He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.

Mark 6:7-13

He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. Mark 6:8-9

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 6:7-13. Excerpts from the commentary's for the second (of four) division (vv8-9): 

• The title for the first division is "Go Mean and Lean with Nothing Nonessential."
• "To be effective in God’s work, we must do what we do unencumbered, with no excess baggage that could impede our mission. Further, we must go in radical faith and dependence on our God." 
•  "The four items required of the Twelve are identical to what God told the Hebrews to take on their flight from Egypt (Exodus 12:11)." 
• The commentary details the parallels between the Old Testament exodus and how Jesus sends out The Twelve under the authority of the new and greater Moses (see also Hebrews 3:1-6).  
• Dependence on Jesus for all things is emphasized, particularly in the mission field.

For believers, God calls upon us constantly and fear and anxiety often accompany such calls - to step into the unknown.  God called Moses in Exodus 3 to rescue Israel from bondage.  This triggered much fear and anxiety in Moses, and God quelled this fear and anxiety, speaking to Moses and revealing His plan for this effort in Exodus 3:15-22, and sharing how Aaron will be his helper in this mission in Exodus 4:1-17.  God gives all believers a role in the Great Commission and we should lean on Him in prayer, etc. to equip us and to give us courage to step out into these roles. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion - You saved me while still sinning and an enemy and hostile to You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for how You save, equip, provide, and lead in the roles You design for me.  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 he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Mark 6:7-13

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. Mark 6:7

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 6:7-13, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers four divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's introduction to the entirety of the text (vv7-13) and for the first (of four) division (v7): 

• The commentary's main idea for the vv7-13 is "[e]ven in the face of rejection or death, our mission is to preach the gospel and advance the kingdom."
• The title for the first division is "Go with Jesus’ Authority and as a Team"
• Upon rejection (see vv1-6), [Jesus] may be disappointed (as all of us will be from time to time), but He is not deterred from fulfilling the will of His Father." So He continues with His mission to share the Gospel.  
• "After discipling and mentoring the Twelve for an extended period, it is now time for them to get their feet wet, to move to the next level. Though all aspects of their training and instruction do not apply to us, we would be wise to consider some significant principles in our particular assignment as we join hands with Jesus to 'advance the kingdom.'"  
• This first division includes two principles we should apply as we consider mission work.  The first is that we should go as a team for both safety and mutual support.  The commentary then refers us to Old Testament text where it describes how the law (see Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1) required two witnesses to verify a matter. 
• The second principle is how we are sent by God on His behalf and He equips us with authority and power. See also 2 Corinthians 5:20a.

2 Corinthians 5:20a is key in multiple respects, including how we should be mindful of our role as Christ's ambassadors and how our words and actions may reflect poorly not just on us but by extension on Christ. This is a heavy responsibility that believers should take very seriously and it should drive us into the arms of Christ in prayer and to deepen our relationship in Him through study of His Word, etc.  As God works in our hearts and life (renewing our mind - see Romans 12:2), we become more like Him and of course we are utterly dependent on Him (as we go out we are instructed to go "lean" as reminder that it is Him that equips and provides - see also v8).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that saves, provides, equips, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and bless.  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 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. 

Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do....“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Galatians 1-2 and Romans 10:14-17

Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do....“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Galatians 2:10 and Romans 10:15

This morning, I continued with John Piper's book Holy Ambition.  My focus today is on chapter nine Gospel to the Nations, Generosity to the Poor, pages 134-144.  Here, Piper largely leans on Galatians 1-2 and Romans 10:14-17 to illustrate how God calls us to reach the unreached and the poor which for most of the world is the same according to Piper.  Piper starts by looking at Galatians 1 where Paul urges the Galatians not to abandon their faith by following false teaching. We must believe in grace alone, and faith in Christ alone - nothing else. Piper describes how Paul met with the apostles in Jerusalem and demonstrated his faith by "not yield[ing] in submission even for a moment" (Galatians 2:5) to false teaching, and how this led the apostles to agree on how Peter would continue to preach to the Jews and Paul would preach to the (unreached) Gentiles.  Regardless of two approaches - there was unity in the overall mission (Galatians 2:9) - to seek and save the lost.  Piper writes how Galatians 2:6-9 describe what how the founding apostles and Paul protect against one of the churches earliest threats.  Piper then wants us to see how all of the apostles and Paul sought also to unify around a key aspect of missions to reach the unreached and the poor - which, again, Piper sees as often one and the same. He describes the 10/40 window, and how this area is home to some of the largest unreached people groups in the world.  We encouraged to see how God is calling us to serve this vast group of the unreached poor.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have blessed me beyond what I deserve and helped through great difficulties...You have never left or forsaken me and I continue to see Your hand in my life and in all things.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me and protect me.  My sin continues...harsh words for others, worry, etc.  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.

