Tag: bible

Respond! (Mark 8:34-38 Devotion)

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When He had called the people to [Himself], with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 “Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

– Mark 8:34-38 (NKJV)

It’s time for a decision! Somewhere along the way, I’ve learned that the good news of the gospel can be summed up in four movements. First there is GOD who created the world and everything in it, especially Adam and Eve, and it was very good. Second, Adam and Eve SINNED and now we are all separated from God because of our sin. Third, that JESUS came and lived a sinless life and died on the cross and rose again from the dead so that whoever would put their faith and trust in him could be restored to a right relationship with God. Finally, We have to RESPOND to the good news by committing our lives to follow Jesus.

Jesus has been throughout Galilee preaching the word of God, healing folks, and casting out demons. He is calling for a response. As He calls for people to put their trust in Him. He makes it clear that those who follow Him will need to surrender their will to His and be prepared for it to lead to an early death. The cross was a particularly cruel instrument of death. To follow Jesus is to trust Him enough to put His will ahead of our own and follow Him even to places and circumstances that we would otherwise avoid.

We respond to the word of God by trusting Jesus as our LORD and savior. We profess our sins separate us from God, but then we also submit to Jesus authority over our lives. You can’t truly belong to him any other way. Faith means to trust God and simply take Him at His word. It means that we believe Jesus and act on what He says. Faith requires action.

There are some places around the world today where a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ will cost you your life. Yet, it amazes me how deeply intentional that new Christians in those cultures are about getting baptized and professing their faith in the midst of the local church. Yet, often in places that are offered more freedoms it can be challenging to get someone who says they have made a “commitment” to Christ to go public with it, much less be baptized.

When it comes to where you stand with Jesus, Jesus doesn’t indicate that just a whisper will do. No he calls for unashamed commitment. It’s uncomfortable. It’s unsettling. But it’s so freeing! What we gain by putting our trust in Christ far outweighs the cost of anything we have lost in following Him.

So where do you stand today? Have you gone all in on Jesus?

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Help us to live lives of boldness, courage, and conviction. Let our confidence be in your word. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Learning to Put God’s Will First in My Life(Mark 8:30-33 Devotion)

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Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him. 31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

– Mark 8:30-33 (NKJV)

Peter just a few verses before has professed that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus then tells Peter and the gang to keep it under wraps. Jesus goes on to explain how he will be killed and raise from the dead in three days! Peter is upset. This doesn’t fit into his plan. Maybe Jesus was sorrowful as he shared the news trying to prepare the disciples. So Peter offers what must have been a rebuke with the best of intentions, “It’s ok Jesus! We’ll get through this! There will be brighter days!” Anyone of us might pull a friend aside and try to encourage them with such a rebuke… but then Peter get’s rebuked. Why? He is putting the things of God to the side and filling in his own man-centered wishes, wants, and desires.

If we aren’t careful we’ll do the same. I took a youth group on a mission trip. In the room next to me I could hear through the thin walls two of my chaperone’s discussing the difficulties of the trip. One of them said, “If God is in it, it should all be easy!” The other one interjected and said, “no, often when God is in something it is seemingly hard and often very difficult, but either way we need to seek what God wants and not complain.”

The truth is, it can be really hard to submit our will to God’s will. It takes recognizing that you don’t see the whole picture and God does. It takes humility to bow a knee to Christ and say, “your will be done!” and mean it. We often want to avoid pain, loss, sickness, and the harder things of life that shape us but sometimes God allows those things to shape our character and work in other peoples lives as well.

Had Peter been able to actually stop Jesus from carrying out the divine plan, we would all still be dead in our trespasses and sins! Seeking our own will and not seeking after God’s will can be toxic. There is no shortage of sad stories to tell of men and women who wanted things their way instead of God’s way. Peter found out that it was possible to have a good grasp of who Jesus is and forget to submit to him.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are grateful that you use ordinary people like us to share your gospel with others. Help us all to fully submit our lives to you and see after your will, not just our own. Help us to be able to quickly discern what is truly your will and what is our own will. In Jesus Name, Amen.

