​A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father's instruction,
    but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the hearts of fools.
 
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    whoever hates reproof will die.

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more the hearts of the children of man!

12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
    but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20 A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

22 Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.

23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and a word in season, how good it is!

24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
    that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
    but maintains the widow's boundaries.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but gracious words are pure.

27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
    but he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and good news refreshes the bones.

31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.

32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility comes before honor.
 
Meditation
The gospel awakens our hearts to walk in a newness of life, connecting the dots between the status of our hearts and the steps of our journey. Wisdom compels us to examine our hearts (remember Proverbs 3) so we can exhibit the fruit of God’s spirit from our lips and lives.
 
The countenance of a person’s face helps us see if the heart is glad or sad (13). How much more the fruit of a person’s life? One-way Proverbs connects the dots between the heart and habits is through examining words. A wise heart listens, seeking understanding, while the mouths of fools feed on folly (14). This is why the lips of the wise are a tree of life, fruitful for all who hear (4)! But not so the hearts of fools (7) whose harsh words stir up anger (1).  Lips are a line helping discern whether a heart is held by grace or insecurely trying to make its own space.
 
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer…” This is to say, a renewed heart exhibits the fruit of the Spirit in patience, goodness, gentleness, self-control… “but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things” (28). The heart of the righteous humbles themselves before the Lord in prayer (29, 33) but the haughty heart proudly pummels others with their words, rejecting our Father’s love and instruction. Wisdom compels us to connect the dots between a heart trusting our Father’s love and what comes out of our lips and how we live our life.
 
Richly Dwelling
-If we examined your words, would it reveal a heart that is secure in our Father’s love and resting in the grip of God’s grace?
 
-Why do the depths of our hearts have trouble believing the truth of the gospel, giving us security to sink our roots deep into the soil of God’s salvation so the fruit of our lips and life can be redeemed and renew others?
 
-Take a moment to join the Psalmist in praying to examine your heart, asking God’s Spirit to see if there is unbelief or hard places that are not allowing your faith to take root and thus not producing fruit from your lips and life. Why are your words angry, hurtful, controlling, arrogant… what are you not believing about the gospel?
 
Key Verse
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
Satan Allowed to Test Job6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Satan Takes Job's Property and Children13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
 
Meditation
The cross of Christ reinforces truths Christians know: God is sovereign over suffering and resurrection will prevail. Yet sometimes the severity of struggle and suffering lead us to forget these truths. Faith embraces the reality of resurrection hope and eventual renewal.
 
There are several explanations for suffering offered in Scripture (the fall, sin, covenant breaking/ curses, natural causes…) but none are more counter intuitive than Job’s. Job is blameless, righteous, and devout (1-5) who suffers BECAUSE he is faithful. Scripture reveals what is unseen to Job, a scene from God’s throne room where the accuser says Job’s faithfulness is tied to his comfort and Divine care. God gives permission for Satan to remove his comfort and all Job cares about to prove Job’s faith will endure (6-12).
 
Satan attacks the core cares of the heart. In Job’s case, this was the loss of his children, property, and sense of protection (13-19). After a devastating series of blows, Job worships the Lord and proclaims, “The Lord has given and taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord” (20-22). Wisdom guards our heart by trusting the Lord.
 
Job’s suffering points to Jesus: Like Jesus, the reason for Job’s extreme suffering was because he was blameless and through suffering Job defeated and disproved the accusations and work of Satan. As Jesus rose from the grave after His suffering and death, so Job will be restored in all he loses. Until the day of resurrection and restoration come, believers must strengthen our endurance through embracing God’s sovereignty over the suffering of this world.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from the contrast of Job’s celebrated blamelessness and the extreme suffering he endures?
 
-Why is this a difficult story to swallow? What does it reveal about your understanding or belief in what is eternal, and what true priorities of our life should be?
 
-How can you guard your heart by deepening your trust in the Lord, joining Job in worship by proclaiming, “The Lord has given and taken away: Blessed be the name of the Lord”?
 
