But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. If you can? said Jesus. Everything is possible for one who believes.

Mark 9

But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. If you can? said Jesus. Everything is possible for one who believes. v22-23

Many of us have been in places where we wanted to believe but we had doubts.  This is an OK place to be - God wants us to bring everything to Him, including our doubts as He can help us with these too.  We must understand that even God brings us to faith.  It is OK to ask Him in prayer to help us with our unbelief and faith.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has given me faith and grown my faith - and blee ssed me many times over - I am undeserving of such blessings.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such 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 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 servnde You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Mark 8

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. v35-38

Certainly before I became a believer and for a significant period even after I became a believer it was important for me to be in control - for me to dictate as many of the circumstances and events of my life.  The more I could control the more I had life - particularly because I believed I knew what was right for me...and others.  Yet over time, I am blessed because of it, Jesus took over my heart and life and I began to give my life over to Him and for His service and glory.  Amazingly, the more I LOST control, the more at peace and content as because God gave me peace He promises.

Also of note in today's verses include Jesus' warning about being ashamed over Jesus.  I often feel worry about expressing my faith publicly and this is what Jesus is warning us about.  There must be NO QUESTION about whom we serve and why.

Jesus is Lord and He is freedom and life, etc.  There is no other way.

 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has given me life...and to the full - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I daily miss the mark.  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 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.

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Mark 8

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. v25

Roughly a week ago, I posted a link to DesiringGod.com about seeing Jesus properly, and today it is relevant once more to reference this post as the blind man healed here by Jesus is only healed according to the folks at Desiring God because he saw Jesus clearly.  The healing occurs in two stages to reinforce that the life that Jesus promises us only comes to us once we acknowledge who Jesus is in both an absolute sense and who He is for us personally.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died for me both for all and for me personally - thank You Jesus - the greatest gift of all time!  I am not worth such a gift of grace.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  Please 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.

Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Mark 7

Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” v36-37

It says in the MacArthur commentary that Jesus "did not intend" to have a public ministry for the gentiles.  Perhaps not at this time, but Jesus did come for all of humanity and Jesus provides a message to Peter in Acts 10:9-16 that all deserve salvation.  Believers often act as if we get to decide with whom we get to share the gospel - and the point is that ALL are worthy and that it is not us who bring people to faith.  We allow Jesus to work in and through us and HE does the work! 

We should be the hands and feet of Jesus to ALL.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy of my full attention and life - You are the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.  You give me life and life to the full - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome such sin and turn 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 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.

“Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

Mark 7

 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” v28

Jesus encounters many who desperation draws them to Him - they are seeking something from this world that is not available - comfort, peace, joy, etc.  The Syrophoenician Woman in Mark 7:24-30 is such an example whose desperation brings herself to Jesus.  She is desperate (seeking mere "crumbs") of healing for her daughter.  Once again, like others, those who believe reach a point where they recognize that it is only Jesus who can provide them what they are seeking and even then it requires faith in Jesus to believe that Jesus can help them.

I reached this point 20+ years ago and I've seen others reach this point.

We must be "poor in spirit".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You love me and died for me.  I am not worth such love - not by a long shot.  I gossip, have bad thoughts, and so much more.  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 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.

What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

Mark 7

What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. v20-22

In Mark 7, once again we see the Pharisees and the teachers of the law try and trap Jesus in blasphemy so that they can conspire to arrest or kill Him.  Yet Jesus sees right through them and attacks their heart condition which is the core of their issue - He IS fulfillment of the law and Old Testament prophecy - He is the One they should be welcoming based on the words of their own prophets, including Jeremiah, Isaiah, etc. 

Our heart condition is truly where we should focus - not on external circumstances or external behaviors but on loving God and loving others. 

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are truly a great God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords and my Lord and Savior.  Thank You for the many, many ways You bless me - too many ways to list or talk about!  I am not worth such love and blessings.  My heart is not where it needs to be - 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 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.

They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6

They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. v51-52

Jesus is unquestionably amazing yet there will be times in our lives when we feel underwhelmed by Jesus (or perhaps other emotions!).  The folks at DesiringGod.com encourage us to see Jesus "properly" to avoid such hardened hearts.  

We cannot expect to fully experience Jesus unless we truly acknowledge Jesus for who He is...and once we do, we begin to give our life away for Him and we begin to grow our faith in Him to do big things IN and THROUGH us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing...ALL the time.  You continue to do amazing things in my life every day - thank You Jesus for how You richly bless me.  I am not worth such blessings.  I daily miss the mark.  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 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 if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.

Mark 6

And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. v11

We as believers hope that everyone will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior - yet we should continue to pursue others with whom we can share the gospel in the hope that they can accept Jesus as their Lord Savior.  We are messengers but Jesus does the saving...

