Mark 15:33 My Guilt

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 

Observation

There are moments in mankind's history where the ugliness in the human heart climax's and shows a side of ourselves we would rather hide and never look at. It seems that inherent goodness brings out the worst of our nature. The terrible atrocities that mark mankind were performed against races of people; the Jews in the halocaust, slavery in the United States, Christian persecution in the days of Nero, the slaughter of whole villages in Africa by warlords, etc. But this is the one time where history has multiple accounts of One person receiving the ugliness of mankind through unimaginable torture and death. No wonder such darkness was cast over the land. The darkness is a representation of our guilt. It shows that in our hearts is an ugliness that fear and pressure brings out. 

As I read Mark today, it just seemed like no one missed out on the opportunity to express the deprivation of their human heart. In Mark 15, it even notes that as visitors were coming into town they would ridicule him on the cross. 

Application

To except the hope of Easter, I must except the guilt of Good Friday. I live in a culture that admonishes guilt; "live the way you want to and if anyone questions you and make you feel guilty then rebuke them, you are not supposed to feel guilty". How could I feel anything but guilty when I look at the cross? I may not have been there over 2000 years ago, but I have joked about Jesus to make my friends laugh, I have done things I know we're wrong so that I could fit in, I have put my needs before anyone else's over and of again. My abuse of Christ may not have been physical, but the darkness of my heart cast a shadow over me for several years. It was my guilt that brought Him to the cross. It was my guilt that needed the sacrificial lamb. He had to face hell for me, so that the darkness inside me would leave. He did it for me.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You! I love You!

John 9:2-3 The Blame Game

“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 

Observation

The Jews believed that a physical ailment was a sign that either you or your family had sinned. The disciples ask Jesus the question, whose to blame for this man's blindness. They asked this question in front of the man, somehow associating his blindness with deafness I think. It seems like this showed that the disciples thought less of the blind man. A SOAP for another time. 

Jesus's response surely takes them by surprise, when He says that this blind man's suffering is so that the glory of God can be revealed.  Jesus mixes mud and saliva to heal the man; there is no other account in the gospel of Jesus healing that way.

The need for someone to blame is threaded throughout mankind. We ourselves have a need to blame. I was reading in Isaiah 53 about how we judged Jesus the same way. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! (Isaiah 53:4 NLT). I don't think there was any coincidence that the man's physical ailment was blindness. Our need to lay blame makes us all blind. The blind man and the disciples all had their eyes opened that day; however, as we read on in John we will see that the religious leaders just can't get past the need to blame someone.

Application

I saw the need to blame first hand as a Materials Manager. Some product wasn't completed on time, ordered on time, or received on time. When I would have a meeting with teams about it we would spend more time on who we should blame then we ever did coming up with a solution. In order to circumvent this time-waster, I one day opened up the meeting by throwing myself on the blame alter. Although it wasn't my fault, the need to blame someone was satisfied. As time progressed we made a joke out if it and the need to blame became less and less important. In fact, people began offering themselves on the alter of blame so that we could progress. 

Jesus didn't do anything wrong, but he took the blame so that we could see. When the accuser comes and tells me that I'm to blame I can remind him that there is One who already to the blame for me and it is finished!

Prayer

Thank You, thank You Jesus for taking my blame. Please continue to open my spiritual eyes and enlighten me so that I can see what You are doing all around me. I don't ever want to get stuck on the blame treadmill again.

John 8:54 What is your motivation?

If I were trying to make Myself somebody important, it would be a waste of time. That kind of fame is worth nothing. It is the Father who is behind Me, urging Me on, giving Me praise.

Observation 

Jesus is once again being tested by Jewish religious leaders. In this specific example they accuse Him of being demon possessed and exalting Himself. Jesus explains His motivation is from the Father and not from self promotion. But the the religious leaders judge Jesus from the overflow of their own heart and not from truth. It is hard for them to imagine anyone not trying to promote self because they themselves have made a lifestyle out of religious performance.

Application

I love the picture that is painted by Jesus of God, the Father, urging Him on in praise. The closer I walk with Christ the less worldly adulation has a hold on me. On the other hand, I find that I am in need of hearing the voice of God's sweet encouragement more and more. There are times when He uses others to encourage me and then there are times where that encouragement wells up from within. Regardless of the physical source, I know Spiritually this encouragement originated from God, Himself. 

It has become the praise that I live for. I've set my life goal to please Him. I am reminded today who it is that is cheering me on and who it is that I seek to please.