It All Comes Down To Jesus (Mark 8:27-29 Devotion)

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Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” 28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some [say], Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

– Mark 8:27-29 (NKJV)

I used to wonder what made Christianity different than different religions. The more I’ve studied, the more I’ve come to see that it all comes down to Jesus. The difference between Christianity and religion is who Jesus is! Religion teaches that you can enter into some sort of bliss by what you have done. Christianity teaches that we can only go to heaven through what Jesus has done. Religion offers you a recipe of good works, attitudes, or characteristics that YOU can do to bring everything into balance. Christianity teaches that it is only through Jesus that we can be forgiven of our sins and come into a right relationship with God. Christianity is personal, Christian doctrine is squarely based on the actions that Jesus took. Who Jesus is and what He has done, in particular his death, burial, and resurrection make all the difference in the world.

Here, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people think I am?” There were a lot of opinions flying around. Most were willing to give him prophet status indicating that he spoke for the Lord. But for us to be saved, Jesus has to be more than a mere prophet with some pretty wise or bold saying… Religion is filled with prophets and teachers. The beliefs that we as Christians hold most dear are based on who Jesus is. The signs that he had been showing weren’t there to convince people to accept his teaching alone, they were given so that they might receive Jesus into their hearts (John 1:12).

He is the Messiah, that means the anointed one of God, expected to come and deliver his people his people. In his little knowledge Peter blurts out that Jesus is more than a mere prophet, he is the Messiah! Who Jesus is, really matters!

Who do you say Jesus is? There is a reason we Christians often refer to Christianity as a relationship, not a religion.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you for the grace to have a personal relationship with you. I am grateful that you welcome us to repent of our sins and trust in you. May we live in the light of your work in our lives. Please guide us in your will and direction. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Get Out of Town (Mark 8:22-26 Devotion)

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Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put [His] hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”

– Mark 8:22-26 (NKJV)

We get a glimpse of Jesus healing a blind man. Yet, he does something peculiar, he takes the man out of the town and then does the miracle. The reason may be to give him a broader view when he does restore his sight, or this may be a hint that Jesus is a little fed up with this community. In fact he tells this man not to go back into town or tell anyone in the town… It seems like Jesus is a little fed up with this place called Bethsaida.

We see in Matthew’s gospel that Jesus actually pronounces a woe on Bethsaida:

“Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matthew 11:20-21, NKJV).

It was like Jesus was indicating that what works could have been done in Bethsaida will not be done in Bethsaida. Because of the lack of response to the witness that this community had been given, it would be given even less. In essence, Jesus wasn’t going to waste his time on folks who had ample opportunity to respond and failed to do so. Jesus won’t wait forever.

In the same breath, despite the rest of the town, there were those who did act in faith to bring their friend to Jesus. He honored their faith, though he brought the man out of town and healed him. I think there is plenty of room to note that when we are faithful to seek the Lord, even when others are not responding to Him, He will allow Himself to be found.

Finally, I think it is very interesting how this man is healed in stages. He sees some things, but not clearly, then Jesus touches him again and it brings complete clarity of vision. It reminds me of how we being our walk with the Lord. When we trust Him, we see things in a way that we have never seen before, but often he comes back and helps clarify the vision. Sometimes he does that through a trusted mentor or pastor who helps us see, understand, and apply the Word of God more clearly.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you for your love for us. We pray that we would always have a faithful and real response to your word and your work. We want more of you. Thank you for the grace to bring our friends to you. Give us wisdom as we seek to reach those around us. Please guide us in your will and direction foe our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Dishonest Skeptics (Mark 8:11-21 Devotion)

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Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” 13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “[It is] because we have no bread.” 17 But Jesus, being aware of [it], said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18 “Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” 20 “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said, “Seven.” 21 So He said to them, “How [is it] you do not understand?”

– Mark 8:11-21 (NKJV)

Yesterday we read about Jesus feeding the 4000 with a few loaves and fish. He remembered that he did something similar with a crowd of 5000 back in Mark 6. So now here, soon after feeding the crowd he gets in a boat with His disciples and heads across the lake. They land and are immediately met with a group of religious leaders demanding a sign.

It’s important that we pause here and reflect. For anyone serious about seeing if Jesus were the Messiah or not, there were already plenty of signs. Jesus had fulfilled prophecy, healed people, fed massive crowds on a few loaves and some fish, and even taught in the synagogues. But these leaders were still looking for a sign. A sign not to believe him, not to follow him, but a sign to test him.