Key Verse
8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”

As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done   to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors. 3 So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
12 At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
    and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
    until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
15 So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
Five Amorite Kings Executed16 These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told to Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them, 19 but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” 20 When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a great blow until they were wiped out, and when the remnant that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, 21 then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel.
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.” 23 And they did so, and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25 And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” 26 And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening. 27 But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.
28 As for Makkedah, Joshua captured it on that day and struck it, and its king, with the edge of the sword. He devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Conquest of Southern Canaan29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah. 30 And the Lord gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel. And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it. 32 And the Lord gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah.
33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining.
34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it. 35 And they captured it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to destruction that day, as he had done to Lachish.
36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron. And they fought against it 37 and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it.
38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to Debir and fought against it 39 and he captured it with its king and all its towns. And they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and to its king.
40 So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 42 And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

​Meditation
Faith in God’s promised victory moves the feet of God’s people to live fruitfully for God’s glory.
 
Israel’s covenant with Gibeon (Joshua 10) was not a failure ending the conquest of Canaan but a fulcrum furthering the downfall of the evil nations of the land. God redeems our bad decisions and uses them to further His purposes! Five mighty kings united against Gibeon so Joshua and Israel had to join the fight as Gibeon’s covenant partners. God’s pronouncement to Joshua was, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands…” (8). God promises victory because God fights for His people.
 
God fights for His people in three distinct ways: His sovereignty over the enemy threw them into panic (10), His rule over all creation caused the sun to stand still (12-14), and His intimate control caused clouds to create hail that hurled onto enemy armies (11). Joshua and the army worked hard, marching through the night and pursuing the enemy in the fight, but Israel’s victory was accomplished because “The Lord fought for Israel” (15). Joshua reinforced this promise (25) before finishing the job and looking forward to land further to be conquered. Faith in God’s promises moved the feet of God’s people to experience victory and walk forward in fruitfulness.
 
Jesus accomplished victory through the cross. Faith in God’s accomplished victory, knowing we are forgiven for our sin and free to live for Him, fuels believers to walk forward in fruitful service to King Jesus to live for His glory in all of life.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading concerning how the Lord fought for Israel?
 
-How does faith move us from hearing God’s promises to moving our feet to fight for the Lord? What hinders this forward progress of following our Savior?
 
-How does the accomplished victory of Jesus on the cross give us confidence to walk forward in service to King Jesus? What area of your life do you need to receive God’s sovereign support in claiming victory and walking forward in faith? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

 “The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord's food offerings as their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them. 3 And this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4 The first fruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for all time.
6 “And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel, where he lives—and he may come when he desires —to the place that the Lord will choose, 7 and ministers in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord, 8 then he may have equal portions to eat, besides what he receives from the sale of his patrimony.
Abominable Practices9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, 14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.
A New Prophet like Moses15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

Meditation
Grace invites you to draw near and listen. God wants to meet with you and speak with you. Jesus is the Great High Priest who Himself offered his life as our ultimate sacrifice and the Great Prophet who Himself is the word of God, the only Way to respond to God’s gracious invitation.
 
In ancient Israel the foundation for justice and governance was divine revelation, so direction for judges and kings should be followed by details for priests and prophets. God limits the authority of kings while strengthening the authority of priests and prophets to emphasize His intimate invitation for His people to draw near and hear His word.
 
The provisions for Levitical priests (1-8) established sustainability for priestly leadership in the temple. With no allotted inheritance, God prescribed provision for the priests to ensure the sanctity of the sanctuary where He meets with His people.
 
The prophetic authority begins with prohibition, specifically to not seek divination as it is an abomination (9-14). There is no place among God’s people for accessing dark power or associated evil practices because God Himself speaks through His prophets (15-22). As God spoke through Moses, so too would other prophets who come.
 
