Worship for the Weekday
The Angels Ministered to Him
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Mark 1:9-13
9. In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; 11. and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased." 12. The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.
Luke 4:9-13
9. And he [Satan] took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; 10. for it is written, `He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,' 11. and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" 12. And Jesus answered him, "It is said, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" 13. And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Satan knew that the angels ministered to Jesus while he was in the desert. I interpreted that phrase to mean that they waited at the ready, in case Jesus needed them. Of course, we know he didn’t! But I can’t help but ponder this whole concept—the dichotomy between the human and the divine. That, I guess, is the mystery! The angels surely knew that Jesus wouldn’t “need” them! They certainly believed that as part of the Triune God, he could handle himself against Satan. And yet, they stood at the ready. They “ministered to him.”
Was Jesus better able to resist Satan’s promises and chides because he knew the angels were his “backup plan?” No, I believe that He did not need them, or anyone or anything else to arm him against the prince of evil! In fact, he demonstrated for us all that if we rely upon “the Word” we will be adequately armed against temptation. If we pray, and seek out God, he will enlighten and empower us to withstand anything life throws at us. We will be able to seek and rejoice in the promise for a future in heaven versus settling for gratification here on earth. So I think Jesus just accepted that the angels accompanied him as they had before eternity even began.
We were made to seek out and desire heaven. We are never satisfied with this life, on this earth, in this body. God made us to want more; to need more; to seek more. And Satan knows that! After all he was once in heaven and part of the divine conversation about creation! He has some inside information that he uses against us for his own purposes! Even though he knows he’ll never beat out God, he can’t help trying! He is so full of himself, so vain, so conceited, so ruined by the power once granted him by God, that he cannot stand to see any of us willing to wait. . . willing to look to heaven wistfully . . . willing to feast upon God’s grace.
Perhaps the angels ministered to Jesus because he was so precious to them! He didn’t “need” them. But they needed him! And they were not willing to take the slightest chance that Satan might win out. Even though they knew it wasn’t possible! Just in case . . . After all, the salvation of all mankind was in the hands and heart and mind of this God/man! History was about to change! Life was about to get at once easier and simultaneously 100 times more difficult! The earth was groaning in anticipation . . .
And the angels waited. And watched.
I hope you spend today going to God with every question, seeking the wisdom of the Holy Spirit for every answer, and imitating Christ in the face of every temptation and trial.
Mary
The Fulfillment of the Law
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Matthew 5:17-20
17. "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
This Advent season, we’re studying secular vs. spiritual preparation for Christmas. It has been quite thought-provoking and challenges one to examine life from a bit different perspective: the birth of Christ without the perspective of the Cross!
At first, it seemed near impossible to imagine! It may seem odd, then that I would focus on a New Testament scripture reading this morning. But in these verses, Jesus tells us that we must go deeper than we have before—certainly deeper than the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Jesus wants us to examine, discover, and then live by, a new understanding of the law. After all, it is God’s law and not man’s!
Jesus refers to our “Old Testament” in verses 17 & 18. He tells us that the old ways are not bad; the old interpretations are not wrong. Where the problem lies is in making adherence to these laws our sole purpose for being. Measuring our lives by man-made interpretations falls short of the full intent of God ever reaching down from heaven and inspiring the prophets to share His word. Determining our worthiness and deservedness by how strictly we follow the rituals and customs established by man, falls short of the real point of the laws in the first place!
God sent his word to various men and women throughout the ages. They shared the divinely inspired message with us, in obedience and faith. Somewhere along the line we distorted the message and tried to shape and reshape it into something manageable and measurable by earthly means. But God cannot be contained within the pages of a book! His message cannot be fully captured in words alone! Grace cannot be confined! Faith cannot be defined!
God cannot be limited! That’s what Christ was saying. Don’t think so small! Don’t make God so human. Adherence to the law becomes secondary to accepting the reason the law was established in the first place! Faith gives us the innate desire to follow the law—because love, kindness, gentleness, peace, all become the natural outpourings of inviting God into our hearts and into our lives.
