Some many aspects of joy this weekend, Father! Time with Karen, worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and then precious time with family all equal great opportunities to rejoice! Praise Your name for Your abundant blessings!
Mark 2:5-12 (<<click to read the passage)
Time and time again, Lord, You give us chances to show who we are and what we are made of. Of course, You know us because You made us. Again…I’m not sure how I was going to lead into this but, honestly I have to say that this is my life verse! Ephesians 1:4 states,
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. (!)
Here we have Jesus’ first interaction with Israel’s religious leaders in Mark’s Gospel. He makes a very bold statement that will test their mettle. Will they be up to the challenge? Or will they will they fold in on themselves, yielding to their self-preservation mode? Will they close their hearts and minds to what God is extending to us all? It was extended to them, too.
As we continue reading, their mettle did not stand the test of Your fire. They refused to believe. And it was just the beginning of their delusional fight against You – our God and Creator!
Lord Jesus, You know our tendencies but You give us repeated opportunities to, in You, to set ourselves apart. We can be determined to not fold in ourselves and to not yield to our self-preservation mode. Only in You can we go beyond perceived truth to see You and You alone as the Truth! But Your fire will test our mettle. May we stand the test! May our mettle be found to be worthy of Your holy name! Amen!!
Feb 3rd, 2019, Sun, 7:58 pm