Prayer

Father, You are the One who has changed my heart. You know how often I have pursued my own fame, disguising it with religious performance. But You are ever faithful and have and will continue to change my heart motivation to please You and seek Your approval alone. Thank You Lord.

John 8:54 What is your motivation?

If I were trying to make Myself somebody important, it would be a waste of time. That kind of fame is worth nothing. It is the Father who is behind Me, urging Me on, giving Me praise.

Observation 

Jesus is once again being tested by Jewish religious leaders. In this specific example they accuse Him of being demon possessed and exalting Himself. Jesus explains His motivation is from the Father and not from self promotion. But the the religious leaders judge Jesus from the overflow of their own heart and not from truth. It is hard for them to imagine anyone not trying to promote self because they themselves have made a lifestyle out of religious performance.

Application

I love the picture that is painted by Jesus of God, the Father, urging Him on in praise. The closer I walk with Christ the less worldly adulation has a hold on me. On the other hand, I find that I am in need of hearing the voice of God's sweet encouragement more and more. There are times when He uses others to encourage me and then there are times where that encouragement wells up from within. Regardless of the physical source, I know Spiritually this encouragement originated from God, Himself. 

It has become the praise that I live for. I've set my life goal to please Him. I am reminded today who it is that is cheering me on and who it is that I seek to please.

Prayer

Father, You are the One who has changed my heart. You know how often I have pursued my own fame, disguising it with religious performance. But You are ever faithful and have and will continue to change my heart motivation to please You and seek Your approval alone. Thank You Lord.

Mark 12:30-31, 34 Two Instead of One

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions. 

Observation

Jesus is asked a question by one of the Sadducees who considers Jesus's previous answers to questions wise. The question? What is the most important command? However, instead of giving one command, He gives two.  He includes both because the two can't be separated from one another. For some one command is easier to do than the other. You've probably met people who are well educated in scripture and you believe they are seeking God, but outside of teaching the word of God, they have a hard time loving and helping the people of God. Then there are others who pursuing Christ on a day to day basis is so difficult, but loving and serving others seems to come naturally. However, Jesus says when we understand, believe, and live out both the Kingdom of God is revealed to us. 

Application

I personally find loving God so much easier than loving people. But I know people who would say the opposite; they love spending time with people but find it difficult to spend time with God. I think we all have a natural lean one way or the other. I've tried to figure out why I'm not more of a people person. I mean God is in the people business and for heavens sake, I'm in full-time ministry. Yet when around lots of people I have to saturate myself in Christ so that I can be loving, because my natural tendency is to be quiet, blend in, and be a recluse. There is the key isn't it? My weakness causes me to draw deeper into Christ. I love the way He works :). Because I'm drawing deeper into Christ, I can see His greater kingdom that I'm apart of. I can see what He is doing around me and what He wants me to do. He is the one who fills me with love for others. Apart from Him I can truly do nothing.

Prayer

Father, I want to fall more in love with You and Your people. Please take me deeper into You, You are my everything.

John 7:24 What is God doing?

When you judge, you should not judge by outward appearance. When you judge search for what is right and just.

Observation

The religious leaders and the people in the temple court were judging Jesus. Jesus didn't look like a coming king. They couldn't understand what Jesus was saying in the temple because they were stuck on Jesus being from Galilee. Instead of seeking God in what Jesus was saying the religious leaders made up their mind that Jesus was heretical and needed to be killed.

Jesus challenges their and our thinking. He says in a sense "search your own heart and see if the words I speak are not true." Is making a man whole on the sabbath right and just? Yes.

Application

How do I know what God is doing? I search for what is just and right. I don't look at the way things seem, I look through the eyes of Christ instead. In myself alone, I really don't have a clue about what is right and just. But as I fall more in love with Jesus, I begin to know the Fathers heart and know what is right and just. When I'm unsure, I just ask The Lord, He is faithful to give wisdom generously to all that ask.

Prayer

Father, I don't want to put You in a box and define You with my own shortsightedness. Please give me Your eyes of justice and righteousness, so that I many not judge by outer appearance, but by what is just and right. Thank You Lord, I love You!

John 5:10 Party Poopers

Must you be reminded that it is Sabbath? You are not allowed to carry your mat today!

Observation

A man who had been crippled for 38 years is healed when Jesus comes to the pool at Bethesda. Interestingly Jesus heals only him, even though crowds of people line the pools. I don't have any insight into why it was just him, except that we can predict that God is unpredictable. But I digress.