Even without the cross, we should have faith enough to make “the law” unnecessary! God alone should have been enough for us to “get it!” But in His wisdom and His mercy, He offered us more—He gave us all—everything! He sacrificed Himself so that once and for all, for eternity and beyond, we would have a way to be saved in spite of ourselves.
This holiday season I hope you’ll thank God for the faith of the prophets, for the wisdom of His plans, and for His Son—born to a young girl 2000 years ago.
Mary
Faithfulness to all Generations
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PSALM 100
1. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands! 2. Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3. Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! 5. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Well, this morning I am doing something I have not done in many years: going shopping! I have deliberately avoided this day of conspicuous consumption in years past in protest. This year, I have a college-age daughter who is broke and needs to buy gifts for friends—and wants to take advantage of the sales! Yes, I’m a nice mom! I’m going to keep her company! And we are NOT going to any of the malls! (That’s my compromise!)
We spent Thanksgiving day yesterday at our church preparing, serving and eating food prepared for our CARITAS guests. (This year we housed 23 homeless women—we have traditionally requested CARITAS for Thanksgiving week at our church) What a wonderful day of fellowship, not only with the CARITAS guests, who were so appreciative, but also with other members of our congregation! Some came early in the morning to put the turkeys in the oven. Some showed up a bit later to make a last minute run to the grocery store. Some stopped by to do the prep work and set the tables. Some came later to clean up and do dishes. Some came early and stayed late!
What does Psalm 100 have to do with all this? I found myself praising God all day long yesterday. Praising him that I have a family who loves and cares for me – and would never allow me to end up homeless and alone; praising him that I am part of a faith community that intentionally reaches out to others on a day traditionally spent with family and friends; praising him that his love extends to everyone—and through us, we could share his love.
I am so thankful for my church family! I am blessed to be a part of such an amazing, generous, loving, giving, and caring group of Christians! They continually not only raise the bar for me of how a Christian is to act and to live, they also love and support me when I can’t live up to that high standard!
As you are working today, or out shopping, or fixing turkey soup, or putting up Christmas decorations, please keep this in mind: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
I hope you spend this upcoming holiday season, sharing with the next generation how good is our God, how steadfast, how loving and how faithful he is to all generations – in the past and for those to come.
Mary
Sweet Victory of Salvation
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Romans 5:6-11
6. While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man -- though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. 8. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. 9. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.
God didn’t wait until we achieved perfection! He didn’t make us wait and struggle and labor and strive day after day for a goal we could never reach on our own! That’s love! Well, actually, that’s grace!
While we were still weak—my NIV translation says, “While we were still powerless. . .” At the right time=God’s divinely chosen moment in history. We are that important to God—that he planned a moment in history that would redeem us for all time! And He planned it at the beginning of the world, before he ever formed man out of dust or placed the sun in the morning sky! That kind of love and care is inconceivable, incomprehensible, and most certainly undeserved and unmerited!
We didn’t even need to do anything! God just decided that it was time. He wanted us with him. He longed for us to seek him out. So he sent himself/his son to earth. And through the act of Christ’s perfect obedience and unimaginable/incomprehensible sacrifice we are all saved! I know, I’ve said it several times, in several ways, already! But as we approach Thanksgiving, I am reminded of what we, as Christians, are the most thankful for: God’s grace.
We are now reconciled to God. We are washed clean of our sin and our shame through His precious blood. God sent his son to earth to die for us. And he rose for us, too! We are thankful not only for the resurrection—but also for the obedience, the willingness to become a sacrifice for us—to allow us to be justified and washed clean.
So how do we show our gratitude for this gift—available to all and unearned and undeserved by all? I know I could never do what one knows should be done, because perfection is not possible for us. But through Jesus, we are perfected. So we strive for that perfection. We live the best life we can. We work hard to make the world a better place. We show our love to our family and our friends, to our neighbors and even to strangers on the street. We draw near to God and invite Him into our hearts.