Jesus responds that their won’t be a sign and hops back in the boat with the disciples and they head off on the lake again. While in transit Jesus mutters, “beware the leaven of the Pharisees” (religious leaders). The disciples think it’s a backhanded rebuke for forgetting to bring the bread. Jesus reminds the that he fed the 5000 and 4000 with just a few loaves of bread and fish. We discussed about how gracious Jesus is to be patient with us. We often have to have repeat lessons to learn things of faith. It doesn’t always come easy.

In this passage, Jesus doesn’t want bread, he wants them to be aware that the kind of doubt that is constantly looking for a sign (though plenty are evident) is both dangerous and contagious. The truth is, it wouldn’t matter how many signs Jesus did for the Pharisees, they had already decided in their hearts.

I’ve heard apologist Frank Turek answer several questions from a skeptical audience. Someone will often ask a difficult question and Frank will say something like, “I’ll address your questions in just a moment, but before we get into it I want to know… If I prove to you Christianity is true, will you give your life to Jesus?” It surprises me how many he has asked that to and how many say, “no.” In essence they have already made up their mind, no amount of proof will change it.

The point is when you already know the will of God you should do it. This kind of religious disobedience on the part of the Pharisees was contagious and dangerous. They claimed they wanted more signs to know that Jesus was who he said he was, but they already had plenty.

It’s not as thought Jesus asks us to follow him blindly, he has proven himself over and over, but there comes a point where it is absurd to say you are holding out for more signs.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you for grace that you pour out on your people. Help us to see, know, and do your will. Let us not be deceived when what you are doing is plain to see. Give us discernment, and when we have it, give us boldness to act for your kingdom and your glory! Show us your will. Please guide us in every direction we should go and decision we make. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Sometimes We Get a Repeat Lesson Because We Didn’t Learn it the First Time. (Mark 8:1-10 Devotion)

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In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples [to Him] and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 “And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” 4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” 5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” 6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke [them] and gave [them] to His disciples to set before [them]; and they set [them] before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before [them]. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

– Mark 8:1-10 (NKJV)

I heard a story of a new preacher who had come to a church and he preached his first message on John 3:16 and everyone thought he did a fine job presenting the message. When the congregation came back the next week, they were puzzled to see the preacher preach the same sermon he had the week before. Some thought that maybe it had slipped his mind, others thought that perhaps he was young and he only had one good sermon and so they’d give him time to bring something different the next week. Sure enough after preaching the same sermon for three weeks in a row, one of the deacon’s pulled the pastor to the side and asked him why he hadn’t brought a “new” message. The pastor replied, “I’ve been wondering the same thing. I get up there and I preach my guts out but as I talk with people in the community through the week I realize that our church folks haven’t gotten the message and so I’ve committed to preaching it until it takes! I’m not hear just to tell you what the bible says, I’m calling you to really trust Jesus!”

I laughed when I heard that story, but it also stung a little. There are times in our life where God reveals his faithfulness to us through our trials, we seemingly grow by leaps and bounds, but then when we face a similar trial down the road, we are back at square one. (Like when Abraham lied about Sarah and said she was just his sister in both Genesis 12 and 20.) That is where we find the disciples again today. Jesus does another miracle of feeding a large crowd in the wilderness but the disciples seem to come up short on having learned their lesson from the last time and they are puzzled about where to get the bread to feed so many.

grateful that Jesus took his time to teach and reteach the disciples even through some hard lessons like this and I’m grateful that he takes time to reteach us as well. I think it’s also worth noting how many people were “bought-in” to the message that Jesus was sharing. They were willing to go into the wilderness and fast for the sake of seeing Jesus and hearing his word. It’s also worth noting that Jesus provided for those who were so desperately and persistently seeking him (again similar to how God provided manna when the nation of Israel was wandering in the Desert).

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are grateful for your patience with us to teach us how to trust you and come to you in faith. Thankyou that when we are weak, you are strong. We are grateful for the way you call us to follow you and where you guide, you provide. Please grow our faith. give us grace to trust you in the easy times and in the hard. Please be glorified in all of our lives. We humbly ask that you guide us in your will and direction. In Jesus Name, Amen.

He Came Back and The People Received Him!(Mark 7:31-37 Devotion)

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Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed [it]. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

– Mark 7:31-37 (NKJV)

This is not the first mention of this place, Decapolis (which literally means 10 cities Deca / polis). In Mark 5:20 Jesus sends the man who was delivered by demons back to his people to proclaim what Jesus had done. It says that he went around this area, Decapolis, “telling how much Jesus had done for him and the people marveled.” It is in this countryside down by the lake that the people first told Jesus to go away. They were afraid for what he had done to the pigs!