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has blessed me with great friends and family who support me in so many ways...thank You Jesus! Yet I am undeserving of such blessings because I worry and miss the mark daily with so much more sin then I can care to admit or even realize.  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 be humble.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

“A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”

Mark 6

“A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” v4

DesiringGod.com writes that this passage is about pride and how it can blind us from seeing things as they are.  In this case, those in the synagogue in Nazereth hearing Jesus preach were amazed at his teaching abilities (v2), yet could not come to bring themselves to admitting that Jesus was special - in fact, their hardened hearts led them to be offended (v3).  

Pride is defined as a focus on self and achievements/status.  Pride often leads to arrogance, self importance, and a feeling that you can do no wrong - which in turn leads to hardened hearts when it comes to eating crow for the good of relationships that are damaged. I've been there...

We are called to be humble.  When we are we can see what is special in others because we focus not on ourselves. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and has helped me grow less arrogant and prideful - thank You Jesus!  I am deeply grateful.  Yet I am undeserving of such blessings because I worry and miss the mark daily with so much more sin then I can care to admit or even realize.  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 be humble.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live....Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

Mark 5

Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live....Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. v22-23, 33

Today's reading includes the story of two very desperate people who sought Jesus: Jairus, a synagogue leader whose daughter was very ill, and a woman who was dealing with severe health issues for 12 years.  Both sought Jesus out of this desperation, wanted to believe, and out of this desperation and desire to believe found healing with Jesus.

We all want such miracles with Jesus and of course, with Jesus anything is possible.  Yet, we must also understand there is a FAITH component and God hears all of our prayers, but an IMMEDIATE response is not always in the cards.  I prayed all the time for my mom to come to faith and God finally answered prayers - God is great indeed.  In my own life, I've seen how faith and a hunger and thirst for righteousness, produced heart and life change.

It starts with faith as small as a mustard seed.

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has produced miracles in my life, heart and life change, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I worry.  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 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.

Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Mark 5

Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. v19-20

Jesus wants us to tell others about Him - for those of us who are saved - we all have a story of redemption - and it is powerful.  God saved (and is still doing so) me from anger, impatience, arrogance, pride, etc. and I am deeply grateful.  He saved my mom at 81 years old and now she is in Heaven - after living her entire life Jewish.

He also wants others to SEE this transformation in our lives - it's not enough to TALK about it, particularly if our actions don't square with our words.  

See Jesus words on the "lamp on the stand" from Mark 4:21-22. 

We are to be a living sacrifice.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Romans 12:1

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You amaze me and You have transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I worry.  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 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.

If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear. Consider carefully what you hear, he continued.

Mark 4

If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear. Consider carefully what you hear, he continued. v23-24

John Piper writes how the Parable of the Sower is a message on hearing. He writes:


But for now the main point is clear and very urgent: "Take heed how you hear!" To the one who has more will be given. Do you have ears to hear? Do you have a new heart?

I'm going to talk very practically next week on how you prepare yourself to hear like this. But this morning I simply want the weight of it to land on us. Hearing is huge. I believe with all my heart that I am called to preach the Word of God. And many of you are called to teach it in various settings. But this text is about another great calling - the calling to hear the Word of God. And it is no small thing. The stakes are very high. There is a hearing that barely gets started and the Word is gone before you get out the door. There is a hearing that lasts until there is a hard time in life, and then one turns from God to other messages. There is a hearing that flourishes until the riches and pleasures of this life choke it off. And there is a hearing that defeats the devil, endures trial, scorns riches and bears fruit unto eternal life. 

Piper quotes: "[o]pen my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law" (Psalm 199:18).

I desire to help others - namely those in my family - to cultivate ears for hearing and desiring the Word of God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has helped me develop ears to Hear Your Word - thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving of such love and blessing.  I know I have work to do and I daily miss the mark.  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 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. 

Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.

Mark 4

Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown. v20

I desire to bear fruit - to be good soil - and desiringGod.com indicates that with respect to the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8), there is only one good soil where faith takes root, and that for faith to take root - we must be authentic and real in our faith.  For others to see us as real we must bear fruit (see Matthew 7:15-20, see New Testament references here).

While a fruit-bearing faith requires many sources of nutrients, relationships are key - check this out.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died for me; I know that You are always with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love - I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my faith 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 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.

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Mark 3

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” v20

When we submit to Jesus and live for Him, there will be others, perhaps even family and friends, who will question what we are doing, that is why Jesus wants us to make Him our priority - see post from a few days ago.

As we continue in this chapter in Mark, we see how Jesus himself describes family:

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” v34-35

It's most important to do God's will.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God who loves me as You do.  I daily miss the mark.  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 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.

“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Mark 2

“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” v24

As Jesus spends time with sinners and continues with His ministry, the Pharisees continue to question Jesus' authority and His legitimacy - first regarding fasting (v18) then regarding working on the Sabbath (v24).  God does want us to engage with Him daily, and this includes bringing Him our questions and doubts.  Yet the Pharisees are not asking to deepen their understanding of Jesus, they are asking with a sense of righteousness and arrogance - denying Jesus entirely.