We go to God for everything. We rely upon Him and His grace to sustain us through the difficult times. And through them we rejoice, because we already know how much God loves us. And when we enjoy plenty and times of celebration and joy, it is so much sweeter, because of that same love!
I hope today you reflect with gratitude upon the gift of Jesus and all the implications of his life and death in this fallen, sin-soaked world. And that you share the sweet victory of salvation through God’s grace with everyone you meet.
Mary
Called, Justified, Predestined
Romans 8:28-40
28. We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. 29. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. 30. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? 32. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? 33. Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies; 34. who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is somewhat on the same theme of yesterday’s devotion. But this scripture goes a little deeper, I think. And it’s a little more “personal.” We know that God loves us. So it would follow that only good things would be planned for us. And even though I may be going through a difficult time or a struggle of some kind, what I learn as I go through the experience will make me stronger, surer, better, when I “get to the other side.” I truly believe that. I would not want to relive some of the difficult times I’ve had, but I would do it in a minute if God revealed to me that that is the only way I could have become the person I am today!
God’s love and approval is the only love and approval we need. Family is a blessing (usually!). Friends are wonderful. Children, spouses, neighbors, co-workers. . . . all of them are important and significant in our lives. But if we were stranded on an island, hundreds of miles away from the nearest human being with no chance of being rescued, we would only have God!
And God truly is all we “need.” Everything else is extra! Everything else is icing on the cake! Everything else is free—just like God’s grace! Wow! I don’t need to be afraid that I might lose everything I have. I don’t need to worry that everyone I know might be gone tomorrow. I don’t need to wonder how I’ll survive and who will love me and care for me. I already know that! No, I don’t want any of those things to happen! I don’t like the Iraq situation, I didn’t want 9/11 to happen, I don’t like thinking about women and children being butchered are starving to death and dying of AIDS. I don’t like a lot of what is sad and wrong and awful in this world.
And I have a responsibility to do anything and everything within my power to make the world a better place. But I also know that that is all I can do. The rest is up to God. More prayer and fewer meetings with international power brokers would be a refreshing change in policy! More time spent prostrate in our rooms and less time plotting and scheming on how to get a head in the world would be something wonderful to experience! What a world we have if we spent more time praying and less time worrying, fighting, wheeling and dealing, killing and hating!
Jesus died so that we could live once and for all in purity, peace and grace. But he was not wimp. He came wielding the sword of righteousness. He turned the world on its ear. He devoured common sense and threw it back in the faces of the doubters and the haters! He just defies all common sense! Like praying does. Jesus prayed—a lot. And we need to model that behavior just like we love, serve, etc., for others. Just pray! Try it and see if you don’t notice a difference in your little part of the world—and in yourself.
I hope you spend time today on bended knee, thanking God for his son, who defeated sin for us and who is so wonderful that words cannot describe him.
Mary
He Will Do It
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16. Rejoice always, 17. pray constantly, 18. give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19. Do not quench the Spirit, 20. do not despise prophesying, 21. but test everything; hold fast what is good, 22. abstain from every form of evil. 23. May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24. He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
The world today is so much more dangerous than it was 20 years ago! Have you heard that? Do you believe it? I’m not sure if I do or not. I do know that with the 24-hour news cycle we hear immediately when any threat to our safety—as individuals, as a country, a continent, world or planet—is broadcast in hundreds of languages. And there does seem to be greater sense of urgency and concern about the world situation now than when I was a teenager (somewhat more than 20 years ago!)
But I wonder if the old adage “ignorance is bliss” isn’t really what comes into play here?! When I’m traveling overnight, I listen to cd’s or tapes in the car, watch only local news on the tv and usually take advantage of the quiet “alone” time to read, reflect, pray, write overdue notes to friends. I don’t stay tuned in to the latest “crisis.” And as soon as I get home I’m brought up to speed by my family on everything I missed!
