the only way to be spared. We know this from John 3:36, which we memorized only a few weeks ago. He took the punishment for sin. Those who reject his name, holiness, and sin offering, therefore still have the wrath of God coming. Saying, “God is good” isn’t enough. “Jesus Christ is Lord” is the key to eternal salvation.

Psalm 67: The blessings of the Lord and the joy of his people should cause others to pause and ask themselves, “What’s that about? That seems like a good way to live. Why isn’t my life full of that kind of joy?” The root of our joy and blessing is seen in verse 2: “Your salvation among all nations.” Not just the Jews, as what was probably thought when this was written (Approximately 1,000 before Jesus), but his salvation extends to all nations. So, if someone asks you about the light and joy in your life, invite them in! There’s plenty of room.

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Scripture Memorization: “Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” Psalm 66:5.

• A simple verse this week, but one that should cause you to pause and reflect on the “awesome deeds” that he’s done for you!

• Has he moved in your life in a way that has gone mostly unnoticed because of your busyness or distraction?

• Read it out loud 10x from the page; Recite it 10x today.

OK Men - This is what I’ve noticed in this first chapter. What’s new to you? How do you see the character of God in this short chapter? It’s always there! Leave a comment!

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We completed our study of Isaiah this week! If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to spend a few days going over the last few chapters. There are some incredible verses that point to Jesus and reveal the character of God.

But now we’re left asking, what’s next?

We are going to put a brief pause of Old Testament study and pick it back up in June. For now, we are going to take two weeks and study the books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. There are two simple reasons for this:

1. I’ll be on vacation for the last ten days of this month and I’d rather study something we can finish instead of taking a 10-day break in the middle.

2. We studied every book of the New Testament last year, except these two! Now is a perfect time to fit them in.

There are only a total of eight chapters between the two books, so we’ll have plenty of time to really dig into them. Additionally, we’ll continue our study of the Psalms as we read Thessalonians, as well as when we return to the Old Testament in June (most likely more prophetical books).

Thanks for following along in these studies! I hope they help you get into the Word of God daily, and ultimately, direct you to him.

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Humans have a sin nature. That is never more evident than when you’re raising kids. They’re cute, loveable, and yet, entirely motivated by their own desires. Some of their first words are usually, “No” and, “Mine!” Early on, these prideful little sinners need to be taught how to share because their first instinct is to rip any desired object right out of the hands of someone else. As they get older different struggles emerge, like your 10-year-old never wanting to wear a coat, or your teenager failing to clean their room. The desire to rebel and be led by ourselves never fully goes away, and eventually, our disobedience carries over into our relationship with God.

Last week, we explored the theme of action and how it’s crucial to our discipleship. Jesus’ final instructions to his followers were, “go and make disciples”. However, he included one additional step. He said to teach the disciples that you make to “obey everything I have commanded you,” (Matthew 28:20). Obey everything. Just as proper discipleship requires action, it also requires obedience.

In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commands.” He goes on to say this a total of four times in only three paragraphs, stressing the importance of obedience, as well as it’s connection to loving Christ. This verse can be challenging because it tends to highlight how disobedient we’ve been to him in the past, and how disobedient we can still be. What exactly is it that we need to be obedient to? What does Jesus teach and command of us? Even for the most established believer it can be tough to name them all. Here are only some of the instructions Jesus gives to his followers:

· Jesus tells us to reconcile and forgive (Matthew 5:24)

· Jesus warns against looking at a woman lustfully (Matthew 5:28)

· Jesus teaches us to be men of our word (Matthew 5:37)

· Jesus expects us to love and pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44)

· Jesus says not to worry (Matthew 6:27)

· Jesus tells us not to judge others (Matthew 7:1)

· Jesus says to treat others the way we would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12)

· Jesus tells us not to fear (Matthew 10:28)

· Jesus instructs us to honor our parents (Matthew 15:4)

· Jesus teaches us to deny ourselves (Matthew 16:4)

· Jesus wants us to help the poor (Luke 14:12)

· Jesus commands us to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:37)

· Jesus expects us to make disciples all over the world (Matthew 28:19)

· Jesus tells us to repent and leave our lives of sin behind (Matthew 4:17)

How in the world are we expected to be obedient to all of that? It’s hard to offer forgiveness when we’ve been blatantly wronged. Every person has been guilty of fear and worry. Every man has fallen to the temptation of lust. As followers, how do we refrain from judging others, love our enemies, and then go and make disciples? We can do these things by trusting that when God gives us his instructions for life, and then tells us to obey, it’s for our protection. He knows how the world corrupts and affects us. He knows how our own heart will lead us astray.

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Now, disobedience on our part doesn’t change God’s love for us. However, he does care about our obedience because the very nature of his ways bring blessings and rewards. His teachings lead to a flourishing life. Like the good earthly father who tells his 10-year-old child to wear a coat, he better understands the reasons why it’s important. Disobedience leads to problems. First, it sacrifices our future self for the comfort of now. If the kid doesn’t wear the coat, he’s going to get cold, and possibly get sick. He can’t see his personal discomfort or sickness on the horizon. His understanding is limited. When a man gives in to lust, it’s to gain satisfaction in the moment. The horizon, or future version of himself, isn’t typically his concern. Another problem is that a man can desire to be obedient, yet still keep his temptations within arm’s reach. When this happens, he’s obedient most of the time, but when the temptation is kept close, the derailment is also near. A final problem is when a man stays faithful to the Lord until challenging situations arise. He follows the Lord when it’s convenient. When it gets difficult, he follows his own path, because he wants his own comfort over the will of the Lord. There are an abundance of other reasons why a man would disobey the Lord. Regardless of what they are, we must acknowledge the truth that partial obedience is not obedience.

When Saul was king of Israel, the Lord told him to “attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys,” (1 Samuel 15:4). Saul gathered his army, they fought, and won. However, they kept the best of the cattle, destroying only what was worthless. Samuel, the prophet, heard the animals and confronted Saul. “Saul answered, ‘The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest” (1 Sam. 15:15). Saul had an excuse ready, one that even sounded holy, as if his disobedience was devotion.

Samuel replied, “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king” (1 Sam. 15:23). Saul would go on to admit, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave into them” (1 Sam. 15:24). Saul showed partial obedience, which is not obedience. When he became fearful of the potential thoughts and actions of other men (not even the actual thoughts and actions of the men), he caved. He stopped listening to God when it got difficult. Partial obedience excuses sin, it puts our own comfort over God, and allows the enemy to keep a hook in us.

Additionally, if the motivation to be obedient isn’t properly centered, then we’re destined to fail. If our obedience is rooted in fear of condemnation, repentance feels like a shameful reprimand, when it’s intended to be a graceful realignment with God. If we only obey because we want God’s blessings, any challenge that comes our way can have us thinking that God is punishing us. Often, God lovingly lets challenges befall us to produce spiritual fruit or strengthen our faith and reliance on him. Even obedience for obedience sake will come to feel like an obligation simply because we’re fallen humans with hearts that are prone to wandering.

Obedience is only sustainable when it’s rooted in love for Jesus and gratitude for the cross. Remembering that Jesus was perfectly obedient to the Father, only to have his body ripped open, then nailed to a cross, so that we might inherit a salvation that is unbreakable helps a man deepen his love and appreciation for Christ. Only then does it become easier to follow his ways, which ultimately, are instructions for the best kind of life, not rules meant to bog us down. And when we do fall, because we will, the grace of Christ is still there to catch us.

Sometimes obedience feels like suffering. When the difficulty to stay true to the Lord increases, that’s not the time to look for the shortcut. Suffering through obedience is what produces the greatest changes within. Hebrews 5:8 says, “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Even Jesus suffered in his obedience! Yes, it can be incredibly difficult. Obedience crucifies the flesh and requires us to push ourselves, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, outside of our comfort zone. But as we live on the edge of what is difficult, challenging, and uncomfortable in order to honor the Lord God Jesus Christ, that’s where sanctification happens. Jesus never promised that following him would be easy. But he did promise that it would lead to life.

