To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

 Proverbs 21:3

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3

I pause my study of Numbers, to review Proverbs 21:3 - text discussed during my Friday morning men's Bible study.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The most important commandment (per Matthew 22:37-40) is to love God.  However, many church going folk go through the motions with attendance at worship, etc. - at one point in this was me.  I was worshiping a God I did not earnestly know because I was not actively reading the Bible.  For sure there is more work for God to do in me, but I know there is fruit. The text today emphasizes how God wants all of our heart - in everything we do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  A key litmus test is that we find obedience to God is not burdensome (1 John 5:3) - ask yourself this: is obedience to God (think deeply on this and ask for tougher sins like envy, hate in heart, anger, lust in heart, etc.).  Ultimately, God wants all of our heart and life to reflect Him - if we renew our minds through spiritual formation (Bible reading, prayer, etc.), our thoughts and ways are more aligned with His and THEN our offering of our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2) is more acceptable and pleasing to God.  
• What do we learn from the text about people: We are all guilty of the sin of obedience out of obligation instead of as a natural response to how He loves us and we seek to please Him.  Turn to Him with all of your heart and not only will you find him but he will do a work in and through you to make you more like Him. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid forced obedience to God. Claim the promise that if you seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow the example of David who was a man after God's heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Seek and love Him with all of your heart.

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 My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that loved me while still hostile and an enemy to You.  You reached down into the pit pulled me out by Your hand and saved me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You loved me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom, energy, and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And God spoke all these words, saying,“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.“You shall have no other gods before me.

 Exodus 20:1-3

And God spoke all these words, saying,“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.“You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:1-3

This morning I continue my short side trip from my study of John to look at Exodus 20:1-3 to prepare for leading small group time this morning at church.   I've pulled off and parked again to dig deeper in the text where we see God giving Israel the 10 Commandments starting with most important commandment - to love God and to not have any other gods before Him.  Here are my observations of the text using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: In chapter 19, we God setting limits on how Israel should approach Him.  In chapter 20, God expands on how Israel should live - giving Israel 10 commandments.  In the chapters following chapter 20, God gives more details on rules for worship, including how the worship space should look and be equipped.  But before we even get to these rules, God gave us the 10 commandments and the first of which is that we should not have any God's before Him.  Before He gave us this commandment, God wanted to set our hearts right by exhorting us to see what He has done for us - He delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt and He delivered all believers from bondage to sin (spiritual death).    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Unfortunately, we know that the Jewish leadership ultimately worshiped their own abilities to understand the law and their claim to obedience to the law as an idol.  Yet they failed to grasp how God alone grants understanding and God seeks humility.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeing your own understanding of scripture or Jesus as an idol.  Claim the promise that Jesus delivers us from spiritual death.  Follow the example of Jesus who humbled Himself in obedience to the Father.  Know that all comes from God.  Love God as He who saves and provides all things.     

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in of her.

Mark 14:1-11

And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her. Mark 14:9

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 14:1-11.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of four) division (vv6-9):

• The title of the third division per the commentary is "Extravagant Acts of Love Will Be Remembered." 
• Jesus reprimands those who are indignant (vv4-5) in v6. 
• "Here in Mark 14:6-9 we see our Lord in effect standing up for another faithful servant, a woman who has showered Him with a sacrifice of extravagant love only to be ridiculed by those who should have known better."  
• "Some readers misread verse 7, supposing Jesus to be insensitive toward the poor. We should do good for the poor. Jesus believed and taught that. The issue here is between “always” and “not always.” The poor are always there, but Jesus would not be. The opportunity to show Him this kind of personal love and affection would soon be gone. Further, Jesus is God, and the first of the great commands always trumps the second[.]"   
• "Jesus indeed asserts His preeminence above all others (cf. Colossians 1:18). This might help: Put these words in the mouth of any other human person, and they sound scandalous, self-centered, even narcissistic. Put them in the mouth of the Son of God who “for your sake . . . became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9), and they make all the sense in the world. Care for the poor, but worship the Savior!" 
• "Jesus makes three striking observations about Mary. (1) “She has done what she could.” She held nothing back! (2) Her act of extravagant love had prophetic and symbolic significance: “She has anointed My body in advance for burial.” Did she fully understand what was about to happen? Probably not. Did she have greater insight into our Lord’s coming passion than the 12 apostles? Of this I have little doubt. (3) Jesus makes a promise that her sacrifice of extravagant love will never be forgotten as the gospel advances throughout 'the whole world.'"

The commentary starts by referring us to Stephen, the first martyr who died for Christ - the ultimate expression of love (see also John 15:13). Mary makes a different yet still significant expression of love - this is what Jesus emphasizes here from the text - that we love God above all others and our lives should express love and worship of Him (see Romans 12:1).