But now things have changed. They have a man who has a severe need, He can’t hear or talk well and so they bring him to Jesus. Then Jesus does something incredible and touches this man, healing him in a way that he could see and know what is going on. Once again, Jesus enters into an impossible situation and brings hearing and clarity of communication back into this man’s life.

Now the people are ready to receive him and the more he tells everyone to be quiet, the more they tell everyone about what He has done! It seems like a region that was once closed off to Jesus is now receptive and people are bringing their sick ones to him to be healed.

Before their hearts were like the soil that fell on the hard path in Mark 4. Now their hearts are softer. What was the difference? Jesus came to the region at a different time, in a different way (land instead of sea), and the man had been through the region sharing his testimony of what Jesus had done for him.

My take away today is to remember that a “no” to the word of God today, doesn’t mean it will always be a no. God has a way of opening up people to his word. Sometimes it takes coming at a different time, in a different way, with or behind someone who shares their testimony.

I’m so grateful for the teenagers at our church who have been practicing and sharing their testimonies. You never know quite when or how God will use your testimony of what God has done in your life to effect others. There was a whole region that was formerly closed off to Jesus that now welcomed him in because Jesus had sent this man back to his people to tell of all the great things he had done for him.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. I am grateful that the people in this area got a chance to see Jesus do his work in their midst. Give us perseverance in telling others about the good work you have done in our life. Give us grace in sharing your word to others. Where we have friends who have previously closed off their hearts to you, we ask that you would make them receptive to your word. Please guide us in your will and direction. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Belief Beyond the Borders (Mark 7:24-30 Devotion)

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From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know [it], but He could not be hidden. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw [it] to the little dogs.” 28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

– Mark 7:24-30 (NKJV)

Jesus was intent on getting out of the area for a chance to take a break. He crossed over into a gentile area. Here the crowds wouldn’t be pressing in on him. But even across the boarder there was a gentile woman who had heard of him and what he could do and so she called out to him to deliver her daughter from an unclean spirit.

What Jesus says, may seem mean spirited if we aren’t tuned into a few clues that are offered here. In his conversation, Jesus never says, “no” to this woman. In fact, she walks away with the assurance that her daughter has been healed.

So what does Jesus say to this woman? He says that he has come primarily for the Jews, FIRST. That doesn’t mean that the work of Jesus won’t eventually reach where this woman is… indeed he tells the disciples in Acts 1:8 to ultimately go to the “uttermost parts of the earth!”

He then uses an illustration. You wouldn’t bake bread for your kids and throw it to the pet dog. It’s important what word for dog is used here and it’s for something like a family pet, this is different than the mongrel wild type dogs that roamed the streets. Jesus is saying that there will be a time when his work reaches her region, but his focus is on the Jewish people for the moment.

So here response is spot on when she says that even the little dogs are blessed with the crumbs from the children. The picture is of kids who are sloppy eaters and so bread falls down and the dogs grab it from the floor or even of kids who sneak the bread under the table to the dog. In essence, her response says that she isn’t asking for him to do everything in her region that he did in Galilee, but that since he is here he could at least do one thing, namely cast this demon out of her daughter.

So what does this story teach us? Jesus intends for the gospel to go to the gentiles, which is good news because that’s what most Christians are these days. It also teaches us that this woman had a strong faith in the work of Jesus that even a small “crumb” could provide healing for her daughter. It also shows us that persistence in prayer matters.

That faith the disciples were lacking not long ago, to believe that Jesus can do a lot with just a little... This woman who hadn’t spent all that time with Jesus already knew it to be true and so she was persistent.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are grateful for all the crumbs that fall from the table. We are grateful of how you take care of us and meet our needs. Grant us to have stong faith like this woman did. Please guide us in your will and direct our steps. In Jesus Name, Amen.

From the Inside Out (Mark 7:1-23 Devotion)

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Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash [their] hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 [When they come] from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, [like] the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men–the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “[All too] well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me [is] Corban”–‘ (that is, a gift [to God]), 12 “then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” 14 When He had called all the multitude to [Himself], He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 “because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, [thus] purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 “thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 “All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

– Mark 7:1-23 (NKJV)

It’s easier to wash your dishes than it is to wash your heart. The Pharisees were upset that the disciples weren’t clean freaks like they were. Well it actually goes a little deeper than that. They were concerned that the disciples weren’t keeping their traditions. The traditions they had set up around the Law of God in order to keep the Law of God. Kind of like when you play a game and someone adds rules to the game to help put things to their advantage.