We all have doubts and questions regarding God - yet at some point we must come to the conclusion - that Jesus is real, He died for my sins, He loves me, and He desires to save me from the sting of sin and death.

God welcomes our questions and He is willing to wrestle with us...just as Jacob did.  Check this out from DesiringGod - Will You Wrestle With God. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has answered all of my prayers - not with what I have expected but You always hear and respond to my prayers - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I daily miss the mark.  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 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.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” v17

We are told on many occasions throughout the Bible to become more like Jesus.  The directive is to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).  In this way, we become less and Jesus becomes more so that others see Jesus in us.  If we allow Jesus to work in and through us, others will see the power of Him and be drawn to Him just as described in Mark 1:45. Of course this is what Jesus wants...to reconcile His children to God.  Sin has separated us but through the blood of Christ we are restored.

In Mark 2, we see an example of what God wants for us - to go to those who need help.

Jesus - please help me become less so that You can become more.  Help me also be Your hands and feet to that others see Jesus in me.

My Prayer: Jesus, You came for me - broken and sinful - thank You Jesus!   I am not worth such love. I am week and I daily miss the mark.  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 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.

Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Mark 1

Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. v20

 
The Gospel of Mark, see overview here, is an account of who Jesus is and what He did.  Here Jesus called the first disciples and I am reminded that for us to follow Jesus, we must be prepared to put Him first - above all other relationships in our lives, including spouses and children.

Priority of Jesus

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is always with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am lazy, etc. among my many sins.  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 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.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. v19-20

Francis Chan tells us that making disciples is a core component of our relationship with Jesus and that if we want to experience God we have to bring others to God.

Jesus - help me get off my duff to bring others to God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and my life.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet, I am blessed beyond what I deserve - I often fail to do as You expect for me to lead others to You.  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 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.

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Matthew 27

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. v65-66

In v62-64, the chief priests and Pharisees convinced Pilate that he should guard Jesus' tomb in case someone steals the body.  Yet, because they were blinded to the fact that they were indeed dealing with God himself they could not see that they could not prevent God's plan from coming to fruition.  We often try believe we can engineer an outcome in our lives - we do of course have free will but not apart from God's will.  It's a matter of becoming aligned with God's will.

Nothing can stop God's plan
God's will for our lives

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond what I deserve!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such blessings.  I am lustful, unfaithful, and quick to anger.  Please forgive me for such sin 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 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.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Matthew 27

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. v51

Upon Jesus' death on the cross, the "curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom".  This was significant because as John Piper writes: "When Jesus died—when his flesh was torn—God tore (from top to bottom) the curtain separating ordinary people from himself. The death of Jesus opened the way for the world into intimate, holy, personal, forgiven, joyful fellowship with God. No human mediator is needed any longer. Jesus split open the way for direct access to God." 

While we celebrate the meaning of Christmas we cannot help but also appreciate the birth of Christ apart from His crucifixion for that is WHY He came - to save us and give us direct access to God - for all of us ordinary people.

The greatest gift of all time! 

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God who came for me - an ordinary and sinful person...and You suffered and died for me - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such an act of pain and suffering...and grace.  I am lustful, I worry, I am selfish, etc. among my many sin.  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 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. 

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.

Matthew 27

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. v41

I am often allow myself to be hurt by how I perceive others think of me.  I can't imagine  experiencing anything close to Jesus' crucifixion.  Of course the beating and hanging on the cross would hurt, but the sting of others' scorn would hurt as well.  If I were Jesus, I would be tempted to scream out - "don't you know who I am?"  I would want to demonstrate how wrong were the chief priests.  

Yet I am told to not be "ruled" or trust others over God. 

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - Jesus - I cannot imagine the pain You experienced on the cross for me...thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act of pain and suffering...and grace.  I worry, I am selfish, etc. among my many sin.  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 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. 

Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26

Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. v74-75

Jesus told Peter during the last supper (Matthew 26:34) that Peter would disown Him three times before the rooster crowed and indeed this comes to pass as "no word from God will ever fail" (Luke 1:37).  Yet Jesus restores Peter completely and He does for this all of His children - we don't deserve it but Jesus is full of grace and provides forgiveness and reconciliation back to God.

The greatest gift of all time.  Jesus is the reason for the season...

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is so full of grace for me...even though I am completely undeserving.  Thank You Jesus!  I am unworthy...I worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn 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 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.

"But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Matthew 26

"But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. vm56

As a follow up to my post a couple of days ago, we now see not just Judas betraying Jesus but all of the other disciples as well.  Once again we see how even those closest to Jesus fall prey to the demons of this world, likely fear of authorities.  I wonder how I might falter if confronted with the threat of physical harm as the disciples and many others face.

While we may fear physical harm, we should have a greater fear - separation from God.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

My Prayer: What an awesome God who has saved me and sealed me for eternity - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry. 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 heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please 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.