Patience
It may have been a day off from work but it was a full one, Father! Thank You for watching over us on the highway as we both had doctor’s visits. Thank You for quality and quantity time with Karen – we are so blessed!
Mark 3:20-21 (<<click to read the passage)
It is easy to feel misunderstood. When we diligently strive to follow God in every aspect of our lives those around us, especially those closest to us, may not truly comprehend what is going on. If Jesus – literally the Son of God – was misunderstood by His family, will it be any different for us?
As my study Bible communicates, being the human beings that we are – and this I’m sure will shock some people – we are not perfect! Follow Jesus is not an instantaneous event! We grow and mature. We stumble and fall. We have to learn how to act in regards to some things and we also have to unlearn how to react to some things. It just takes time.
We must have patience with ourselves as we endeavor to “love the Lord [our] God with all [our] heart, all [our] soul, all [our] mind, and all [our] strength.” But of course, this means that we must have just as much or more patience with others as we struggle to “Love [our] neighbor as [ourselves].” Mark 12:30-31
Let me close with a quote from my Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation,
“[Family members] see you at your worst when your guard is down. Remember that Christ’s family rejected and ridiculed him. Jesus knows what you face by trying to be a witness for him in your own family. Stay true to your faith. Don’t respond negatively to the attacks that may come. Over time, your love for your family will have a positive effect.”
Lord Jesus, help us to forgive ourselves and forgive others, too. Grace is not just between us and You. We are called to extend grace to others, as well. Amen.
Feb. 18th, 2019, Mon, 8:53 pm
Answer the Call
Father, thank You for the warmth and security of home. I realize that so many people in this world do not have one or the other or either. May I not take it for granted. May I be more open to sharing if the opportunity would arise or at the very least to help ensure that others can find those things, wherever they may be. Amen.
Mark 3:13-19 (<<click to read the passage)
“…Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him.” v.13
The culture in which I was raised put great emphasis on being called – in my case it was a call to serve God in a ministerial capacity. Initially, I served as a full-time minister of music, and then as a full-time minister of music and youth.
There was a period of time where I was not serving in a church as a paid minister but worked for several years in a Christian bookstore. Did I stop abiding by my call? No, I still served faithfully, just in a different environment. We were active in local churches. In fact, after we moved, we were so involved in that second church that I was hired as their full-time children’s pastor.
I say that to say, if we are listening, we are all called of God. You don’t have to stand behind a pulpit or go to some far-off country to answer God’s call on your life.
Look at that list of men in verses 16-18. There were no scholars or men of high esteem or power. They were all just regular guys – fishermen, tax collectors, religious zealots, etc. They were regular guys who answered God’s call and with but one exception, all went on to serve Him in many capacities impacting literally thousands of people for the Kingdom of God.
And you can, too.
God uses us right where we are. Now he might call us to more training or education. We might have to relocate. But we most assuredly will not go it alone. He will be with us all the way!
Have you heard His call? And most importantly, have you answered it?
Feb 17th, 2019, Sun, 6:27 pm
Pressing In
Other things have been accomplished today, Father, but I have just now sat down to write and my time is limited. So, I will begin. Show me what you would have me learn this day. My life and my mind are in Your more than capable hands. Amen.
Mark 3:7-12 (<<click to read the passage)
If Jesus were to be physically amongst us today as he was 2000 years ago, I’m sure our reaction would be the same. If you knew there was someone who readily healed any disease or ailment and you or a loved one were afflicted, wouldn’t you do any and everything to get to Jesus ASAP? You know you would. The line to him would seemingly be unending.
Yes, Jesus was Emmanuel – God with us. But being totally God did not lessen the fact that He was totally man as well.
Lord Jesus, I get tired. I get worn down. I get overwhelmed. I often feel that the world is pressing in so much around me that I will be crushed. I am able to withstand it all because You are with me. And as we read of Your life, we see that You experienced the same things we do.
Case in point, in this passage You “instructed [Your] disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush [You].” v9
In Mark 4:38-40 Jesus is so exhausted that He falls asleep on another boat and in spite of a violent storm about them, has to be forcefully awakened!
Lord Jesus, I am grateful that You understand us. We relate to each other on so many levels. Help me to never give up or to give in but to realize that You are right there by our side and realize what we are going through and can empathize with it all. Amen.
Feb 14th, 2019, Thurs, 12:49 pm
OK to Be Angry?
Today is just a run-of-the-mill ordinary day – nothing out of the norm. But even in the midst of the mundane, Father, You are here. It doesn’t have to be celebratory, it doesn’t have to be tragic, You are with me regardless of the circumstances, wherever I find myself. Thank You, Father, for Your presence.
Mark 3:3-6 (<<click to read the passage)
Is it ever alright to be angry? The bigger question would be how we act upon our anger.
In this passage Jesus has this man with the deformed hand stand in from of everyone and He asks a very pointed and straightforward question,
“Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”
As we spoke of yesterday, his critics – the religious leaders of His day – were so blinded that “…they wouldn’t answer him.”
We are not surprised at Jesus’ reaction – it was anger! And rightly so. But it was accompanied by sadness. Sadness? How many of us when angered lash out in an attempt to hurt those who have angered us. It is commonly a verbal response but many times it is a physical one as well. But sadness?
We must remember that Jesus knows each and every one of us intimately – we are not just His creation collectively. We are not mass produced. Not one of us is like another. Even “identical” twins aren’t really identical. Jesus knows us and He loves us – right where we are…but also He knows all of our potentials as well!
So as He looked around at these “leaders” He is angered at their hard hearts – their arrogance. But He is also saddened. Oh, what they could be! But they hold back. They fill their hearts and minds with selfish thoughts that hold them back so, so much. They throw up walls between themselves and Jesus, their Creator.
Lord Jesus, I know that throughout my life I have saddened You. I have thrown up walls of division. I have ignored You. I have turned aside from Your direction. I have done all of those things. But I have also brought joy to Your heart! I have allowed You to tear down the walls that I have erected. I have grasped Your hand, as I have followed close by Your side. As of late the latter much more than the former and for that, I rejoice along with You! May it be more so each and every day! Amen!
Feb 13th, 2019, Wed, 12:40 pm
Blinding Ourselves
Father, thank You for helping me to persevere. On any given day the world can bang around on all sides. Quite often I can ignore it and sometimes it catches my eye. I am grateful the one far outweighs the other. Help me to more diligently persevere to stay close to Your side – to let You occupy my thoughts and actions. Amen.
Mark 3:1-2 (<<click to read the passage)
It is hard to understand sometimes but there are those with the best possible eyesight and they can blind themselves to the truth.
In this interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees, it is quite obvious that they are already at odds with the One they should have been elated to see. If anyone would have known what to look for in the coming Messiah it should have been the masters of the Law, but…
There is a well-known idiom that says, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” And that is what ailed Jesus’ opposition. They had been in power for so long that the threat to their status and authority overrode their ability to see the truth of who Jesus really was. Eventually, they became so driven to eliminate Jesus that they literally, in what was an obvious violation of God’s Law, succeeded in killing Him!
This is audacious but they are not alone when it comes to men and women of the church blinding themselves to the truth. It has happened throughout history and continues to happen today – all the way from denominational leadership down to the local church. Far too many times I hear where pastors place themselves above the law. It comes to the point where their word overrides any other word.
Lord Jesus, may we be diligent in seeking the truth. May that be our goal – may we not be caught up in the power and status and authority of man but only in Your power, Your status, and Your authority. Amen.
Feb 12th, 2019, Tues, 8:18 pm