Obedience helps us experience the goodness of God on this side of eternity. My own struggles remind me that I can’t measure up. I’m always pointed back to Christ and his immeasurable grace. Because of that, obedience is not something that needs to cause worry or anxiety. When I’m obedient, he’s gracious. When I fail, he’s still gracious. It’s a struggle and lifelong process to be made Christ-like. But every once in a while, I can look back and notice that some things are easier to follow now than they once were, and I can see how the Holy Spirit has done good work in me. And even though we’re covered by a depth of grace that we can’t fathom, we must still take obedience seriously, because the will of the Lord is accomplished through the actions of faithful, obedient, servants.

We need to understand that our obedience is important to God. It’s crucial for his plans to unfold, as well as instrumental in our own faith and sanctification. C.S. Lewis said, “Obedience is the key that opens every door.” It doesn’t make sense to the outsider, but the fulfillment that comes from the Christian life begins with obedience to Christ. Does all of this mean that you don’t love Jesus if you sin? Of course, not. God’s not expecting you to be perfect, which is why you’re covered by the blood of his perfect Son. But the man who truly loves Jesus is willing to get uncomfortable in order to remain obedient. The world, our families, and even Christian circles need to see more men getting uncomfortable for Christ.

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This is it! The final chapter of Isaiah. Thanks for following along! We’ll begin a new study on Monday, that will be much shorter, lasting only a couple weeks. But first, let’s see what God has for us in Isaiah and Psalm 66.

Chapter 66:

What’s New: Before Christ came, there were specific things the Lord God looked for in man. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word,” (v2). Men who shed away their pride, had awareness of the guilt of their sin, and honored the Word of the Lord were the ones he used and showed favor to. The Lord still looks for these men.

Today, we also need to believe in his Son, Jesus, for eternal salvation. But it’s still worth asking yourself, “Are there areas where I’m consistently prideful?” “Are there sins in my life that I’m excusing?” “Do I revere the Word of the Lord, or am I too busy to consistently read and study it?” It’s possible to believe in Jesus but not actually follow him, and therefore, live as a pridefully arrogant man.

Who is God: In Isaiah 64, we saw how the Lord’s holiness and wrath have appeared as fire. In chapter 66, we get an image of his second coming, also adorned with fire. “See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the Lord will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the Lord,” (v15-16).

The Lord will hand down the judgment and punishment himself. “Many will be those slain by the Lord.” His holiness and honor have the authority to do so. But we have a hand in this also. It is the mission and purpose of the Christian to “go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19). It is our duty to share the gospel message of Jesus, allowing the Lord to draw them to him, preventing this from happening to as many people as possible. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that the Lord “doesn’t want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.” Therefore, he doesn’t want to do this. However, he’s telling us now that it will happen because the evil of man and Satan will need to be ended once and for all.

We’ve all been warned.

Psalm 66: “Let me tell you what he has done for me” (v16). One last connection to Isaiah! If the thought of sharing the gospel, as mentioned above, brought thoughts of doubt or anxiousness, this is how you do it! Let me tell you what he has done for me! Share your experience. People can’t argue with that. It’s like the blind man from John 9. All I know is that I was one way, and now I am another. The best way to share the goodness of Christ, is tell what he has done for you in your life!

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Scripture Memorization: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23

• How can you apply this verse to areas of your life outside of your career?

• Is there something in your life that needs more focus and attention?

• Read this verse out loud, 10x, from the page. Recite it out loud, 10x, only looking at the page as needed.

OK Men - This is what I have noticed in this final chapter. What’s standing out to you? What’s new? How do you see the character of God? Leave a comment!

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We’re going to finish the book of Isaiah this week! If you’ve followed along, thank you! But mostly, I hope this study has helped you better understand who God is and what his Son was sent to do. It’s a blessing to live on this side of the cross. Let’s finish this study of Isaiah strong!

Chapter 64:

What’s New: Chapter 64 begins and ends with mentions of fire. “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when the fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil,” (v1-2). Fire is an amazing thing. It can be used for heat, cooking, and lighting. God has appeared as fire, as he did in the burning bush to Moses, as the pillar of fire during the Exodus, and descended as fire on Mt. Sinai. But there’s another side.

“Our holy and glorious temple, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire,” (v11). Here, we get an example of something that God created and meant for good, being used for evil once man gets his hands on it. Fire is used for purification, but it’s also very much a part of God’s wrath and judgment. God is described as a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29), his wrath rained fire and brimstone down on Sodom and Gomorrah, when he returns, the final judgment will be the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). I hadn’t realized how many times God had utilized fire for both his glory and judgment until I noticed these verses in this chapter!

Who is God: God doesn’t just sit on his throne; he acts and moves. “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways,” (v4-5).

Psalm 64: This Psalm reminds me of the men I’ve known whose mouths have been their own undoing. “They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows,” (v3). But God hears them too. “He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin,” (v8). Lies and words that tear down are not part of the truth and life that comes from Christ. As Christians, we must especially be careful of our words, because this Psalm also reminds me of Matthew 12:34: “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” So, as you go to work this week, pay attention to what people say. It will reveal what’s alive in their heart. Your words will do the same.

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Chapter 65:

What’s New: “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind,” (v17). Sin won’t be remembered. Sickness will be completely forgotten. Temptation, anger, and anxiety will cease to exist. This is great news! However, I also feel a bit of a rub because God has given me great things in this life. Is he telling me I won’t remember my family? Not exactly, because hopefully, they’ll be in the new earth with me. But ultimately, we (mostly I) need to remember that God will be among us in the new earth! His holiness, light, and truth will radiate and permeate. There will be a peace and joy that is constantly seen, taken in, and enjoyed. Faith is needed to trust his Word, however, faith is also needed to trust in the goodness of his new creation.

Who is God: “All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations - a people who continually provoke me to my very face,” (v2-3). This passage reveals both the goodness of God and the pride of humans. Here, God is trying to give good things to people that are too stubborn. He didn’t turn his back on them, he kept trying to give them good things! He still does this. Pride is the root of all of our sins, and yet, he still faithfully extends his hands to give us good things.

“Pursuing their own imaginations” is also interesting. We have been given the ability to imagine and create from God. But a mind that is not centered on the Lord will wander. These imaginations can become desires, leading to the invention of idols. If we’re not worshipping God alone, humanity has the ability to literally fabricate something, leading us to worship that. Which in essence, reveals that humanity was created to worship; it’s wired into us. And if we’re not worshipping the One True God, we’ll worship something else.

Psalm 65: In order for the Lord to adequately care for his people, he also cares for the earth. “You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it,” (v9). On a much grander scale, it’s kind of like the way my daughter cares for her goldfish. She cleans his tank, gives him food daily, checks the filter and more. If an 11-year-old can put that much care into the well-being of a fish named “Cheeto”, then how much more does God provide and care for us?

Scripture Memorization: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23.

-How can this verse help you in your career?

-How does it challenge you when it comes to household responsibilities, and leading your wife and children?

-Read it from the page, 10x, out loud. Recite it out loud, 10x, only looking at the page as needed.

OK Men - This is what is standing out to me today. What are you seeing? What’s new? How are you seeing the character of God in these chapters? Leave a comment!

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There are some deeply heavy themes in Isaiah 62 and 63. While they’re overall rejoiceful, they certainly left me with some things to reflect on. Be open to what the Lord might want to reveal to you in these chapters.

Chapter 62:

What’s New: Isaiah begins this chapter by saying, “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,” (v1). He will declare the good news of the Lord for their benefit. It makes me reflect personally, how often do I keep silent about the good news of the Gospel of Jesus, when declaring it is for the benefit of others?

Famous magician and comedian (and atheist) Penn Jillette once said, “How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?” It’s an interesting take, but it begs the question, “Why isn’t every Christian constantly sharing the gospel message?” Are we afraid of the pushback? Are we afraid of being labeled as a “weird Christian”? Do we doubt ourselves? Is it all of the above, and then some? Have we grown to fear man more than God?

The Lord gave Isaiah good news about the coming Messiah and he said, “I will not remain quiet.” Jesus was not quiet, and subsequently, neither were his disciples. The gospel doesn’t spread through silence or fear, and that’s one of the reasons why the Holy Spirit gives us boldness (2 Tim. 1:7). The Christian man, myself included, must not keep quiet.

Who is God: God loves every person, as we are all created by God. But something shifts when we put our faith in his Son, Jesus. “As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you,” (v5). Your Builder will marry you. Jesus is described as the bridegroom and the church his bride in Ephesians 5:25-32, 2 Corinthians 11:2, and Revelation 19:7-9.