Jesus doesn't mix any mud together and place it on his body, he doesn't ask about the man's faith, He just asks the cripple if he is there hoping to get healed, then after the cripples explanation, Jesus tells him to get up, take his mat, and walk. Of course the man is happy to do so, he has been crippled for 38 years and is now healed.  There is only one problem, however, it is the sabbath and the man is carrying his mat. The Jewish leaders jumped all over the breaking of this sabbath rule and interrogated the ex-cripple about this miracle. It begs the question, why did Jesus tell the man to pick up his mat? He knew that the Jewish leaders would be offended, so why did he do it. I think it was to show the true state of their heart. They didn't love God or God's people, they loved control.

Application

Has this ever happened to you? Something good happens to someone else and they are excited, but you draw attention to something that isn't right instead of celebrating with them. It is party pooper syndrome and it is contagious. Once you have been bitten by the bug of negativity it is very hard to get back to an attitude of gratitude. Joyce Meyer wrote that "maintaining the right attitude is easier than regaining the right attitude". We can tell when someone is negative and critical around us, but we have a difficult time seeing it in ourselves. We feel justified because of our circumstances. However, justification has little to do with it. The truth is negativity leads to a miserable life. I don't know about you, but I don't want to live that way. 

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your joy. Please help me to maintain a right attitude in all situations. I realize I live in a fallen world that breeds negativity, but greater are You in me than the infectious negativity of the world. I praise You for who You are.

John 6:66 & 68 The Difficulty of Truth

After hearing these teachings, many of His disciples walked away and no longer followed Jesus....Lord, if we were to go, whom would we follow? You speak the words that give everlasting life. We believe and recognize that You are the Holy One sent by God.

Observation

These scriptures come after a very difficult teaching by Jesus. He teaches the disciples and the crowd that He is the living bread and living water and those who believe in Him need to eat of His flesh (bread) to receive eternal life. The crowd and many disciples took this as literally eating Christ's flesh. Yes, there would seem to be something very disturbing about this statement. We know now, that Christ meant that we must receive Him into our heart and that He must be the life blood that courses through our veins. 

But this one teaching causes many of Jesus's disciples to leave. 

Application

Sometimes what God asks me to take in faith is very difficult indeed. I know many people who get to the point of accepting Christ as their Savior, praying to Him for help, but never explore or follow His teachings. Why? Because it is just too hard. They are right it certainly is hard. However, living in a chained up life of sin and destruction is so much harder. Knowing you are being manipulated by unknown forces, yet feeling helpless to do anything about is depressing just to think about. 

Lies are easy to believe, we want the lie, but the lie brings with it such destruction. The truth, although difficult to swallow, brings life, life, and more life. I'm with Peter, where else could I go if not with Jesus? The alternative is to go back to living a lie.  I would rather have persecution and truth, then a lie and the world.

Prayer

Father, You are the Holy One.  You are the Only One and the Only way for me.  I choose You this day and everyday.

John 4:21-24 Heart of Worship

Woman I tell you that neither is so. Believe this: a new day is coming - in fact it's already here - when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshippers......The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship.

Observation

The conversation that Jesus has with the Samaritan woman at the well is taboo in a couple of ways. One, she is a woman. A Rabbi just didn't have conversations with women like this. Secondly, she was Samaritan. Samaria was to be avoided at all costs. Believe it or not, Samaria use to be apart of Israel. There was division in the kingdom of Israel after Solomon's death and soon Samaria became a hotbed for idol worship through alliances made with other kingdoms. Instead of using the temple in Jerusalem, Samaria constructed their own temple. Moreover, Samaritan Jews married outsiders and became known as half-breeds and mongrels. Jews avoided Samaritans at all costs for fear that they would get infected by their Samaritan ways. 

But Jesus never sees people as their label, He always sees into hearts. He tells this Samaritan woman that she doesn't need to worry about the where, or her sins, or her labels; just seek God with an honest heart ready to receive His Spirit.

Application

This specific passage hit home with me over the last several months. I've known the passage for years and have even touted it on stage while leading worship. But in the last several months it has gone from head knowledge to heart knowledge. 

I asked God several months ago what is the criteria for leading worship? It certainly has to be more than talent, but what else is it? One major thing that He revealed is worship is based on truth. So I've been praying God's truth revealed. I pray first and foremost for myself. I know I can look at myself in benign ways, I need God's word to reveal any deceit I'm harboring. In His love and mercy, He does. I also pray His truth revealed over all of the worship team. God is not looking for perfect worshippers, but He is looking for honest ones. There is freedom in honest worship, a freedom that can be found no other way. It is this worship our Father seeks and it is this worship that I long to give.

