He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:31-35

He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-35

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 3:31-35, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God seeks to create a family of believers whose bond is stronger than that of bloodlines.  Our love of God is more important than our love of others, including family.  Describing to the apostles the coming persecution they will face, Jesus shares how we can count on Him but be aware that even family will let you down and may indeed also be part of this coming persecution (Matthew 10:21). Bonds between those who share a love of Jesus and seek to do the will of God are stronger than than any other including with family.  God seeks for us to surround ourselves with other believers that can encourage, pray, and support one another in their journey with Christ, particularly during times of hardship and persecution.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People will let us down.  It's not that we can't love them and form relationships with them, it's just that we should be aware that all sin, even in the church. First and foremost we should trust in Him.  We should be aware and remain humble that even in the church we are all broken and sinful and this should drive us into the arms of Jesus seeking to know and love Him more.    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey)?: Family is important, but we should place Christ first, above all, including in marriages. We can also claim the promise that Jesus unlike any other, including family, Jesus will always be faithful and never let us down or disappoint us in any way and He will never leave or forsake us.  We should be mindful of the corollary which is that we should avoid placing our trust in family or others  above Christ.   

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion, pouring out mercies ceaselessly and every morning. I know You will never leave or forsake me and You have saved me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  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 accept 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. 

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice....Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice....Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:8,12

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at the root of sexual sin - and all sin for that matter - based on David's words from Psalm 51.  John Piper uses this Psalm to illustrate how David sought God versus "protected eyes and sex-free thoughts" the latter of which Piper rightly believes address only the symptoms of his sins of adultery, rape, murder, and malice towards God (see also post from two days ago).  Piper shares: "[p]eople give way to sexual sin because they don’t have fullness of joy and gladness in Christ. Their spirits are not steadfast and firm and established. They waver. They are enticed, and they give way because God does not have the supreme place in their feelings and thoughts that he should." Experiencing fullness of joy in God is what produces sanctification and freedom from sin - all believers should seek "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You give me great joy in even the darkest and difficult circumstances - thank You Jesus for giving me life to the full!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  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 Lia 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 my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.... And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Philippians 4 and 2 Corinthians 9

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.... And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8

Worry over Zach and Dustin often consumes me...over what I will not go into the details.  Yet I know that I should not worry - worry is a sin. Jesus tells us not to worry in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34). Matthew 6:33, stands out this morning as a key verse from Jesus' words on worry from the Sermon on the Mount:

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

I have often said to myself that God is in control and my first priority should be to seek God and grow closer to Him.  This verse this morning, plus John Piper's post from DesiringGod.com on motherhood helps me grow in appreciation the role that Lisa and mothers play - greatly encouraged indeed this am.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me and You DO provide for all of my needs and I needn't worry.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I do worry - please forgive me Father 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.