Therefore, when we combine Isaiah 62:5 with the passages about the church being the bride of Christ, it reveals that Jesus is God, he is our creator, he delights in us, and he’s committed to us. It all points back to the goodness of God and his desire to create and save his people so they might spend eternity with him.

Psalm 62: I love how this Psalm connects to Isaiah! “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken,” (v1-2). Without “The Builder” marrying his creation, there is no rest and no salvation!

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Chapter 63:

What’s New: Verses 1-6 are a conversation between Isaiah and God, but at a unique point in time. Isaiah sees someone with “garments stained crimson” (v1) and asks, “Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength?” (v1). Take this image in: Isaiah sees someone with kingly, royal clothing, but it’s blood stained. This man is walking powerfully, proving his strength.

The Lord God replies, “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save” (v2). He adds, “It was for me the day of vengeance; the year for me to redeem had come” (v4). Isaiah saw God on the day of his reckoning; a day we have yet to see, but has been foretold. Isaiah didn’t see the lamb, he saw the lion! He saw the Holy God after he had put an end to evil and wickedness once and for all. He saw the blood of the people who had rejected God; the blood of what could be our own future generations.

Verse 7 begins a prayer of praise from Isaiah because he realizes who he has seen and spoken with. So, there’s definitely an upswing in emotion. But verses 1-6 are probably some of the heaviest verses I’ve read in a while.

Who is God: We see Jesus’ royalty and his might to end evil in the early verses, but later Scripture reveals a piece of his heart. Speaking of Israel fleeing Egypt with Moses it says, “In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit” (v9-10). Our sin breaks his heart. God grieves for those who are caught in sin. God grieves for those who are lost. God grieves for those that rebel.

He does this because he loves his creation at a level we’re incapable of replicating. It breaks his heart because he knows his day of vengeance will come and then it will be too late for far too many. He grieves because he doesn’t want anyone to perish, but wants them to come to repentance, to experience true life in his name (2 Peter 3:9). It grieves him because he’s a loving, righteous, and emotional God who did all the hard work to offer salvation to us freely and graciously, and yet many will still say, “No, thanks.”

Psalm 63: This Psalm is similar to Isaiah 63. It’s a praise unto God, but the ending is what stood out most. “But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced” (v11). The mouths of liars will be silenced. Throughout the course of humanity, there will be many liars, but thinking back to Isaiah 63:3-4, some of those liars will end up on his robes.

Scripture Memorization: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Psalm 57:1.

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I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. There’s an incredible blessing in that. However, for the majority of my Christian life, that’s all I did. I believed and nothing else. As a result, I grew older without growing spiritually. My relationship with Jesus was stagnant, because despite believing in him, I wasn’t following him. My faith lacked action. Eventually, I was introduced to the concept of “discipling” Jesus, not merely believing in him, but staying close to him, in order to mimic his words and actions. This completely transformed my relationship with him.

The Hebrew word for disciple is talmid. It involves being a student of a teacher or philosopher, although the first century understanding of talmid was more than being just a learner. It included practicing the lifestyle of the teacher. The best way for a talmid to learn was not simply to memorize their teachers’ teachings, but to copy their entire lifestyle, even down to their mannerisms, in order to do as they did. For the chosen twelve that Jesus called to be his first disciples, the goal was to master how God wants us to live in his world by learning from the God-man himself.

These men were lifelong Jews. Why did they need to learn from Jesus? Afterall, their early schooling consisted of memorizing Old Testament Scripture. Surely, they understood how God wanted his people to live. They needed to be with Christ because the heart wanders. Without the anchor of Christ, man drifts. I’ve experienced this. It’s possible to put your faith in Christ and yet live in a way that points you in a different direction. Hebrews 2:1 says, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” While we cannot lose our salvation, this passage confirms that without “careful attention”, we can drift away from Christ and the gospel message that we’ve heard, impacting our lives in harmful ways. Our discipleship to Christ requires intentional action. When we fail to keep Christ at the center of every aspect of our lives, day-by-day, hour-by-hour, even moment-by-moment, the enemy knows how to misdirect us, causing drift in our Christian walk.

It feels a little embarrassing to admit that I was a lifelong professing Christian, and yet, didn’t know that following Jesus meant more than just believing in him. I remember asking myself, “Where was the church? Where were the teachings that stressed the importance of taking actionable steps to get closer to Christ?” But the real question is, where was I? I wasn’t reading the Word, I wasn’t spending time in prayer, I wasn’t taking any kind of actionable steps to feed my relationship with the Lord. I pursued other things over Christ. Distraction led to inaction. As a result, I, a man who fully believed in Jesus, drifted and felt lost in my faith. From my own experience, and what I’ve seen in the lives of other Christian men, there’s a borderline epidemic of men who are failing to take action in their walk with Christ.

Learning how to live as a Christian takes time. It takes the Holy Spirit. It also takes an effort on our part. Every action a man takes determines whether he’s living for Christ or something else. My past failure to live close to Christ invariably meant I was actively taking steps to follow myself and the worldliness that influenced me. Jesus spent three years patiently teaching his followers, men who knew Scripture, how to live. If I wasn’t with him for more than an hour on Sundays, what chance would I have to live like him? James 1:22 tells us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” How do men of God know what the Word says if we don’t consistently open it? If no action is taken to read the Bible, and no effort is made to understand the kinds of things Jesus said and did, then it’s highly unlikely that we’re living the way Jesus instructed his followers to live. Every benefit of the Christian life begins with your actionable steps to spend time with Christ.

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The Chistian life is meant to be one of action, but drifting away from him has an impact, preventing us from truly living the life Jesus calls us to. James 2:26 says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” A man without the Spirit is spiritually dead. A follower’s faith is dead when it lacks action. This was me, a Christian that needed reviving. I was no talmid, just a guy who showed up for an hour on Sunday and then went home. There’s no light of Christ emanating from that kind of life because inaction toward our relationship with the Lord completely changes how we live. Discipling him shapes us to be the light that shines in this world of darkness. It’s not until we learn from Christ that we can truly model his love, compassion, and servant heart.

In the final moments before his ascension into heaven, Jesus gave the instruction to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19). This is the Christian mission and purpose. However, we completely lack the ability to “go and make disciples” if we’re not an adequate disciple ourselves. It’s impossible to guide others in the way of Christianity if we’re not actively seeking Christ first. How can you invite someone into a better way of living if you haven’t fully experienced it? How can you share what Jesus has done in your life if you haven’t relinquished your life? How can you share the comforting truths in God’s Word if you don’t know them? A man will always struggle to live Christ-like, make disciples, and share the gospel if he’s not close to Christ.

We cannot take action for Christ if we’re not first taking action to be with Christ. As a result, men often struggle to feel the joy that is intended for the Christian life. It’s meant to be a peaceful, flourishing life. Not through material or financial means, but for the heart and soul. Ask yourself, “Do my heart and soul feel like they are flourishing?” If not, your pursuit of Christ could be the direct result. Christ pours into us so that we can pour into others. If we’re not spending time with him, we’ve got nothing to give. The goodness of the Christian life cannot be experienced without Christ!

It’s important to point out that discipleship requires action, but not for salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 is very clear, saying, “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” We don’t live out the Christian life to be saved. Salvation comes first through faith in Christ alone. Yet, we’re told that there are good works that God wants us to do. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). The good works are a result of saving grace. They’re done out of appreciation, not obligation. God isn’t pleased with you because of the actions you may or may not take. He’s already pleased because the blood of the Son covers you.

A man’s faith will always fizzle out when he doesn’t take action to be with Christ. Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” That hunger and thirst for righteousness comes from Jesus. Some men need to reignite their fire for Christ. I’ve been one of them. Some men feel good about their walk with Christ and have a desire to explore a deeper relationship with him, but just don’t know how. I’ve been there, too. Throughout this devotional, you’ll discover a variety of ways to cultivate your relationship with the Lord. Be assured, every one of them begins with a step of action.

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It’s hard to believe that we’ve put two consistent months into studying Isaiah and the Psalms together. We’ll finish Isaiah next week. Then, we’ll study another prophetical book and continue in the Psalms. But let’s not jump too far ahead! There are still some great things in these final chapters of Isaiah!