But I think if we spent more time reflecting upon verses 16-22, we would be less worried, less fearful, less certain of impending end of the world as we know it! Through prayer and reflection upon how very blessed we are—as individuals, as a country, as a world—we are able to rejoice always. When we think of a God who loves us—though we do not deserve it, it’s less difficult to give thanks—even in a difficult situation.
Jesus came to tell us that God sanctifies us through the unspeakable sacrifice of his son. He became man so that we could see how it looks to walk blameless and faithfully upon this earth. If we rely on God’s strength, God’s mercy, God’s love, we will indeed find peace within ourselves and on the earth. We will be sanctified through the purity of the sin offering hung on a cross for us. We must test everything though, and pray to ensure that what we hear is God’s message—not Satan using tools of technology!
God calls us to be faithful. When we respond in obedience, when we turn over “the world” and everything going on in it to Him and to His will, our spirit and our soul is kept sound and blameless. Pray constantly. Test everything. Trust God. Give thanks.
I hope you spend today rejoicing that the will of God gave you life and breath and a heart and a soul to serve him. And that you are sanctified through and through as you go into the world today.
Mary
God Has Visited His People
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Luke 7:11-16
11. Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14. And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15. And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"
Luke 8:40-48
40. Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house, 42. for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. 43. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one, 44. came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. 45. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" 46. But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me." 47. And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
So often we read of “a great crowd” surrounding Jesus as he traveled through the countryside, from town to town, and even when he tried to go off alone to pray. The people were starving for salvation! The times were ripe for a savior. History was ready to culminate in the resurrection of a Messiah. And Jesus did not disappoint! Even before his death and resurrection, he amazed, awed and “scared people straight” with his words, and especially with his miracles!
What strikes me about these two passages, though, is the gentle kindness of Jesus. It’s almost a dichotomy—great power and strength to perform a healing, and even to restore life—deployed out of mercy and love. God among us. No, not “A great prophet [who] has arisen among us!” Rather the prophetic fulfillment of 2000 years of history, of waiting, longing, struggling and wondering. Can you imagine! Jesus in the midst of a pressing crowd of human beings! Can you imagine the honor and privilege of touching the fringe of his garment? So much love and power emanated from him, that touching a mere hanging thread of his worn and fraying tunic is all that was required for healing!
The fear that is spoken of here, what causes trembling, is not fear of the inflicting of pain, or of retribution. No, it’s fear/awe/reverence at being in the presence of this man/God! It’s realizing that scripture is being fulfilled in front of your very eyes! It’s wrapping your head around the possibility of the covenant not just being reinstated and fulfilled, but the hope and rejoicing at the greater covenant about to be forged! Our Jesus. Our Savior.
This is the kind of God to whom we can take all our pain, all our doubt, all our fear—and especially all our sin and human frailty. Because he was among us. He walked with us. He laughed with us at wedding parties. He mourned with us at the loss of a loved one. He suffered with us through our infirmities. And he healed us. More than that—he saved us!
My prayer is that you spend today rejoicing in the miracle of Jesus risen, and that you are seized with fear/awe/reverence when you realize "God has visited his people!"
Mary
He Who Is To Come
Matthew 11:1-6
1. And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3. and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 4. And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5. the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."
My NIV translation of verse 6 reads: “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” Can you imagine John sending someone to ask Jesus that question? Are you the one? Doesn’t it almost seem absurd? What if he wasn’t? Is he going to say, “Nope, it’s not me, keep looking?”! So what is really going on here? I think John was pretty sure that Jesus was “it.” He just needed to hear the answer in order to discern if this really was the Christ. And his answer was everything. Everything hinged on Jesus’ response.
