The First Domino Falls
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Psalm 105:1-3
Mark 14:10-11 (<<click to read the passage)
And so, the first domino falls… As we learned going through Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ time, up to this point, had not yet come but in the act of Judas volunteering to betray Jesus to the leading priests, the first domino falls.
There are many times in our lives where a decision is made and once it is made, there is no turning back. Jumping off a diving board, standing up to bully, taking that first bite of your spouses’ first cooked meal – none of these actions can be stopped once they are set into motion.
So often we speak and within seconds are sorry we spoke. Sometimes its what was said. Other times its when it was said. For that matter, it could even be how it was said. Wouldn’t it be great if we had “do-overs” in life? It can happen in the games we play as children but that loophole is short-lived. Once a word slips past our lips it cannot be withdrawn. In today’s society, it is not uncommon for individuals who at some point in their past to have posted something online and no matter how much they wish it would go away; it will never be erased.
Judas had crossed that line and regardless of later regret, it could not be undone. Jesus knew of what Judas was capable. I, for one, do not believe that he was predestined – if you will – to do what he did. He definitely had the propensity to do it and most assuredly did do it but ultimately it was his choice.
Too often we want to pass the buck. We want to blame others for our actions. But there comes a point where we do what we want to do because we want to do it. I realize many people influence the adults we become but it is our choice on what we do with what is input into our hearts and minds.
I don’t know what made Judas tick but even he owned up to the error of which he was guilty…but it was too late. The domino had fallen and had tipped the next one, which tipped the next and so on and so on.
Lord Jesus, many point accusatory fingers at Judas but every single one of us is just as guilty. We have done different things. We have said different things but…sin is sin. That’s the way it has been since the beginning of time and that’s the way it will be until the end of it. And we – and we alone – are responsible for what we do. May we give ourselves over entirely to You. Enable us to seek out Your guidance for our lives. Amen.
July 22nd, 2019, Mon, 8:58 pm
Worth It
Father, it was a wonderful day of worship and then a great time of gathering with extended family. At this point, it is no longer sweltering but my body and my mind are weary. Help me to be attentive to Your word to me this evening. Amen.
Mark 14:3-9 (<<click to read the passage)
Is there anything in our lives, that we would label as highly valuable, that we would struggle to let go of for Jesus? Friends? Possessions? Time? Jobs? Each of us probably would not find it difficult to fill in the blank. Now that doesn’t mean that we would have to give whatever up but it could, most definitely, be a possibility.
The woman in this passage (John tells us, in his Gospel, that it is Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus) chooses to anoint Jesus’ head with a very expensive jar of perfume. “Essence of nard”, according to the study notes of the Amplified Bible, “was a thick, scented oil (nard) obtained from the root of a flowering plant grown in the Himalayas of Tibet (not exactly down the street!) Smith’s Bible Dictionary states that calculating it in today’s value that it “would equal at least $300 or $400.” That’s a substantial about of money today as well!
It was a sacrifice on her part but to her, Jesus was even more valuable! She was willing to give up something of great value because to her, Jesus was more than worth it! Yes, she was sharply criticized for the act but Jesus “had her back”, if you will. It was not done to be wasteful but it expressed her love for and devotion to Him. She may not have understood all the ramifications of it but obviously, she was compelled to give her very best, regardless of the cost to honor Him.
Lord Jesus, if I am being totally candid and transparent, is there anything that I would not give to honor You? As I sit here nothing comes to mind but if it came to the point where the rubber meets the road, would I do it? I pray that I would. I want to say that there would be no question about it, but honestly, I don’t think this was an off-the-cuff decision on her part to anoint Jesus with such an expensive gift and I don’t think I would do so on a whim either. But what I do know is that You would be worth it – whatever “it” would be – for You spared no expense for my salvation. In fact, You gave Your very life so that I would not be condemned for my sin but that because of Your sacrifice my sins could be totally eradicated when I, in true faith, seek Your forgiveness. May I give my all, no holding back! Amen.
July 21st, 2019, Sun, 8:21 pm
Are We Just Pawns?
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Psalm 103:1-5
Mark 14:1-2 (<<click to read the passage)
How many times throughout our lives do we feel that we are just pawns in some imbalanced game of chess? Somewhere along the line we have had others who have raised themselves up on pedestals making it very clear that we were under them.
Back in junior high school, we had a gym teacher who had that kind of personality. He was shorter in stature than the average man and he overcompensated by being very muscular and by putting all us peons in our place. He would regularly have us do leg lifts – we would lay on our backs and from the hips raise our legs up, 6 or 7 inches off the gym floor. He would then proceed to walk around the room and randomly stand on our stomachs! We were under him and he wanted to make sure we knew it!
In today’s passage, the religious leaders of Jesus had reached their limit of what they were going to take – they were done being exposed for the petty, selfish individuals they really were and they were going to eliminate this troublesome, young know-it-all rabbi once and for all – even if it meant having Him killed!