Chapter 60:

What’s New: In chapter 59, Isaiah says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” The sins of Israel were so great, they were cut off from the Lord. He didn’t even hear their prayers. In 60:10-11 the Lord says, “Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night.” This is a prophetic word, and one that is most likely very literal, however, there appears to be a deeper level that we can rest in today.

The Lord turned his face from the Israelites, their relationship with him was closed off. But now, because of the work of Christ, the gates to our own relationship with God are never closed! We are in constant relationship with God because his Spirit never leaves us. We can approach his throne in prayer at any time, at our own convenience. There is never a moment that the love and grace of Christ is not flowing over us. We’ll never have to experience the Lord turning his face from us as long as we remain in Christ. What an amazingly graceful blessing that we take for granted too often.

Who is God: There are seasons for refining. Sometimes we’re left in want and in need. But the man who keeps his faith in God is always blessed! And occasionally, there are times when the Lord brings physical blessings. “Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler,” (v17).

Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He did this for Israel when their time of punishment through Babylonian captivity was over. He can provide immensely for you as well. However, I encourage you not to forget how he has already been good to you! Look around your life today. How has he already blessed you physically? How has he blessed you relationally? How does he continue to bless you spiritually? He is always providing for us. We’ll notice it when we pause and look up.

Psalm 60: Two interesting things about this Psalm, and one of them comes before verse 1. First, under the title, “Psalm 60” and before it begins, there’s a description. It says, “A miktam (musical term) of David. For teaching.” This Psalm was recorded for teaching purposes. What did God, and David, want to teach others through this Psalm? What does he want us to understand today?

The second interesting thing is that it appears they’ve experienced an earthquake. “You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking,” (v2). What’s really interesting is that David says that it’s a result of God rejecting them (v1). Today, we understand the science behind earthquakes (at least we think we do), but God still holds everything in his hand, including natural disasters. Are they part of the “birthing pains” that Jesus talks about, and do we lose sight of God using these kinds of events, just because they can be scientifically explained?

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Chapter 61:

What’s New: Isaiah says, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor,” (v1). He adds that the news he brings will bestow on those who grieve “the oil of joy” (v3). Imagine that for a moment. Oil that auto mechanics work with is often dirty. It penetrates their fingerprints, and is incredibly difficult to fully remove, even with soap, water, and scrubbing. Sometimes oil is greasy. If it gets on your hands, and you use a towel to try and remove it, there’s typically residue left behind. It doesn’t fully go away with a wipe down, it lingers, leaving the skin feeling slick and smooth. And if you get that on your clothes you’ve got a stain for life!

God gives us “the oil of joy”. The joy of eternal salvation is encapsulating. It seals, penetrates, and doesn’t wipe off easily. Lord, I pray that you would remind your sons of that joy today. Let it sink in and not go away easily.

Who is God: “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them,” (v8). God hates the schemes and corruption that come from the prideful hearts of men. There appears to be a lot of that out there today. A lot of people in high places look like they’re getting away with “wrongdoing”. But God loves justice. He is a fair and righteous judge, and yet, he’s offered us his righteousness in exchange for our wrongdoing. The very implication of that is unfair and makes him look like a horrible judge! But by his goodness, the everlasting covenant that he established, works out to our favor.

Psalm 61: “Increase the days of the king’s life,” (v6). Increase the days. This is a prayer for an extended lifespan. I’ve used this before when praying for people who don’t yet know Christ. I’ll ask, “God increase the days of _____.” We all know people who, spiritually speaking, are not ready to meet the Lord yet. Of course, pray that there’s someone in their path that can plant gospel seeds and tell them about Jesus (most often, that’s YOU!). But we can also pray that God would give them time to discover who he is. He desires all to come to him and there are Biblical examples of God extending lives. So, pray that God might increase the days of your loved ones who don’t know Christ yet, and then, go tell them about Christ!

Scripture Memorization: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Isaiah 57:1.

• What does it look like for you to take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings when the disaster, challenge, or trial is still ongoing?

• Read it 10x, out loud, from the page. Recite it 10x, out loud, looking at the page as needed.

OK Men - This is what I have noticed in these chapters. What’s standing out to you? What’s new? How are you seeing the character of God in these Scriptures? Leave a comment!

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Great Psalms and an amazing foretelling in Isaiah 59! Let’s dive in!

Chapter 58:

What’s New: Israel has been fasting yet not receiving the blessings they’ve been expecting. And that’s the problem, they want the blessings not the Blesser. “They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them,” (v2). But Israel asks, “Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?” (v3). That’s the key. Their response is, “Why have we even bothered?”

Israel is fasting as an attempt to be holy. But God provides the holiness, not our actions. A fast is meant to draw one closer to God. It can do so by pointing out how much control something has over you. A fast is done to honor God, not to be God. When we seek him and honor him with the right heart posture, his Spirit provides the godly attributes: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and so much more!

Who is God: The Lord desires our heart, not merely actions that give the appearance of godliness. “Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high,” (v4). A fast can quickly reveal hidden aspects of your character. There’s a reason why people fast from food, and there’s a reason the word “Hangry” exists! Starving your flesh is unpleasant, and it draws out that which is still alive in your heart. God wants us to be aware of these imperfections because it’s his grace that is going to refine them and produce a holy change within us.

One more interesting note: God points out that Israel cannot fast in such a way and expect their voice to be heard. This implies two things. 1) If the heart is far from God, chances are he may not be hearing you, because you aren’t genuinely seeking to be near to him. 2) When the heart does genuinely want to seek God, we can expect (v4) him to hear us. And that can bring great comfort!

Psalm 58: David uses powerful imagery to describe the wicked. “Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!” (v4-5). He compares prevailing wickedness to a poisonous bite. Lord, break their teeth, put an end to their wickedness.

And who are the ones acting wickedly? It’s easy to miss. “Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity?” (v1). It’s the rulers, those who are in charge. If you’ve been watching the news and noticing that the entire world seems to be approaching a breaking point because of the pride of men, it’s nothing new.

While men may need the “fangs” to usher in the coming of the Lord, remember, we can still pray for the Lord’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven! No man knows when his return will come. Therefore, we can still be the light the dark world needs! We can, and must, still live the Christian life by showing the love of Christ.

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Chapter 59:

What’s New: This chapter is a foretelling of the gospel in just three verses! It’s truly incredible when we break it down to see it.

1. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear,” (v2). Our sin separated us from God.

2. “He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him,” (v16). No man is able to save himself. We are all in need of a savior. So, God himself made the way to be our savior.

3. “‘The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,’ declares the Lord,” (v20). The Messiah will come to the Jews in Jerusalem, and he will preach a message of repentance, which of course, Jesus did (Luke 5:32).

Who is God: Despite being the one we sin against, God makes the way back to him through his Son, Jesus Christ. When we put our faith in his Son, we also receive a promise. “‘As for me, this is my covenant with them',’ says the Lord. ‘My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you,’” (v21). There is no greater love than this; to be the one who is continually wronged, and yet, be the one to save the man who is wronging you.

Psalm 59: David turns to God in his emotional agony. It reminds me of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the night of his arrest. “Deliver me from evil doers and save me from those who are after my blood. See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, Lord. I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight!” (v2-4).

These last few Psalms have all been similar: Lay out everything that’s going on, pour it out - harshly if needed. Then, once the panic has been released, state the reminders of who God is. “You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely,” (v17). Pour out the fear and anxieties so that the truths can be spoken, bringing calm amid the storm.

If you’re feeling deep fear and anxiety this week, get it out! Speak it to the Lord, tell him exactly how it feels. Then, remember the truths of the goodness and security he provides.

Scripture Memorization: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Psalm 57:1.

• How might this verse help you in a current of future struggle?

• What does it look like to take refuge in him until the disaster has passed?

• Read this verse 10x out loud from the page, then recite it 10x out loud, only looking at the page as needed.

OK Men - This is what I have noticed in these two chapters. What’s standing out to you? What’s new? How are you seeing God’s character? Leave a comment!

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The Lord gives, the Lord takes, and the Lord answers prayers. There are some interesting things going on in Isaiah and the Psalms of David. Let’s take a look!