Jesus knew that, and responded to John’s disciples exactly as John needed to hear. He needed to know that scripture was being fulfilled—maybe he needed assurance for himself—that he was not suffering in vain—that his vision of what his life purpose was to be was accurate. He needed to know that he had heard God correctly. And his cousin, Jesus, knew that! And he told him all the ways that he had fulfilled scripture up to this point – starting with “lesser miracles” and then proceeding to raising the dead. Then his final statement is the clincher. “I’m the ‘real deal’ John. You can believe it! I’m the one you’ve longed for, prepared for, and preached about.”
Well done good and faithful servant. Keep up the good work! Jesus had just sent out the apostles to preach the good news. Everybody must have spent a lot of time trying to figure out if these guys were also the ‘real deal’ or just a bunch of prophets, magicians, or crazy people, of which there were many in that day and time.
History was ripe for the Messiah. All the signs in the stars and on the earth had reached a culmination—the earth had waited, breathless, for Jesus to come. Man roamed the earth, nearly hopeless, nearly spent. The last thread of hope was hanging in the balance of Jesus’ answer. And I think his answer was not just for John. It was for all of us. Trust in me.
I don’t need to know that Jesus raised the dead. I don’t need a miracle that amazes. I’ve experienced a few in my life. I’ve lived them through others and experienced the birth and lives of two children—and a husband who has stuck by me for almost 30 years. Those gifts are almost as precious to me and is God’s grace.
Would I still believe had I not had a strong marriage and two great kids? Probably. Would I have as deep a faith had I not been told of miraculous healings and other signs and wonders done through and because of God’s healing power and might acting in our lives on earth? I don’t know. All I know is that I am satisfied within my soul that Jesus is the perfect incarnation of my creator. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is, as he told Moses, “I AM.”
And most days, that’s enough. But some days, I do find myself asking, as John did, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
I hope you spend today in the assurance and blessing of being bathed in God’s grace. And that you spread the good news that “Jesus is he who came” to earth to demonstrate it!
Mary
Not by Bread Alone
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Matthew 4:1-11
1. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. 3. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4. But he answered, "It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 5. Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6. and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, `He will give his angels charge of you,' and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" 7. Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" 8. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; 9. and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10. Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! for it is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" 11. Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.
Satan was not happy that Jesus was preparing to begin his earthly ministry. He knew that he was no match for God himself. But he sure tried mightily to engage Jesus—one last ditch effort before it all came to pass!
And that’s how it works in our lives, too! Satan doesn’t like it when we make a spiritual breakthrough or overcome an obstacle in our faith lives! He can’t stand it when we boldly call upon God’s power to keep us on the right path, to empower us to do what is right, and to embolden us to step out in faith! He just can’t handle it! Because God is the one being that has never been vulnerable to His workings or been unaware of his schemes. And when we call upon God’s power and wisdom, Satan knows he doesn’t have a chance.
I’ve never gone 40 hours without a meal (unless I was deathly ill) let alone 40 days! Jesus must have been famished. But those who practice fasting as a discipline, tell me that you reach a certain “state of being” that transcends any human experience. When your body if physically empty, really completely empty and food consumption is no longer an issue, you reach a state of euphoria—because you are relying upon “the bread of life.” You reach a state of intimacy with God that is not possible when your stomach is full and you’re thinking about what you’ll fix for dinner, or what fast food drive-thru you’ll visit for lunch.
But Jesus had no power more in his human form than do we. He was divine, certainly, but to call upon his divinity at any of these points would have diminished his message. Actually it would have rendered it pointless! What a burden! What a responsibility! Not only did he choose to give up heaven, he condescended to become like you and me. I don’t think his divinity made it easier to resist temptation—I think it made it 100 times more difficult! If I had the ability to call down the powers of heaven, I think I would! Wouldn’t you?!
So what’s the application for us? We can rely only upon God. We can depend completely and absolutely on his care and love for us. He will never betray us, lie to us, ignore us, gossip about us, or leave us hanging when we need him the most. It’s hard to trust that sometimes when you’ve been battered and bruised by living in the world with other flawed, imperfect creatures.