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:14-16

This afternoon, I continued with John Piper's book Holy Ambition.  My focus today is on chapter three  The Voice of the Sovereign Shepherd - pages 54-67. Here, Piper primarily uses John to state that there are other sheep (implying unreached people of the earth) that are "are not of this fold" (John 10:16). He briefly describes the doctrine of election, and how God has already chosen a select from the unreached people of the earth to be His, to hear his voice (John 10:3-4), and He knows them and they will follow Him (John 10:27). Piper encourages us to see how God does all of this but NOT without us as believers some of whom He calls to enter the mission field.  Piper closes the chapter to write: "[d]on't waste your life.  Open your mouth, and become and voice of the sovereign Shepherd.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and I am grateful that there are those who have opened their mouth and served as a voice of the sovereign Shepherd - that I would be saved.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...including 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.

You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish.

You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. Luke 21:16-18

This morning, I continued with John Piper's book Holy Ambition.  My focus today is on chapter two Doing Missions When Dying is Gain - pages 37-53.  Here, Piper looks at how suffering in the missions field brings about fruit, for those to whom the gospel is preached and for those who do the preaching working as missionaries. He states that "[t]he price of God's global mission is suffering, and the volatility in the world today against the church is not decreasing." We are encouraged, particularly Americans, to move away from comfort and stress-free living to "take up His cross and follow [Jesus]" (Matthew 16:24).  Piper goes on to write how "suffering is not just the price of missions but also the means."  He unpacks Colossians 1:24 as the scriptural basis for this view. People all over the world need to see the personal sacrifice of missionaries as a demonstration and presentation of Christ's sufferings on the cross. We are encouraged to lean on God's promises that God is so much bigger than the harm that may befall us in the service of Christ. 

• Hebrews 13:5-6
• Romans 8:35-39 
• Luke 21:16-18 
  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and You bless me with all of Your promises that always come true - Your Word does not fail!  Thank You Jesus!  I can rest in Your Word and with Your promises. Yet I am undeserving of Your faithfulness...because my sin continues...and I know You hate sin.  Please forgive me for worry, etc.  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 I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

1 Corinthians 9, 2 Corinthians 11, and Romans 7

 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 2 Corinthians 11:30-31

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I finish both the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*" and the study itself as Paul is the last chapter of the study.

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day five focuses on Paul an unlikely hero, as a deeply sinful person whom God transformed into deeply faithful servant of Jesus that was relentless in his missionary journeys to share both his testimony and the Gospel.  He did not seek fame or glory, was often beaten and thrown in jail.  He was always on the road, serving and preaching the Word. We are encouraged where ever we are in our own service to the church to keep going - to allow God to work through us.  We are also encouraged to support and serve others in their missionary journey - believing that God sees something in all of us that we don't see - a heart to serve Jesus.  This is the element of heroism that Lucado describes - a heroism that relies on Jesus not on the individual abilities of any one person or group of people.  It is how people allow Jesus to work in their lives, to allow Jesus to be the hero of their story.  We must remember that we exist to glorify God.

Discuss and comment on this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and have seen Your heroics in many lives as You use ordinary people for extraordinary service.  It is only through You that we are able to see the heart and life change You make. Thank You Jesus for what You have done in my life - to save me and to use me and to build me up in the process.  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I am lazy, worry, and I have other 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 Your 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 met today and every day.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

Proverbs 3

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. v27

Needs can be visible and less visible (although rarely invisible).  Whether it is a physical or emotional need, there are needs all around us and it is important to be both aware and attentive to the needs around us.  In our family, in our neighborhood, at work, at church, etc. we must see everyone as God sees them as worthy of a savior as we are.  

The good referred to in today's verse can be encouragement, fellowship, or it can be kindness in any number of ways - physical needs, etc.

See also posts from:
1 John 3
Jude 1

In particular, this morning the following verse pricks my heart:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who came not to be served but to serve.  You serve me every day and You suffered and died for me....and You continue to pour out Your love, compassion, patience, mercy, etc. for me even though I am totally undeserving.  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for my worry and my stress.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.