Chapter 56:

What’s New: Blessed is the one who “keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it.” What’s new is that this statement is made twice, in verses 2 and 6. The Word adds in verse 2, “For my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.” This implies that God’s righteousness had not yet been revealed, which of course, Jesus arrived about 700 years later. God seems to be saying that in the meantime, those who do what is right and honor my Sabbath will be blessed.

Are there still blessings for honoring the Sabbath today? Is going to church on Sunday enough to honor the Lord’s day, or is there something more? What kind of additional or hidden blessings lie in resting to focus on God for an entire day? Are we less blessed if we don’t honor the Sabbath? American culture and schedules don’t slow down on the weekend but rather pick up. Why would God want this included in his Holy Word for us to see today? Certainly, there are some deep things to reflect on here.

Who is God: The Lord’s salvation extends to the Gentiles. This “blessed one” is the eunuch (v4) and the foreigner (v6). This news was for the Jews to prepare their hearts. However, even for the disciples of Christ, it took some time to shake old mentalities. It was only by the Spirit that their heart posture changed. “The Sovereign Lord declares - he who gathers the exiles of Israel: ‘I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered,’” (v8). God was never going to save only the Jews. He’s just too powerful, graceful, and loving!

Psalm 56: The Philistines are pursuing David, looking to kill him, (v6). It’s brought him to the point of tears. “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll - are they not in your record?” (v8). And here we are, approximately 3,000 years later, reading about his misery and tears, because God recorded and preserved them. It’s not exactly the kind of prayer I would typically want answered, but I’ve also never had an army trying to kill me. This Psalm shows that God sees and hears us in our most desperate times.

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Chapter 57:

What’s New: Billy Joel famously sang, “Only the good die young.” I’ve even muttered it when a good person is taken too soon. Death comes for us all, but did God’s Word give us a comforting answer for when we question the loss of good people? “The righteous perish and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death,” (v1-2).

The righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. That is certainly something to reflect on. I have heard critics of God ask, “How can a god, that you think is loving, tell his people to kill an entire population of people, including their women and children?” First of all, there is no answer that question that will make anyone feel better. However, God’s Word is providing an answer. Perhaps there is a mercy in it - “they find rest as they lie in death.”

This isn’t a fun or easy topic to cover. It’s okay to wrestle with this. But in the contemplation, we must always come back to the truth that God’s ways are not our ways; His thoughts are not our thoughts. His Word is the truth we can trust when our heart and thoughts feel unsettled.

Who is God: Like any good father, God will punish and correct bad behavior, but what we’re reading in this chapter isn’t just bad, it’s evil. “But you - come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!” But you - come here! Can you feel the finger pointing? Does it take you back to receiving punishment from your earthly father? God sees what they’re doing, “you sacrifice your children in the ravines,” (v5). It’s just like a kid who thinks they’re sneaky, but the parent is fully aware of what’s going on.

There’s even a pinch of angry sarcasm: “When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you!” (v13). Let your inanimate wooden carvings bring the rain in the midst of your drought. Let the golden statue that asks for the sacrifice of your children bring you peace, joy, and comfort. No! “‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked,’” (v21). It’s a wonder that God sees what he sees, and brings anyone to him, in order to spare them from evil.

(I just noticed that v21 is the opposite of v2!)

Psalm 57: Another Psalm of David as he’s on the run, this time from King Saul. In Psalm 56, when David is captured by the Philistines, he worships God. Here, he hides from Saul and worships God. The greatest thing we can take from these psalms is to continue worshipping God in the most difficult of times! “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed,” (v1). Don’t seek him once and then move on. Don’t think he doesn’t hear you if the difficulties last longer than you expected them to. Take refuge in him until the disaster has passed. Then, once it’s passed, glorify him!

Scripture Memorization: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36.

OK Men - This is what I have noticed in these chapters. I highly encourage you to read these chapters for yourself. Sit with them, reflect on them. What’s standing out to you? What’s new? How are you seeing God’s character in Isaiah and Psalm 56-57? Leave a comment!

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A lot can change in a year. Families, friendships, communities, careers, church roles can all be vastly different from year to year. We too, can change greatly in one years’ time, both inwardly and outwardly. The “Law of 18” says that if you spend only 18 minutes a day practicing a specific skill, after one year you will have invested 100 hours into that skillset, and because of dedication and consistency, you will be better than 95% of other people who practice that same skill. One year can take you from novice to expert. Over this last year, you’ve searched for God in many different ways. If you’ve consistently read these devotionals, reflected and discussed them using the questions provided, as well as taken the steps in the Call to Action section (both available for Paid Subscribers), you’ve invested more than 100 hours into your faith. You are not the same man that you were a year ago.

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Think of the topics explored. You’ve studied multiple layers of discipleship, prayer, and worldliness. You’ve confronted how emotions, words, and thoughts impact your walk with Christ. You’ve practiced relinquishing control, chased after wisdom, and discovered the importance of various relationships to your faith. You’ve learned how to fight against the enemy in the spiritual battle, as well as against your own passivity and judgments. You know how to defend your faith and establish your legacy in Christ. You’ve spent a year fostering your relationship with Jesus by tending to your heart, mind, and soul. You fed and nourished the Spirit within you. By the grace of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit, your discipleship has leveled up.

Do you feel different? At this point, the Holy Spirit has been strengthened and cultivated. It’s likely that your relationship with Jesus has reached new depths, producing a newfound appreciation and love for him. This “King Energy” is the power of Christ alive and awoken within you! “King Energy” is not just some goofy term. Your faith in Christ really has made you a royal child of God. Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” Because of the Spirit of the One True God living inside of you, there’s a royal inheritance for you. Galatians 4:7 adds, “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has also made you an heir.” You’re an heir to his righteousness. Being a son of God is like having a royal family name. Waiting for you is an inheritance of eternity with God in the greatest kingdom ever known. This wasn’t given to you because you invested in your Spirit this last year. You’ve been a royal son of God since the moment you put your faith in him.

You might be thinking, “That all sounds great, but I don’t feel like a king.” Perhaps you’ve come to believe that you can’t have any kind of powerful impact in God’s kingdom. Maybe you even feel forgotten. Self-doubt is normal, but rest assured, “King Energy” is not found within yourself, but rather in the holy one who was tortured and nailed to a cross for you. More than 3,000 years ago, God rejected Saul as King of Israel and sent his prophet Samuel to find a new king. The Lord said, “I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king,” (1 Samuel 16:1). Verses 6-7 add, “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” These strapping young men may have looked kingly, but the Lord looks deeper.

Seven sons of Jesse passed through this same examination with the same results. However, there was one more. He had been forgotten, excluded from this selection process. But God saw David in the field tending the sheep. He was only viewed as unworthy through human eyes. In the eyes of the Lord, David was seen, he was worthy, he was a king! 2 Samuel 5:10 tells us that, “he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.” This verse serves as one of the core values of OKMen Network. We’re capable of achieving unbelievable things when we keep God close in all that we do. David grew into a great man because he continually chased after God, not by anything he did on his own. The Lord saw his heart and continued to bless him. As David learned to walk in a humble authority that was God given, he became more powerful, because of God. The Lord is with you in the same way that he was with David. But what does your pursuit of God look like?

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Thessalonians 5:19 says, “Do not quench the Spirit.” Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire. David was intentional about fueling his relationship with God. I have certainly fallen short in this regard. When I’ve felt stagnant in my faith, wondering if and when God was going to show up in my life, it was always because I wasn’t doing much of anything to feed my soul. I’ve had seasons, some quite extensive, when I’ve quenched the Spirit. I was going to church consistently, but time in the Word was non-existent, prayer was fleeting, and feeding sinful desires became far too acceptable. Sanctification doesn’t happen in these seasons because the Spirit isn’t being fed. In these seasons, I’ve derailed myself. No Christian will ever feel the power of the living God inside of them, that “King Energy”, without a strong, consistent connection to Jesus.