But we’re all made in his image and likeness—Jesus-like reliance upon only the Word of God is our goal. We only get there by taking baby steps, then long strides, until one day, when we get to heaven, we’ll be floating on air toward the throne of God!
I hope you spend today relying upon the bread of life, the son of man, the perfect example of how to live. And that you’ll praise the God who set in all in place.
Mary
The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand
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Matthew 10:5-20
5. These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6. but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7. And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. 9. Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, 10. no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. 11. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. 12. As you enter the house, salute it. 13. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14. And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. that hour; 20. for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
This is a familiar scripture passage to many. This passage marks the beginning of the ministry of the twelve apostles! Jesus gave them very specific instructions, but they are also instructions that apply to us today. He told the twelve to go first to their “own people.” He wanted the Jews to be the first to hear the good news. Then after all of them had heard, they could and should branch out to others. Jesus empowered them to use miracles, signs and wonders so that all who heard their message might believe.
He was very specific, too, about how they were to accomplish this! Take no gold, no bag for your journey, nothing but what you have on right now. He wanted them to rely upon only the word of God. He expected them to be completely dependent upon Him. But more than that, he wanted the fact that the apostles were completely dependent upon “the kindness of others” to be a message to those who the apostles met. Rely only upon the Word of God. That is all you need to live. Don’t take your “American Express.” Don’t pack an extra jacket in case it gets chilly at night. Don’t take extra snacks with you so you don’t need to visit the vending machine after you’ve already settled into your motel room for the night! (These are hard for me, because I travel often for my job, and I’ve become quite good and economizing on snacks and packing for all weather conditions!)
Of course all this is figurative as well as literal! Our dependence is not be upon things of this world. We are to depend only upon God and the Good News of the Risen Christ! Not easy! No matter how strong and how deep is our faith, the world tries mightily to convince us we “need” as much as we can possibly consume, buy, go into debt for! And the world tries to turn us away from Christ himself. We must continually go back to the Word to be renewed and revitalized. We need to remember whose we are, and what our mission is.
How amazing that “the Spirit of your Father” spoke through these apostles before the resurrection! God’s power is so great! His love and mercy will sustain us through anything and everything. After all, we received the gift of the Son of God without earning it. We received God’s grace when we had exhausted and depleted any human amount of forgiveness and compassion!
Rely on God. That is all we need. Nurture your faith. Preach the Good News. If man rejects you, move on. Next. Next. How many souls have you brought to Christ? That’s the scale by which we are weighed. That’s the standard we are to measure ourselves against. Did I live my life like an apostle? Did I spread the good news to everyone I met by how I live my life? Do I strive to be the kind of person Christ exemplified? If the answer is yes, then you’re in good shape! Keep up the good work. But if you’re like the rest of us—Go to God and ask Him to help you accomplish his work on earth so that you can rejoice with Him in heaven at the end of time.
I hope you spend today shaking the dust of this world off your feet, taking with you no gold, no bag, no extra tunic, and announcing to all that “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mary
His Glory Fills the Earth
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Psalm 72:18-19
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth! Amen and Amen!
Romans 11:33-36
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.
Mark 4:26-29
26. And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, 27. and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28. The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."
Do these three scripture “go together?” I started out discovering Mark 4:26-29, and learned from my bible notes that this parable is only in Mark—none of the other gospels. I had saved the Romans and Psalm 72 subscription receipts from previous days, not sure why, but I guess it was to use for today!
I really liked this parable in Mark. For some reason, I was comforted by it. It relates how Jesus’ message started out only being announced in a few places—pretty insignificant beginnings. But throughout the past 2000+ years, it has spread and been broadcast far and wide! That’s the explanation in my bible notes. I was comforted by these verses, because they reminded me that everything has a time and place in God’s world. We don’t need to understand why the seed grows – it’s not possible to explain it. We know how—but not why—it's a miracle. We go on about our lives, and the seed grows into a sprout, then is fully mature, then is harvested. I guess Ecclesiastes came to mind – to everything there is a season.