Prayer

Father, thank You for revealing lies that are in my heart. I open up my heart to You again and again and I ask that You show me where I'm being deceived and bring that deceit to worship. I want to seek You with all that I am, holding nothing back from You, but bringing everything into the light of Your love. 

John 3:30 Less of Me

He must become greater and I must become less.

Observation

These words are spoken by John the Baptist. John is Jesus's cousin and has done great things to prepare the way for Christ coming. In this specific scripture reference there seems to be seeds of jealousy being sown by John the Baptists disciples. They are seemingly jealous that more people are being baptized by Jesus instead of John. 

John responds with humility by saying that Jesus is the bridegroom and John is just the best man. John knows that what is happening has very little to do with him and he is just grateful to be invited to the party. 

Application

This is one of my favorite scriptures and my hubby's also. In fact he has this scripture reference tattooed on his person. Why is it my favorite? Well it reminds me that what is going on around me is less about me then I think it is. It also reminds me to hold onto things loosely. John didn't tighten his grip around the ministry that God had given him when people were running to Jesus instead of him, instead he knew his place. John didn't boast about all that he had done for the kingdom of God out of insecurity, instead he boasted of Christ and who Christ is. Oh that I would respond that way when change is in the air...that I would respond that way when tides change and people don't like me as much as they used to.....that I would see the greatness of Christ and very little of me when I look in the mirror.

Prayer

Daddy, be more in me today and everyday; I bow my head and choose to become less.

John 2:11, 22 (voice) Faith Grows

They did not know how this happened; but when the disciples and the servants witnessed the miracle their faith blossomed....Because of this knowledge, their faith in the Hebrew Scriptures and in Jesus teachings grew.

Observation

The disciples and servants are witness to Jesus's first miracle; the transformation from water to wine. Interestingly enough, there is nothing spiritual about this miracle, it's just your everyday run of the mill need; they ran out of something and needed to get more of it. A seemingly small circumstance is the first revelation of the power that exists in Jesus the Christ.

Jesus, then is angry at all the items being sold in the temple. He turns over the money changing tables and drives the money changers out of the temple. When people are upset about it, He proclaims that if the temple is torn down He will rebuild it in three days. He, as we find out later, was referring to His death and resurrection. 

Scripture says that through both of these revelations the disciples grew in faith.

Application

Romans 12:3 say's that we each have been given a measure of faith; However, faith doesn't stop there, it grows. Luke 17:6 explains what faith the size of a mustard seed can do. I like the reference to a mustard seed, because what does a mustard seed do? It grows. Spending time with Jesus grows your faith. It starts by being aware of who He is and then you become aware of what He is doing around you. I see this in my own life. I spend time at Jesus's feet in the morning and my eyes become opened to what He is doing around me the rest of the day. This life-giving cycle allows my faith to flourish as I see and hear more and more of Christ everyday. Like the disciples, I may not yet see the full extent of what the faith in me can do externally, but I can certainly see its growth and the change it is making in my heart.

Prayer

Daddy, thank You for measure of faith that You have given me. You are the perfect gardener. You nurture the faith within until it blossoms and shines for Your glory. I love You!

John 1:1 Voice

Before time itself was measured, the Voice was speaking.

Observation

The Greek word actually used for voice is logos. Very often we read John 1:1 and we read Word instead of voice. But the word "word" describes something that is written and we read. However the word logos essentially refers to the act of speaking or bringing thoughts of expression (voice bible). 

In John 1, John is saying that Jesus is the voice of God. He is the voice that shaped the entire cosmos and all living creatures. John places a high importance on Jesus's relationship with God from the beginning. Because Jesus is the voice of God, He is apart of God, is God, and thus apart of the Trinity.

Application

This singular sentence has two applications for me. One, Jesus said that He is the good shepherd and His sheep know His voice. His voice calls to me and beckoning a response. After 12 years being called His, I do recognize His voice. It is tender and honest, dripping with love. His voice is found in the road less travelled and in my greatest weaknesses. I hear His sweet song in the sleeping child and the messy drunk. 

What an incredible blessing it is to hear His voice.

The second application, is the power of the spoken word. Matthew 12:37 says that it is by our words that we are justified and condemned. There are multiple scriptures in the bible that support that, most notably is the proverbs 18:21 that states that death and life are in the power of the tongue. To take it one step deeper than just our words, I think we have to note our tone when we do speak the Word. We have a voice also, so what laces our words when we speak them? 