But…and I love this quote from my study Bible* notes! – “But the world is controlled by our all-wise God, not puny politicians” (or gym teachers or bosses or…you fill in the blank!)
The notes go on to say, “God would turn the religious leaders’ murder plot into the greatest blessing that mankind would ever know. Another Lamb would be slain, and his blood would save all people.”
In this life, we may never be more than just a pawn in some imbalanced game of chess but we must never forget that as believers in Jesus, our lives are in God’s hands. And regardless of whoever thinks they have power; God is ultimately in charge and we can get through anything for He is our Savior and Friend. Amen!
July 18th, 2019, Thurs, 9:03 pm
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
No Cookie Cutters
Another productive day! Thank You, Father, for the opportunity to spend time and help my dad out with some projects. I cherish our time together – bless and keep him and my mom safe in Your hands. Amen.
Mark 13:34-37 (<<click to read the passage)
Before I leave this chapter, I feel that I need to address one more thing. We need to be ready for that inevitable day but a phrase that grabbed my attention from my study Bible* notes states that we must be morally alert. That is at the very heart of our readiness.
In a conversation with my dad (who, by the way, is a “retired” full-time servant of the Lord – retired meaning he doesn’t receive a salary anymore from his church but he’s still a full-time servant of the Lord!) Anyway, yesterday he mentioned the fact that he thinks we will be surprised at some of the people who will be in Heaven.
He shared several examples of people whom he expected to see in Heaven that many “churchy” types might be surprised about. Just ask my mom, my dad has never met a stranger! He regularly attends a weekly men’s gathering at a local Biblically-based drug addict rehabilitation home and he has interacted many times with neighbors of theirs from all walks of life.
Now we are talking individuals who don’t meet the “normal” description of what we would call a believer in Jesus. Their language is coarse (putting it mildly), their personalities are rough, they might be covered in a variety of ink, and some may still struggle with vices that many would see as “unacceptable” but God has touched them! God loves them right where they are – not when they get their acts together and become little “cookie-cutter” Christians just like everyone else.
Regardless of what we like to think, none of us are exactly where we need to be in our relationship with God. Some of us may be a little closer than others but, if asked, they probably wouldn’t agree.
We are all growing. And we need to be constantly seeking to follow the commands set forth in God’s Word. We must be striving to spend time with Him daily not just hearing ourselves talk but listening attentively, to His direction!
Lord Jesus, may we be morally alert as we await Your coming. May we diligently seek to reach out and touch whomever You have to cross our paths. May we see others with Your eyes – eyes filled with truth, not eyes cloudy with unrealistic expectations. May we be filled with love and compassion that are from Your unquenchable reserve! Amen!
July 17th, 2019, Thurs, 8:50 pm
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Are You Ready?
A day of many blessings, Father! What a joy it has been to be able to come up and spend some time with my family – another blessing as a result of Your gift of me being a school bus driver! I would ask that You would give us another productive day tomorrow. All praise to You!
Mark 13:1-37 (<<click to read the passage)
There are innumerable things in life for which we must be prepared – final exams, going out on dates, marriage ceremonies, heading off daily to work, the arrival of newborn children to our homes, the inevitable deaths of loved ones – and of course there are many, many more.
For the most part, we are prepared for those times in life. But occasionally we oversleep, we forget, something hinders us or we may be totally caught off guard. Of course, there are instances when we deliberately blow off important things for all kinds of reasons.
In the totality of today’s passage, Jesus is making it very clear that our days are numbered. “Heaven…will disappear.” “…earth will disappear.” Everything we know and understand will come to an end. He forewarns us – and He testifies that His “words will never disappear” – because He wants us to be ready!
Jesus gives us a full list of things for which to watch, as do the books of Daniel and Revelation. We are very clearly forewarned! The signs will be obvious to those of us who wholeheartedly follow Him. But we have one task and it is of utmost importance that we are diligent in bringing it into fruition! Jesus says in verses 36-37,
Don’t let him [i.e. God] find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. I [Jesus] say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”
There are many people today – July 16th, 2019! – that strongly feel that we are in the last days! We have seen many of Jesus’ prophecies come true but there are many yet to come true. Don’t be lulled into believing that they will not! For they most assuredly will take place – all in God’s good time.
Again Jesus proclaims,
“Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!” v.23
“… when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door.” v.29
Lord Jesus, not a single one of us knows when that day will come but each of us has the responsibility to be ready for its inevitable arrival. And we are charged with making sure that others have every opportunity to be ready, as well. Enable us to be stalwart and true. Burden our hearts! May we burn with a consuming desire to share the only means of salvation from the looming conclusion to life on this earth. Amen.
July 16th, 2019, Tues, 9:21 pm