QT 29 Mar 18, Ex 34:6-7, God is a God of Love and Wrath -- not One or the Other

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
20	3/29	Exo 34:1-9	Exodus 34:6–7 (ESV) — 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”	This is God's description of himself to Moses. God emphasizes his love and God emphasizes his wrath. He forgives and he punishes (visiting the iniquity). Sins can carry on for generations. In other words, there are no private sins. Our sin affects other people, and probably our family most of all. Forgiveness changes our relationship but not the consequences of our sin.	God does proved mercy often but not always. God is a loving Father and as such he knows when to apply mercy and when to discipline us for our actions. We need to trust in a Father's love, that he will do what is best for our long-term gain.	Father, I do so much appreciate your mercy and love. I thank you also that I am your child, not because of my creation, but only because of my belief in the savior. Help me to rely on your wisdom and trust in your wisdom and you lead and guide me along the path ahead. Thank you.

QT 28 Mar 18, Rom 11:35, No one can ever repay God (in any way too)

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
20	3/28	Rom 11:33-36	Romans 11:35 (ESV) — “Or who has given a gift to him // that he might be repaid?”	It is not possible to pay God back.	The very thought seems absurd. Who has ever given a gift to God that in any way repays him? We owe God our existence, let alone anything else that we might need to repay. For those who have believed in Christ, we owe him eternal life and forgiveness of sins that cost him his only son. There is no payment that could ever be appropriate. As the song says, "even if the whole world were mine, that would be a present far too small, love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my hear, my all."	Father, thank you again for all that you have done for me. Thank you for life. Thank you for opening my eyes to the gospel. Thank you for my salvation. Thank you for the free gift of salvation. Thank you!

QT 26 Mar 18, Isa 48:8-10, He does not give up on his children no matter how frustrating we can be

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
20	3/26	Isa 48:6-11	Isaiah 48:8–10 (ESV) — 8 You have never heard, you have never known, // from of old your ear has not been opened. // For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, // and that from before birth you were called a rebel. 9 “For my name’s sake I defer my anger; // for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, // that I may not cut you off. 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; // I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.	God is frustrated with the people, and yet he plans to show them things that they do not even know yet. But they continue to deal treacherously with the revelation that has been given. They are rebels. But in his kindness he continues to work. They are being refined but are not refined. They are being tried by affliction but he is not finished. He restrains his anger despite our stubborn and hard heart.	And yet in all of this, he takes personal interest in us despite all our failures and rebellion. He loves us and does not give up on us. He will do what it takes to open our eyes to his truth and to transform us. He has not given up.	Lord, you remain faithful despite my failures. Have mercy on me. Thank you so much for your longsuffering toward me. Thank you. The words are inadequate to describe my emotion. Thank you.

QT 22 Mar 18, 1 Tim 1:18-20, We are engage in a war, not a single battle

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
20	3/22	1 Tim 1:12-20	1 Timothy 1:18–20 (ESV) — 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.	Paul challenges Timothy to wage the good warfare or fight the good fight (in other versions). Warfare may be more appropriate, but it is not a single battle, but it is a series of battles. A fight is over at the end, but a war can continue for many battles. We may win one skirmish, but the enemy is preparing the next one just around the corner. Some have failed, and while God preserves us, God also disciplines us. When our lives fail to live up to our declaration, we are in danger of severe discipline.	There are a lot of battles, but I need to win one at a time. I can exercise self-control in two meals, but if I fail in the third, have I really won anything. I won two fights but lost the war. I need to exercise self-control in my appetite. I need to pray and ask God for help during those particular points in the day when I am most susceptible. I need to see them ahead of me and take steps to prepare.	Father, remind me and help me to prepare for the war not just the fight. Help me to carry obedience all through the day. Be gracious unto me I pray.

QT 21 Mar 18, Isa 40:18, We cannot liken God to anything in his creation

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
19	3/21	Isa 40:18-23	Isaiah 40:18 (ESV) —To whom then will you liken God, // or what likeness compare with him?	In this passage, the question is asked how one would liken God? It is then related how a person will buy a nice piece of wood, and then secure a craftsmen to expertly shape his image. The Psalmist's reply is that this is foolishness -- you can't even begin to imagine God let alone liken Him.	We are much more sophisticated in our images. We create them in our mind. One such image is like this: "God is a God of love. He does not hate. He does not kill people. He only does good things (where good is defined by the person)." The problem is that this description is not true and is far too limiting a description of the infinite God.	Father, forgive us for redefining you in our image. Forgive us for imagining that we can conceive you. Forgive us for believing we can comprehend or understand the mind of God. We need to stand in awe of the infinite, and be satisfied with what YOU have revealed to us about yourself in the scriptures.