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is full of incredible grace - You save!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Mark 10:17-31

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Mark 10:21-22

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:17-31.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction to this text and for the first (of three) division (vv17-22):

• The title for this chapter of the commentary covering the entirety of the text (vv17-31) is "What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? (Will You Leave Everything and Follow Jesus?)."
• The main idea from the commentary for the entirety of the text is "[f]ollowing Jesus may involve great personal cost, but it always results in great eternal gain."
• "This text [vv17-31] addresses the important question, Who or what should have first place in my life? Jesus demands that people give Him first place in their lives above all else and all others (Colossians 1:18)."
• "John Mark wrote the second Gospel about AD 65–68, making great use of an eyewitness, the apostle Peter. He wrote to a Roman audience facing severe persecution during the reign of Nero. He challenged them concerning true discipleship in 8:31–10:52. This section contains three passion predictions (8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34), each followed by instruction on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. In 10:13-16, Jesus says we must receive the kingdom of God like a little, helpless child. The account of the rich young ruler raises the question, Will someone with great wealth and standing receive the kingdom like a little child?"   
• The title for the first division per the commentary is: "It Is Easier Than You Think."  
• "Jesus was continuing His journey toward Jerusalem. Our Savior is engaging the disciples in teaching about true discipleship and His forthcoming crucifixion and resurrection. They are struggling students who can’t grasp what He is saying. Jesus has just told them that those who enter the kingdom of God must be like a little child (10:13-16). All must come to Jesus with nothing, in total dependence on Him. No one can earn the kingdom. The requirement is the same for all: simple, childlike reliance on Jesus. It is that easy. It is in the context of this teaching that one who is the opposite of a helpless child approaches Jesus."  
• In support of it's claim that it's "easier than you think" to receive the kingdom of God like a little child," the commentary starts with: "ask the right questions."   
• The rich young ruler asks Jesus a question. "This question is one of the most significant in the whole Bible and for all humanity: How do I get eternal life?" 
• "His question, though by no means a bad one, implies he believes eternal life is something you work for. “What must I do?” All religions of the world can be categorized under “do” or “done.” I am saved by what I do or by what another has done. Christianity is a done religion/relationship. Eternal life is not achieved; it is received as a gift (John 1:12) based on what Jesus has done for us (John 3:16). So the young ruler must have both a change of theology and a change of heart if he is to inherit eternal life."  
• One must first "go to the right person," then "get the right answers."   
• "Jesus does not return the young man’s flattering greeting as might have been expected. Jesus puts the focus of the issue where it must be: on God. The young man’s starting point was wrong because it was himself. “What must I do?” The rich young ruler was no doubt a “good man” by the standards of his day.  He saw in Jesus another good man whose insight into spiritual matters could perhaps solve some lingering questions that plagued his soul. Jesus forced him to look to God for any hope of genuine goodness and eternal life." 
• "Furthermore, Jesus implicitly confronted the young ruler with his evaluation of Jesus. To call Him good is to call Him God. Is that what he meant? If Jesus is not God, then He, like the rest of humanity, is a sinner and therefore not good in the supreme sense. On the other hand, if He is God, it would be appropriate to call Him good. It would also be appropriate to worship Him, follow Him, and obey Him. He challenges the young ruler to think clearly and choose his words carefully, a challenge each one of us should accept."  
• After Jesus asks him whether he has kept the commandments, "[t]he young man responds, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” The young man had conducted his life according to the law of God. He had honored it and obeyed all of it! In an external sense what he said was probably true. Like the apostle Paul he was faultless (Philippians 3:6) with respect to the outward demands of the law as taught by the religious teachers of Israel."  
• "Having addressed the last six commandments, Jesus now addresses the first (Exodus 20:3). God must be God in our lives. No one and nothing can stand between Him and us. The particular demand Jesus puts on the rich young ruler is not a general command for all persons. It was specific to him, though it could be specific to some of us too! His wealth occupied the place that only God should have in his life. It was his idol, his god."  
• "The call to discipleship is a call to radical trust and commitment to Jesus. Jesus challenges all of us to put away anything that is an obstacle to our following Him. You cannot love your wealth supremely and love Jesus supremely."  
• The final directive by Jesus is to "give the right response" (v22).  "Verse 22 records the tragic end of their encounter—“stunned.” A cloud of gloom and sorrow moved in. “He went away grieving.” Why? “Because he had many possessions.” His gold would remain his god. Jesus’ difficult demand was met with a “no.” He got the right answer to his question."

As I posted yesterday, we must first and foremost focus on the two most important commandments as the others all hang on these two per Matthew 22:34-40.  If we earnestly don't love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, then we must throw ourselves at Jesus' feet and like the father from earlier in Mark ask Jesus to "help us with our unbelief" (Mark 9:23-25).  If we do hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will be filled (satisfied) (Matthew 5:6).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and how You saved me - I know I was saved while still sinning, hostile and an enemy to You. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.