To thrive as a Christian man, the Spirit needs to be fueled. To see Spiritual fruit in your life, seeds must first be planted, then the seed must be nourished so the roots can take hold and form a secure foundation. Without giving the Spirit what it’s craving, a part of you will feel like a dry desert wasteland. This past year, you’ve nourished your soul. You’ve intentionally sought God, allowing him to fuel your Spirit. If you’ve continued to show up this last year, I truly believe that God has brought new joy into your life because “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

As you go forth from here, I encourage you not to remain silent about what Christ has done in your life. Share the journey of this past year with other men. We’re running out of time. Every new day is one less day until the return of Jesus. Christian men cannot afford to be good men who choose to do nothing. Christian men cannot be passive toward evil. Christian men cannot be indifferent about the faith of others. Jesus gave his church an important task, and if it appears that the darkness in the world is growing, then there’s more that his church needs to do. Psalm 96:2-3 says, “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all people.” Don’t keep your faith bottled up. Walk and live in the joy, power, and freedom that you’ve received freely by the grace of the King, Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:31 asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” No one. No one can stand against the power of the Lord Jesus. Understand that there is a Holy power living inside of you if you’ve put your faith in Christ. I hope this journey has helped you discover the royal child of God that you are and what feeding the Holy Spirit can do in your life, and the lives of others through you. The greatest reward to seeking more of God is always more of God. The more of him you find, the more you’ll be impacted. It’s impossible to learn new depths of King Jesus and not be changed. He’s just too good!

So, continue investing in your relationship with him. Keep feeding your soul. What might your faith look like after another year of intentionally seeking Christ? What kind of sanctification might the Holy Spirit produce within you five years down the line? Ten years? There’s truly no telling because there is no limit to God. Pursue Jesus deliberately and you will never remain the same. As the hymn goes, “Yet not I, but Christ in me”.

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After Isaiah 53 and the depiction of the suffering servant, we get a shift! Isaiah 54-55 offers redemption, protection, and an invitation.

Chapter 54:

What’s New: After the suffering servant (chapter 53), the Lord God offers future glory and restoration to Israel in chapter 54. The promises God offers Israel in this chapter point to their freedom from Babylonian exile, However, they also describe the freedom and restoration one receives from putting their faith in Jesus!

Listen to some of the language God uses: “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame,” (v4). “With everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” (v8). “My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace removed,” (v10). These are the rewards of putting your faith in His Son! As Israel rejoiced with their God-given freedom after the fall of Babylon, we too celebrate new freedoms in the name of Christ!

Who is God: God doesn’t break his promises. “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again,” (v9). Two things I find interesting here: 1) It’s a reference to the flood. Some have a hard time believing that a worldwide flood ever took place, but here, God’s referring to it, meaning it existed because he only speaks truth. 2) Jesus also referenced the flood when describing the end times, and he did so with the exact same language, saying, “As it was in the days of Noah” (Matt. 24:37).

In the days of Noah, God promised never to flood the earth again. Here in Isaiah, God is comparing his promise to never flood the world to his promise to never “be angry with you,” (v9). Who is the “you” God mentions? It’s Israel. Who is Israel? That’s the people of God. Who are the people of God? Those who have placed their faith in His Son for eternal salvation. This promise does not extend to every religion or “good person”. It’s not limited to race or geographical borders. Only those who believe that Jesus took the wrath for their sins are spared from God’s anger and wrath. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them,” John 3:36. This too, is a promise, one that God will not break.

Psalm 54: The theme of this Psalm is short and sweet: God save me, evil people are after me, and I’ll praise you because you’ve delivered me before. This is a simple prayer breakdown that we can use for many of our challenging situations today.

-God, I need help - Tell God what you’re needing. Even though he already knows what you need before you ask, God wants to hear from you. Going to him with requests builds our relationship with him and allows us to see his power when we’ve asked and then see him move.

-Evil surrounds me - In this plea is a recognition that the world is not something that works for our best interest. It’s an honest confession that what we’re truly seeking is the God who transcends this world.

-You’ve delivered me before - Remember! God has helped and provided for you countless times. As humans, we’re quick to forget. Think about what he’s done for you in the past and it can remind you in the present that God has you firmly in his hand.

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Chapter 55:

What’s New: “Come, all you who are thirsty,” (v1). Come, all. The Lord’s invitation to come drink the living water that he offers is for everyone. Not only to the Jew. Not only to the Gentile. Not only to those who are already Christians. To ALL. The Lord wants no one to perish. He desires all to be covered by the blood of his Son, Jesus.

Who is God: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” (v9). 99% of what we see in the night sky is untouchable. It’s impossible for us to reach because it’s just so far beyond us. But we can see it. We know that stars, planets, and other galaxies are out there. Do you remember our Scripture memorization from a couple months ago, Psalm 19:1? “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” The heavens are there to proclaim God’s glory. They’re impossibly vast to reflect how much higher his ways are over ours.

This is why we read the Word and try to memorize Scripture every week. His Word reveals who he is. It teaches us his ways. We commit it to memory so that his ways supersede our own. The heart and mind cannot always be trusted, especially in trial, challenge, and conflict. But the Word of God can always be trusted. When we learn to rely on his truths over our own thoughts and emotions, that’s when a major Spirit-led sanctification happens, and we truly live Christ-like.

Psalm 55: This is nuts! David continues today’s theme of the Lord’s thoughts over our own by saying, “My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught,” (v2). My thoughts. In this moment, David’s mind is focused on the storm, blocking out the truths he knows in God’s Holy Scriptures. He has wicked enemies encamped around him, and they’re threatening him. “My heart is in anguish within me,” (v4). “Fear and trembling have beset me,” (v5). The storm always gets worse when we listen to our thoughts and fears more than God.

David has his fear-ridden, panic-stricken, anxious moment, but then he remembers! “As for me I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress and he hears my voice,” (v16-17). He remembers that the Lord hears him and knows his situation. David remembers that he can trust God. Then, he speaks to us!

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken,” (v22). Cast your cares on the Lord. Davis is saying that YOU should do this! So, have your moment. Freak out! But do it toward the Lord. Speak your anxieties, worries, and fears to God, and when you focus on him in the storm, he will sustain you. There’s no guarantee that your situation will improve right away. But there is a promise that he will sustain you through the storm and remain with you through it.

Scripture Memorization: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36.

• Read it out loud 10x from the page, then recite out loud 10 x, looking at the page as needed

• Reflect on what it means to have God’s wrath remaining on someone. How can this help you tell others about Christ? How does this help put into perspective what Jesus did for you?

*I will be away at a conference this week, so we will pick back up on Friday!

OK Men - This is what I’ve noticed in these chapters. Some great stuff! What are you noticing? What’s something that’s new to you? How are you discovering God’s character in Isaiah/Psalm 54-55? Leave a comment!

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We’ve come to one of the greatest Messianic prophecies ever foretold. How many different ways can you see Isaiah 52 and 53 pointing to Jesus?

Chapter 52:

What’s New: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (v7). It’s a wonderful thing to share the good news of salvation through the Gospel of Jesus! God says that there is beauty in those footsteps. But how many of us are afraid to speak about Christ to strangers in public?

I’ve certainly been there, and when we are living in that kind of a fear and head space, there is no beauty in our footsteps. If we already know we’re keeping our thoughts and opinions to ourselves, those are steps in darkness, not light. I’ve failed to share the gospel out of fear, even when God’s Word tells me over and over again to “Fear not”. It comes down to the fear of man vs the fear of God. When we trust in God, and step out in faith and boldness, the Lord sees our steps as beautiful.

Who is God: “His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness,” (v14). This is Jesus after receiving 39 lashings. Disfigured. Marred. Any depiction you’ve seen of Christ that doesn’t have him appearing as such, is wrong.

It makes me wonder, did Jesus always know this was about him? My inclination says yes, but he still lived as a young boy. Was there ever a time that he read this scripture in his childhood, and he came away scared? We know his anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane the night of his arrest. Even that must have taken an unmatched spiritual bravery to go through. I can’t imagine what he must have felt like as a child, assuming he knew that was about him. One day, I’ll be able to ask him face to face.

Psalm 52: In this Psalm, David is on the run from Saul, but his location has been leaked by a man named Doeg. When you read verses 1-7, do you feel the anger? Do you feel the frustration? “You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin,” (v4-5). David vents to God. Do you vent to the Lord with this kind of passion and realness? But in his anger, David pauses and reminds himself of the peace and goodness of God. The tone completely shifts: “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever,” (v8). If the anger wells up in you today, pause and remember the truth of God’s love for you. Remember how good he’s been, and how faithful he will continue to be.