The other two scripture excerpts expound upon Mark! God is so glorious, his mysteries so deep, his love so great, that he put everything in place for us to live! He has provided for us all we need, and all we must do is take advantage of his provisions. That gives me great comfort today. He gives us the foundation, and we build upon it. He provides the seed and the why—we provide the harvest and the how.
I hope this doesn’t sound too far-fetched! But it all flows together for me. There is a certain order in the world this morning. A certainty of God’s design. Wars are being raged. Sickness is inevitable. Sin is part of the human condition. But God created it all. He empowers us to end wars. He has given us knowledge to cure so many diseases. And he has already forgiven us even before we commit a sin—through the gift of his beloved and perfect son.
I can’t help but feel that no matter what happens today, God is in heaven and is working out his salvation in me.
I hope you find comfort in the how of God’s plan, and can marvel at the why. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth! Amen and Amen!
Mary
Sin, Faith, Duty
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Luke 17:1-10
1. And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! 2. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3. Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; 4. and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says, `I repent,' you must forgive him." 5. The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6. And the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, `Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7. "Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down at table'? 8. Will he not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink'? 9. Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10. So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"
Jesus warned the disciples that sin was inevitable—as are the temptations that lead us into sin. I don’t know about you, but based on Jesus’ comments in verse 2, I wouldn’t want to be the one who influenced another to sin! I have enough trouble keeping myself out of trouble without dragging others along with me!
Quite a high standard is set for how Christians are to behave toward each other. I’m taking Stephen Ministry training and Verse 3 sounds a lot like “Speaking the Truth in Love.” That means that if one of us sins, we are to call each other on it—we don’t need to criticize and belittle each other, but firmly and gently keep each other on notice that we'll act, if we see each other heading down a path that could lead to sin. It’s very tough to do! Especially because everyone doesn’t have the same background, or the same “intestinal fortitude” to withstand the possible repercussions of confronting someone!
But Jesus makes it clear that it our responsibility to do so. We also are to forgive, though. And it doesn’t matter how many times we’ve observed our brother or sister acting the same way—we are to continue to forgive and keep on forgiving as long as is necessary until they figure it all out. That doesn’t mean we enable them! It doesn’t mean we have to get pulled down into whatever pit they may be going. It doesn’t mean we give them the impression that it’s okay, because forgiveness is always available at the end. Sometimes the only way to appropriately deal that situation is to lovingly withdraw and continue to pray. But always be clear about our willingness to forgive and reconcile.
That sounds so hard. And it is! The apostles admit to Jesus that their faith is not strong enough—to either rebuke or forgive so consistently! Faith as small as a mustard seed—I think that means that if we trust in Christ, faith will be enough. Rely on His strength, power and might, and we’ll be able to do what we need to do—in every situation!
Again, I come back to how difficult it is! But again, Jesus says that we are to view these instructions as if we were the unworthy servants—and we are indeed! It is our duty to act as Jesus commanded, and demonstrated perfectly. That perfection is only possible when we allow His perfection to permeate our lives. That’s how we have the wisdom, find the courage, and maintain the composure to guide, direct, redirect, love and forgive “seven times seven.”
I hope you spend today watering that little mustard seed of faith—which can grow to be a 10-foot tall bush! And that you will always remember how unworthy, but blessed with grace we are.
Mary
Listening for the Shepherd’s Call
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John 10:7-18
7. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. 9. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. 14. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, 15. as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. 17. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father."
Shepherds had a hard, lonely existence. They spent most of their lives with their sheep; they even slept with them at night. In fact, they rounded them up into their pen and then slept, sprawled across the gate so none of the sheep wandered out at night and got lost, or worse. They also did that so that they could protect the sheep from predators’ attack in the night—any wolf or other wild animal would have to go through the shepherd in order to get to the sheep. In truth, though, the shepherd didn’t really sleep much, because they needed to alert to any impending attacks on the flock during the night.