I need to be better about speaking the word of God out loud. But I also need to season every word with grace. The combination of truth and grace is very powerful. 

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your voice. Thank You for calling out to me and drawing me to You. May I also speak Your word with confidence and grace, bringing life to all those who hear.

Mark 6:3-4 Labels

Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 

Observation

Jesus was already making a name for Himself in the communities surrounding Nazareth. It is reasonable to believe that by the time Jesus teaches at the synagogue in Nazareth that many had already heard of the many miracles He had performed. 

Jesus, taught the same as He had done in other towns. His intent the same, to bind up broken hearts and set captives free, yet something was amiss. The townspeople of Nazareth couldn't see past the young boy who had grown up in the town; they couldn't see past the labels they had placed on Him. The townspeople had placed God in a box and hardened their hearts and minds against anything that threatened their definition of who Jesus is.

Application 

I am no different than the townspeople. I have thought some too far gone to be used and changed by God. I have thought myself too far gone. There are times when I doubted God would intervene. But the more I know of God the more I realize how little I know of Him. He is truly indescribable by man. And His Spirit lives in me, which makes me indescribable. God sees more in me than I or others see. 

Prayer

Daddy, thank You for loving me perfectly; for seeing and calling out more in me than I can see and call out in myself. 

Mark 5:26-30 Pressing Through

She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse.  She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe.  For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”  Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked,  “Who touched my robe?” 

Observation

This woman's affliction made her ritually unclean because of her bleeding. Based on rules passed down from the Israelites track through the desert, she was to be removed from the city, not knowing if it would spread throughout the city. She respected that and abided by those rules. She was torn away from her city, broken, separate and alone. She lived away from her family, and they weren't allowed to even speak her name. She was lost in the land of nothing. For twelve years she was exiled in this way, internally and externally. This woman hears about the Messiah and risks being stoned, beaten, and dragged outside the city again, all so that she can touch Jesus. 

Application

Can you imagine the battle of the mind she must have faced? Yet the desperation for change that she experienced was so much greater than her fear. Blessed are those who persevere, who press through (James 1:12). That is what she did, she pressed through, desperate for Jesus. If we were to see this now we would call it extreme, certainly the crowd around her then must have thought so. I bet if she would have shared her plans with her friends they would have told her to stop, maybe would have even held her back physically. She took one of the biggest risks of faith during Jesus's walk on earth. It is pressed upon my heart to not just casually read her story, but to really let it sink in.

Faith is risk. It is going against fear, persecution, affliction, and death for something different, for someone different. Faith is not fire insurance, it is a wholly and holy pressing past yourself and others into Christ for change. For most of us we can't make that faith step without first being in a position of desperation. Trials and suffering can cause us to do one of two things, isolate ourselves (which the widow was forced to do first) or press into Christ. I choose to press into Christ.

Prayer

Father, please remind me to press deeper into You through every trial, discomfort, persecution, or suffering that I encounter. Thank You Lord, for I desire more and more of You and less and less of me.

1 Timothy 5:1-3 We Are Family

Never speak harshly to an older man,  but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.  Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. Take care of  any widow who has no one else to care for her. 

Observation

After encouraging Timothy to devote himself wholly to the Word of God and service to Christ (1 Timothy 4), Paul then outlines for Timothy how to treat others. Verses one through three talk about all four categories of people in the body; old men and women, and young men and women. Each distinct category requires a different method of communication. An older man you would treat with respect, using a little more reverence then you would when communicating with anyone else. A younger man you can be more direct with, talk with him like a brother. An older woman on the other hand should be treated gently like you would treat your mother, and a younger woman should be looked upon and treated as you would your sister; valuing her purity and innocence.

Application

As churches grow it can be very easy to handle the multitude of people and requests with corporate policies and procedures. However, Paul is very specific that the church is a family, all who are in the church should be treated as family, and the church should always remain a family. Having spent a lot of time in the corporate world, then adding to it my introverted nature, it is very easy for me to see and handle people through a corporate lens. These verses are a great reminder to stay diligent to the family of God and not corporate practices.

Prayer

Father, You know my weaknesses even better than I do. I praise You that Your grace is sufficient in my weakness. I ask that Your power be perfected in the weaknesses that I have in seeing people and situations through a corporate lens and trying to control uncomfortable situations in the family of God with processes and procedures. Thank You Lord for showing yourself off in these circumstances.