Jesus Christ is the prophet all other prophets point to (Acts 3:19-23) and the priest who provides the provision for believers to have sustainable relationship with God. Jesus is the way for us to respond in faith to God’s gracious invitation to draw near and hear His word.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Why is it important for God to emphasize the authority of prophets and priests while limiting the authority of kings?
 
-How do you see Jesus fulfilling all of these roles, as the prophet, priest, and king of His people?
 
-What are the implications for your faith, especially in regards to His intimate invitation for you to draw near to God? How will you respond, drawing near to Jesus to hear the word of Jesus?
 
Key Verse
18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The Abomination of Desolation
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
The Coming of the Son of Man
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
No One Knows That Day or Hour
32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Meditation
Christians walk by faith, not by sight. Faith knows God is sovereign, controlling the future. Faith knows God is good, knowing whatever the future holds we will be secure as His children. Faith understands Jesus’ teaching on “the end of the age” as a secure fact from a Good Father: the end is a new beginning.
 
“These are but the beginning of birth pains…” (8) Jesus says in description of difficulties the world will endure. Pain today will lead to new life tomorrow. But the scope of Jesus’ teaching is overwhelming to contemporary disciples: Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple (this took place in 70 AD), the suffering and persecution of disciples, worldwide proclamation of the gospel, tribulation, and the second coming of Jesus revealed as the Son of Man from Daniel 7:13-14. Embedded within the scope of history Jesus includes exhortations to watch for false teachers and to stay awake. The delayed second coming of Jesus will arrive suddenly, bringing new creation and new life from the birth pains of the end of the age.
 
Christians must resist end-time arguments rooted in speculation and be shaped by what we know. Four take-a-ways will fortify your faith and form you for the future:

• God has been faithful to fulfill His promise of redemption through the work of Jesus.
• Christians have the Holy Spirit to strengthen and sustain us today.
• God is ruling over History, working everything according to His will and in His way.
• Jesus Christ will return to fully establish His eternal Kingdom.

 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you afraid of the future of the world generally and the situation for Jesus’ followers specifically? Why?
 
-How does knowing God is Sovereign, that He gives His Spirit to His children, and that He has been faithful to His promises empower security and fuel your faith when you look at the pain and problems of the world and the uncertainty of the future?
 
-Jesus will come again and will make all things new, everything sad will become untrue. How does this truth anchor hope in your soul, giving strength for today and hope for tomorrow?
 
Key Verse
35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

​But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Meditation
The priority of Jesus for unity in His church is hard to overstate (see meditation for John 17). The Spirit of God provides the power for unity within the church and is often underappreciated. Christians must mature to manifest unity.
 
Corinthian division was derived from immaturity, living by the flesh rather than by the Spirit (1-4). The infant mentality followed personality: “I follow Paul! I follow Apollos!” And this at the expense of reality- only God gives the growth. Unity is fruit of Spirit maturity in Christ’s church.
 
Two images are used to help us see our folly of fleshy living and invite us to deeper dependency-
Farming (5-9): Paul was a pioneer who planted. Apollos was a nurturer who watered. God gave the growth. As servants, “he who plants and he who waters are one… God’s fellow workers.”
 
Building (10-17): Paul laid the foundation, Jesus Christ. Apollos built on the foundation. Together the fellow workers served the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. We must “take care” how we serve to build God’s house as our work will be tested by fire. Fleshy work will fail and self-promoting service will smolder in fire. Gospel work done in Spirit and truth will eternally flourish.
 
The wisdom of God does not find power in personality driven church leadership (18-23). The church is God’s field, God’s building, and we are God’s workers. May God get all glory as He strengthens our hands for faithful service that will unify today and contribute to His eternal glory tomorrow.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you offended to see Paul pointing out that church division is rooted in immaturity?
 
-Which of the two images Paul uses hits home most for you? Why?
 
-How can you respond to God’s grace by seeking unity in the Church? This is to ask, how can you focus more on God’s work than people’s, be more dependent on God’s Spirit than the spirit of taking sides, and think more eternally than temporarily? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.