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Chapter 53:

What’s New: Isaiah 53 is most likely the greatest prophecy ever written about the Messiah. I’ve seen videos of Jews who deny Jesus’ deity, read this chapter and assume that it was New Testament Scripture. It was written approximately 700 years before Jesus walked the earth, which makes it all the more incredible. There are so many references to Jesus that it’s hard to recognize them all in one read through. However, one verse stood out to me.

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand,” (v10). “Offspring”? This is a reference to spiritual descendants. How does one become a spiritual descendant of the Messiah? By putting their faith in him for their eternal salvation, thus receiving the Holy Spirit.

So, when it says, “though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days,” it’s revealing that Jesus watches over those who put their faith in him, his descendants.

Who is God: Only God is able to foretell what his Messiah would endure. He does this so that we can recognize it, and thus, put our faith in him for eternal salvation. But there is truly no man who could ever predict that someone would come back from the dead.

“After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied,” (v11).

Jesus’ resurrection was always a part of God’s plan for our redemption. Jesus’ Apostles died horribly to preserve the truth that they saw him alive. First Century Christians endured horrible persecution and death from Rome for their faith in Christ. Even today, Nigerian Christians are being martyred daily. The enemy hates God’s promise of eternal life because it doesn’t extend to him. Say a prayer today giving thanks to God that his plan was always to save you through his Son’s sacrifice.

Psalm 53: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God,’” (v1). Full stop. There is nothing wise about denying the existence of God. It’s foolish. So remember, if you’re in a discussion with a non-believer, there is nothing they can offer you. You don’t need to get upset, angry, or overly passionate because there is no wisdom that they can offer.

Scripture Memorization: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:22-24.

OK Men - This is what I have seen in these chapters. What’s standing out to you? What’s new? How do you see the character of God? Leave a comment!

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“Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” - Frank Outlaw.

OK Men,

The biggest guarantee in life is death. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death.” It’s normal to think about the end and wonder what the crossover from life to death back into life will be like. There is wisdom in planning for the end. We sign up for life insurance policies, set wills in order, and try our best to prepare our wives and children for a world without us there to guide them. Personally, the thought of my family trying to navigate life without me brings more fear than death does. But a friend once told me, “If I believe that God is going to provide for me in this life, then I have to believe that he’s going to provide for my family if I’m gone.” The Lord provides for those who put their faith in him. Making sure that my family has a foundation of trust in God, is the greatest legacy that I can leave behind.

Men typically want to be remembered as being successful, strong, or smart. But does that change for the man who lives a life dedicated to Christ? Disciples live differently. So, do we really want to be remembered for the same things that men who conformed to this world are remembered for? Living for Christ changes our goals, motivations, and perspectives. Being successful is fine, but the servant of Christ can also be known for his compassion and generosity. Desiring strength is normal but a disciple seeks boldness and faith. Having intelligence is great, however, it’s not the same as having wisdom and discernment. The man who lives for Christ will be successful, strong, and smart, but they’ll be measured differently. Worldly standards and measurements may say that the Godly man is not successful, strong, or smart. In fact, the world may see him as nothing more than scum.

Paul’s path as a Christian apostle was incredibly difficult. As a result, he’s able to provide great examples of what living a life for Christ truly looks like. He writes in 1 Corinthians 4:12-13, “We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world – right up to this moment.” Christians should be a hard-working people, bless others, and endure hardship. Yet, despite these good qualities, the world may think of us as garbage. This was Paul’s experience, it was also Christ’s. He did hard things, he blessed others through love and kindness, and then was scorned, becoming scum to the Pharisees and Romans.

If Jesus is the one we’re trying to live like, then this is the legacy we should seek. A disciple works hard. He speaks life and truth, he endures instead of retaliates, and he’s kind, even to those who haven’t been kind to him. Building this type of a legacy takes time, but you’re shaping it right now. You’ve been laying the foundations of your legacy for the last decade, two, three or more. Your legacy is determined by how you live, and if you want to be remembered as a Godly man, it takes diligence. People need to see you act Godly. Coworkers need to hear you bless, your wife needs to hear you answer kindly, your children need to see you endure trials in a Christ-like manner. These are rarely easy responses in the midst of harshness! How do you respond when life gets unfair? How do you act when temptation slithers in? These are important questions to reflect on because while a legacy takes time and consistency to build, it can be easily lost.

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Despite years of diligence, your legacy is delicate. Decades of work can unravel quickly. Men have made careers as pastors, authors, and speakers only to have great sins exposed publicly. They’ve put in years of leading, building, and counseling God’s church but didn’t take to heart their own sermons. Books have been written that have helped millions grow closer to Jesus, all the while they weren’t as close to him as it seemed. They built a reputation of trust, but fed sin in their own lives behind closed doors. Some of these men spent the majority of their lives establishing the legacy of a disciple only to end up being known as “that Christian guy who cheated on his wife.” In instances like these, men spent years showing off their fruit, all the while, their roots never ran very deep.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit,” (ESV). The man who continually seeks Christ, is like a tree with its roots connected to its life source. Challenges may come, but he thrives because he’s constantly taking in that which sustains him. Christian men who wind up with a tainted legacy withdrew their roots from God when temptation hit. The heat came, yet they were no longer planted by the stream. Sin knocks at every man’s door. That’s the most crucial time to stay planted near, and connected to, Christ! That’s when the greatest fruit is produced within you. That fruit becomes deeply beneficial for those under your care.

Staying close to Christ in the seasons of trial and temptation is a critical step to your legacy. So is shepherding well what God has given you. Chances are you have some kind of ministry right now that you can sow into. Your immediate family, extended family members, the areas of your church where you serve (or want to serve), friends, neighbors, or coworkers. God has placed you somewhere to be his light to the world. He has put people around you that will benefit from your gifts, talents, and fruit. Your circle of influence is important! And if by chance, you truly don’t have many around you to shepherd, you have yourself. Do not forget about yourself and the needs of your own heart, mind, and soul! Men who fall are not shepherding themselves well. They might be helping others, but neglecting their own spiritual needs will always lead them to succumb to their own temptations and weaknesses. You have a herd to shepherd, even if it’s small. Keep your roots close to Christ and you’ll be able to sow Godly things into those whom God has given you.

You can’t be remembered as a Godly man if you don’t act Godly. You can’t act like a Godly man if you don’t consistently pursue Christ. For a time, Paul was well on his way to having a legacy as a Christian persecutor, when he lived as Saul. If you don’t like where your legacy may be heading, spending more time with Christ can change that! He’s the only one who can change a man’s heart, and ultimately, his actions. Jesus does that for every man who allows him into their heart. You know who you were before Christ, and by his grace, you won’t be remembered that way. All the good things that come from you, come from Christ! Therefore, the legacy we Christian men truly want to leave behind is not of ourselves. The legacy we live to leave behind is Christ and him crucified. So, ask yourself, “When they think of you, will they think of Christ?”

Joshua 24:15 says, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Unfortunately, a house that honors the Lord doesn’t just happen. It takes intentional guidance. People will remember your actions. If you want to be remembered as kind and compassionate, how are you modeling that now? If you want to be remembered as bold and faithful, how do you step outside of your comfort zone to honor God? If you want to be remembered as wise, what Godly truths and meaningful conversations are you imparting on your family now? If you want people to say that you were a man of God, do your actions mirror Jesus?

While I don’t want to be on the receiving end of persecution and slander, I know my Savior has already received the unfair hate that humans can dish out. Jesus has already been thought of as scum, and the company of Christ is the company I want to be in. Jesus said in John 15:23, “Whoever hates me hates my Father as well.” I don’t want anyone to hate me, Jesus, or the salvation he offers. However, I want to be known as a man who cared more about what the Lord thought of me than what the world thought of me. When I’m gone, I’ll be fortunate if they say I was hated, it means the work I did was pleasing to the Lord. May the Lord’s men live to be remembered as scum.

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These chapters really drive home the point that God’s Word is truth. Trusting that fact, knowing his Scriptures, and keeping them in our heart and mind has beautiful rewards.

Chapter 50:

What’s New: “The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary,” (v4). There have been times in my life when I wanted to give someone a piece of Scripture for their situation, but I couldn’t. There have been times when an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus came up, but I didn’t speak up. I love this verse because it reveals that I can get a “well-instructed tongue” with the help of the Lord. If you’re like me and have experienced moments when you’ve felt like you fell short, we can pray now for the Lord’s help in guiding our words for the next time.