The Law of God is hard to keep, indeed it’s impossible for anyone other than Christ to keep it fully. The reason is because it reveals our hearts. Try as we might to keep the Law, we are broken and flawed creatures. That’s because we are sinners. Loving God with all your heart or loving your neighbor as yourself just doesn’t happen in selfish hearts like it should, so try as we may to keep all the rules, we just can’t. And that’s the point we need someone to save us (fix us).

But what if we make up our own rules to help us cheat at the game and get a sense that we are winning? We can’t change our hearts apart from Jesus, but we can clean up really good on the outside. We can wash some dishes and tell other people that theirs are dirty!

So somewhere along the way these secondary “preferences” or man-made laws became as important or more important to the Pharisees than the actual law of God. They thought by keeping those rules and sticking to them as close as possible, that it somehow made them right. (But they were still rotten). Perhaps they thought that if they could point to someone else breaking the rules, even the ones they made, it would make them look better! (Kind of like when you tattle on your brother or sister).

But someone else’s wrong never makes us right and that’s true especially when we’ve added our own rules to the game. Jesus rightly corrects the Pharisees here. They are more concerned with keeping their own rules that coming to God for a clean heart. What about you? It’s pretty easy to feel like you are a better person than some other people when you are keeping score, but the only score that matters is the one God keeps. Have you come to him for a clean heart?

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We know that there is no one who is righteous on their own. We all need you to give us clean hearts. We ask you now to search our hearts. Keep us from being proud like the men in this passage who were too proud to even see what you were doing. Give us pure hearts that really do love you and seek after you. Take our brokenness and make something new. Please guide us in your will and direct our paths. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Soften My Heart (Mark 6:45-56 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Today is special in two ways. It See you At the Pole. God did a work in my heart 14 years ago and one of my earliest blog posts was about that event. You can find that post here. Also it is the five year anniversary since my open heart surgery. You can find a post about my thoughts and a letter I wrote to my kids here. Needless to say, I’m full of praise today and I’m excited to see what the Lord does through this next generation.

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. 47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He [was] alone on the land. 48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. 49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. 52 For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. 53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. 56 Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.

– Mark 6:45-56 (NKJV)

Jesus had just fed the multitude with a few loaves and fishes. The disciples had learned about life in a busy season. The takeaway seemed to be, “when you are spent, take what little you have and put it in the hands of Jesus.” Now he makes the disciples get in a boat and he send them on while he himself goes to the mountain to spend time in prayer.

Everything seems fine, but then a storm must have arisen given the disciples trouble in rowing across the lake. The wind is against them and they should have been to shore by now. So when Jesus walks out on the water, they are scared! They don’t expect him to show up in their moment of need (but it seems like that is the lesson they just learned with the loaves… that when we can’t do something about the situation, Jesus can.)

The gospel writer Mark seems to indicate that they should have expected Jesus to do something like this and not been so afraid or marveled so much, but they did because the lesson they had just learned with the loaves didn’t sink in to their heart level yet. Their hearts had been hard! They saw Jesus multiply fish and bread. They heard him pray and tear the pieces. They felt the substance of the food as they passed it out. They smelt the food as the leftovers were being gathered. They themselves tasted and were full. They witnessed Jesus do the impossible with ALL of their senses and yet, it hadn’t sunk into their hearts just who he was and so they cried out in fear when they saw him in the dark on the lake. They didn’t know that He was doing something normal for him. The moments we feel our need for him are the moments we realize that he has been there for us all along.

Perhaps there was another message here. Jesus multiplying the bread was like God providing manna for the nation of Israel while they were traveling to the promised land. His use of the water to walk to them was similar enough to God speaking to Moses to part the Red Sea. It should have been donning on them that one greater than Moses was here! We could give the disciples a hard time, but in reality. Aren’t we just like that. Doesn’t it take a while for the grace of God to sink into our hearts. We are slow to perceive who Jesus really is and slow to fully put our trust in him.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you for being patient with us. We are often slow learners. Thank you for grace that meets us in the middle of the storm, calms our fears, and leads us to see even greater things. Please guide us in your will and direction for us. In Jesus Name, Amen.