QT 19 Mar 18, Isa 40:12, Though we are less than insignificant, God chooses to love, care, and be mindful of us

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
19	3/19	Isa 40:12-17	Isaiah 40:12 (ESV) — Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand // and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure // and weighed the mountains in scales // and the hills in a balance?	This verse and the verses that follow describe the immensity of God. The picture is intended to exceed our imagination. The conclusion of the paragraph is that the nations are a drop in a bucket to God, barely containing any significance.	And yet, who is man that you God are mindful of him? We are nothing in the grand scale of the universe, even less than nothing. And yet God loves us supremely. We are on his thoughts and we are loved.	Father, I am humbled by your attention. I cannot understand it. I can't fathom it. The understanding is beyond my comprehension. All I can do is fall on my face and so most feebly, Thank You Lord.

QT 15 Mar 18, Isa 40:6, Death is only the next step

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
19	3/15	Isa 40:6-11	Isaiah 40:6 (ESV) — A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.	The point of the passage, which is explained more clearly in the following verses, is that man's physical life is temporal. It is like a flower, that is here for a season and then is gone.	But unlike the Babylonian world view of today, life does not end after a season. Physical life does end, but spiritual life begins with death. And physical life is restored after the rapture. The earth is renewed and we live back on earth in the millennial kingdom. This is true for the person who truly has experienced a life change by Jesus Christ. For EVERYONE else, the future is eternal destruction and separation from God.	Father, help me to not shrink back in sharing the truth message. It is absolutely true, and the world needs to hear it.

QT 14 Mar 18, Isa 40:1 & 3, Comfort is available to every person today if they would but humble themselves before God

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
19	3/14	Isa 40:1-5	Isaiah 40:1,3 (ESV) — 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  … 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.	God promises to comfort his people. Verse 2 says that they have been paid for twice over. And then verse 3 prophesies John's ministry preceding the Messiah.	I wonder if the comfort and the "paid for-sin" is really Jesus. We really can't pay for our sins. Although I suppose the punishment for actions can be finite, the spiritual cost is infinite. But God comforts his people with the words, that a savior is coming. For us, the savior has already come. Comfort is available for all who will turn from their sins and confess Jesus as their savior. It sits out there awaiting all who will humble themselves.	Thank you Lord for the comfort I have in Jesus and his payment for all my sins, past, present, and future. I am so grateful and so comforted by that knowledge.

QT 12 Mar 18, Jer 32:44, God's future for us is based upon his original good design

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
19	3/12	Jer 32:42-44	Jeremiah 32:44 (ESV) — 44 Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”	It seems like a silly thing, but fields are not given, they are bought. Deeds are signed, sealed, and witnesses in a legal procedure. There is an economy. There is meaningful work and reward for your effort.	This is a picture of Israel in the new covenant, and most likely in the millennial kingdom. God has created us with the need for work and purpose. He knows what is best for us. Why is it so hard for us to believe his will is best? Why do we strive against it?	Father, forgive me for when my flesh strives against you and your will. Forgive me for my impatience. Forgive me for the doubt. Forgive me for seeking satisfaction in things that never truly satisfy. Have mercy on me I pray.

QT 8 Mar 18, Jer 32:36-37, God's mercy to his disobedient people

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
18	3/8	Jer 32:36-41	Jeremiah 32:36–37 (ESV) — 36 “Now therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’: 37 Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety.	I'm not sure how this fits historically. It could be the return with Nehemiah and later Ezra, and also a prelude to Jesus' coming 400 years later. In the latter days, God will regather his people in unbelief. And at the end of the age, he will regather them from all the earth and heavens to live in Jerusalem in belief. Since it does not sound the latter two, it seems to be a reference to the first regathering and the coming of the Messiah.	God desires to do good for us. He does not want us to go through pain. But he knows what is best, and he allows circumstances to teach us. Oh, that we could just be obedient. Oh, that we could learn without pain. Oh, that I did not have to rely on God's mercy. I say that in all sincerity. I love God's mercy, but I call upon it so much. I am so unworthy. I don't believe I can ever be worthy, but I do wish my life could do something good that would please my savior.	Father, have mercy upon me, a sinner. I fail you again and again. But I do sincerely want to obey and do what is right. Help me to think the best of others. Help me to be kind to those around me. Help to be humble and gentle in all my doings.

Quick Note

Things have been busy and I have not taken the time to copy my notes over to my blog. I am going to work at doing this more faithfully in the months ahead. Do forgive me.

QT 1 Mar 18, Matt 7:15-17, What does our fruit really say about our walk with God?

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
18	3/1	Matt 7:15-23	Matthew 7:15–17 (ESV) — 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.	Later on, Jesus will declare to many who claimed to be his followers and did many works in his name that he did not even know them. And he casts them out of his presence. Unfortunately, this verse may be even more true today. With our emphasis on tolerance and "easy-believism," many are led astray, and do not realize that they are still lost. They have entered by the wide gate, not the narrow gate.	What is my life and my fruit? Does it attract people to the savior (grapes and tasty fruit) or does it turn people off (thistles and thornbushes)? I am not saying I want the gospel to be easy, but I am saying that my life needs to be remarkably different from the world around me.	Father, help me to see when my witness falls short of the standards of godliness. I want to represent Jesus correctly and lovingly. I want to sacrifice for others, not for myself. Give me grace to live in such a way.