The second part of this verse also points out, “to know the word”. We have to know some stuff about these Scriptures to be able to have a “well-instructed tongue”. The Lord can help us, but we also must help ourselves. Investing the time into reading the Word has benefits for you, as well as others. A Christian man can’t give helpful Scriptures to “sustain the weary” if he’s not reading them himself.

These Bible studies are intended for you to get into the Word on a daily basis. The Bible transforms the heart; it feeds the soul. If you’re relationship with God has felt flat lately, it could be that your Spirit has been neglected and is simply starving! Open the Word yourself. What I write here is not meant to replace time in Scripture, but supplement and guide you through your own Biblical reading journey. You won’t regret spending one on one time with God and his Word.

Who is God: God says who you are, no one else, including yourself. Trusting this secures your identity. “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced,” (v7). The man who trusts what God says about him, over what anyone else says, cannot be disgraced because God’s word is truer than man’s word. Hurtful things people might say lose their weight when we remember that a perfect and holy God defines who his children are. Self-condemnation can begin to fade when we know that our thoughts do not supersede God’s. Whatever your vice is, you will not be disgraced, because the Sovereign Lord says ____________.

Psalm 50: “But to the wicked person, God says: ‘What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you,” (v16-17). When I read this, my first thought wasn’t those who deny God, but rather those who preach a false gospel. They recite the laws that benefit them and their understanding, the words they don’t like they cast behind them and ignore. The man who preaches a version of Jesus that contradicts what we read in the gospels is a wicked man in the eyes of the Lord. There is no worse place to be. “When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But now I arraign you and set my accusations before you,” (v21).

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Chapter 51:

What’s New: Every so often, there’s a verse that makes me say, “What the heck?” and forces me to do a little research. Today was one of those days. Verse 9 says, “Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster through?” I seem to remember Rahab having a redemption story. She helped the Israelite spies hide in Jericho, so when they famously marched around the city 7 times before blowing their horns and making it collapse, she was spared. She would go on to marry an Israelite man and be part of the lineage of Jesus. So, what’s going on here?

The “Rahab” in verse 9 is not a person, therefore, not the Rahab of Jericho. “Rahab” means pride. Additionally, later in the verse, the NIV uses the word “monster”, however, some translations say “serpent”. And of course, “serpent” refers to the enemy. So, this response from Isaiah to God is a poetic way to describe God’s victory over Satan and pride. It’s basically saying, “Surely, you’ve destroyed pride and defeated our enemy.”

Who is God: It’s easy to miss, but chapter 51 is a conversation between God and Isaiah. Verses 9-11 are Isaiah’s response, and if you don’t notice the lack of quotation marks, this passage can seem confusing. Look how God begins the first three paragraphs: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord,” (v1). “Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation,” (v4). “Hear me, you who know what is right,” (v7). God patiently, and almost desperately, wants us to listen to him!

Goodness is immeasurable when we listen to him and follow his ways. There is no wrong direction that comes from his wisdom and statutes. When we trust him over our situations, we find comfort (v12). When we trust that he’s in control, oppression is not something to be fearful of (v13). When we recite Scripture to help get through a tough season, we’re speaking the language of God (v16). How many challenges and problems are not from the enemy, but rather are our own doing, and simply come about because we’re not listening to him?

Psalm 51: This Psalm is famous, as it was written by David after his adultery with Bathsheba had been found out. It’s an honest outpouring. It also points out why we fall to sin, even as followers of God. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me,” (v12). We sin because we lose the joy of Christ’s salvation; We forget how good it is to have acquired his redemption. When the spirit loses its sustenance, we forget what he’s done for us, both big and small. But this is also the plea to moving on and leaving sins in the past: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” O God, help us remember! Strengthen our spirit!

Scripture Memorization: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:22-24.

• Read this passage 10x out loud from the page, then recite it 10x out loud, only looking at page as needed.

OK Men - This is what I have noticed. What is standing out to you? What’s new? How are you seeing the character of God? Leave a comment!

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These chapters serve as an end and a beginning. Chapter 48 is the last chapter in the prediction of Israel’s rescue from Babylonian captivity, while chapter 49 begins the prophecies of the coming Messiah. This next week, we will discover some of the greatest Messianic prophecies ever written.

Chapter 48:

What’s New: Last week’s Scripture memorization was Isaiah 43:25, “I am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” “For my own sake” really struck me. Why would God’s forgiveness of my sins against him, benefit him? Why would he forget my sins for his sake? I’m sure there are many reasons, but ultimately, it’s so that we can glorify him and his name. It’s mentioned again here, in chapter 48.

“For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely,” (v9). God doesn’t need us. Our sins against him are personal and deserving of punishment. However, humanity does get the privilege of giving him praise, but we can’t tell of his greatness without first experiencing his greatness! The grace we receive is “for his sake” because it enables us share of his greatness, thus giving him glory.

Who is God: “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another,” (v10-11). When you’re as glorious and holy as The Lord God Almighty, you can say things like this! For the rest of us, this would sound like pride, but for God, it’s just the truth of his majesty.

Our sanctification benefits us, but again, it’s for his own sake, so that his name will be praised. Our sin is worse than we realize. His grace and patience with us are deeper than we can fathom. The change within our hearts, the refining of our impurities, reveals his glory.

Psalm 48: This Psalm compares the glory of God to a magnificent holy city (perhaps literal, perhaps figurative). Verse 9 makes this interesting: “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.” When this was written, approximately 3,000 years ago, men needed to worship God in the temple. Today, the Holy Spirit lives in us, therefore, we are the modern-day temple! But this verse still applies. Within the heart, within the mind, we are able to meditate on his unfailing love.

When was the last time you did that?

How might it benefit you to set aside 10-15 minutes to simply sit in quiet and think about the Lord’s love for you? What peace might you find in remembering that there has never been a moment that you were not loved by him, even in the midst of your greatest, most offensive sins? Try it! Sit and remember his love for you. When your mind strays (and it will!) just bring your thoughts back to the cross or the name of Jesus. If you’re able to make this a consistent practice, what could happen to your stress, anxiety, or fear? What could happen to your relationship with him?

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Chapter 49:

What’s New: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation my reach to the ends of the earth,” (v6). God’s promised Messiah will be so holy, that merely saving the Jews won’t be enough to glorify him - “it’s too small a thing”. More than 700 years before Jesus was born on earth, it was predicted that he would save the Gentiles too. His life, death, resurrection, and ascension led to him releasing the Holy Spirit. It’s by his Spirit that our salvation is sealed, spreading to all who believe, throughout the ends of the earth.

Who is God: The Lord is our defense. “I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save,” (v25). God is the ultimate judge, he sees those who attack, challenge, and defame his people. He will take care of them, and us, in the ways we both deserve. But pride often makes it hard to let him be our defense. If I defend myself, I get retribution quicker. These kinds of situations give us an opportunity to practice the fruits of the Spirit, like self-control, which is the only kind of control God wants us to be concerned with.

Psalm 49: This Psalm feels like it belongs in Proverbs or Ecclesiastes! Everything is fleeting! Wealth and riches do not last, even that which gets passed down to kids will be spent and collected by someone else. However, there is one gift, the richest asset we can obtain, that is greater than any amount of wealth: Your redemption, and it came at great cost.

“No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them - the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough - so that they should live on forever and not see decay,” (v7-9). Anything you try to give to God is not enough to grant your salvation. It cannot be bought by you because it can only be purchased by God himself! Your redemption and salvation are too high of a price for you to pay! Praise Jesus for what he did for you. Another great Psalm to pair with the Messianic prophecies we’re discovering in Isaiah!

Scripture Memorization: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:22-24.

• One of the longest verses we’ve memorized yet, however, one of the most important, and perfect for the Messianic prophecies we’ll read this week in Isaiah.

• Read it 10x out loud from the page, then recite it 10x out loud, looking at the page as needed. Do this everyday this week.

• As you memorize, reflect on the meaning of a few key phrases, like “Righteousness is given through faith,” and “All are justified freely.”

• What does God really want you to understand from this truth?

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