A shepherd relied upon the sheep for his livelihood. They needed the wool that was sheered in the spring, the milk, the meat. Their very lives literally depended upon the well-being of their sheep. And a shepherd would risk his life scaling a steep mountain slope to rescue a trapped sheep, and do just about anything that was necessary to ensure none of the sheep were injured or lost. They were that essential and important to the shepherd.
Within that framework, Jesus identifying himself as “the Good Shepherd” is pretty powerful! The people of that day and time understood the symbolism completely. Shepherds willingly lay down their lives for their flock. Jesus willingly would give His life for us. Jesus makes a very strong point: he chooses to lay down his life—no one takes it from him. He could have called upon heaven to save him from the cross—but he didn’t. He could have hailed the angels to come and carry him up to heaven, but he remained on earth, to suffer and die for you and me.
Jesus’ mission was not only to protect the flock of believers, but to travel throughout the land and bring others to himself—increase his flock. Gather up the lost sheep who have wandered off and bring them into the fold. Cover them with protection and safety. Comfort them and reassure them that they are “home.” Shepherds lived outside most of the time, through days and weeks of blazing sun, enduring harsh winds and pounding rain. Jesus knew that his time was near to suffer on our behalf.
We can take tremendous comfort in knowing that as the Good Shepherd, Jesus guards and guides us. We can be reassured that he will keep watch over us through the night, and no matter what life sends our way, he’ll be there at the gate, calling us by name to come into the fold. He freely chose to die for you and me. There is no greater gift to give or receive.
I hope you spend today listening for the shepherd’s call, following the sound of his voice, and lifting a prayer of thanks that you are so loved and cared for.
Mary
Saved out of all our Troubles
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Psalm 34:1-7
1.I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and be glad. 3. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
It’s not easy to “bless the Lord at all times!” In fact, just the opposite is more often the case – speaking strictly for myself! I find that I lash out and rather than glorify or bless God, I curse Him, or one of His creations, when they rudely cut me off in traffic, say something I don't agree with, or just generally act like a "regular" human being! If only the other people we share this earth with would get on board! If only they would live their lives to glorify God and spend their time worshiping Him!
But, alas, we are flawed and imperfect! David acknowledges that he is a poor man—poor in his ability to be self-reliant and unable to achieve anything without God’s power and will. By looking toward our good and loving God, by turning to Him in times of trouble, and of joy, our faces are radiant. And others around us are compelled to ask us the source of that light which emanates from us!
These verses don’t mean we’ll never have trouble in our lives. Rather they implore us to take our troubles to God. He’s big enough to handle them. And more, even before Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit, the Counselor and Comforter, God commanded his angels to watch over his beloved. Isn’t it comforting to think of the angels encircling us in times of distress, and guarding our souls when we’re tempted, and just generally helping us to stay on the right path?! I think of an old western movie where the wagons form a circle for protection!
To even imagine being loved enough and cared for enough that God would go to this much trouble to keep us close to Him does, indeed, cause us to “bless the Lord at all times!” Our faces should be radiant and reflect the light of God’s love to everyone we meet! Others should look at us and wonder the source of that radiance.
No matter what we’re going through in our lives; no matter how far away from God we feel; no matter what we’ve done or said or thought, when we repent and seek the Lord, He will answer us. I find great comfort in that! I rejoice in that! That kind of love is not to be found on earth—only in Heaven with our loving, good and gracious God.
I hope you spend today radiating the love of God and rejoicing in His mercy and grace!
Mary
Walking in the Truth
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Psalm 86:1-11
1. Incline thy ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2. Preserve my life, for I am godly; save thy servant who trusts in thee. Thou art my God; 3. be gracious to me, O Lord, for to thee do I cry all the day. 4. Gladden the soul of thy servant, for to thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5. For thou, O Lord, art good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on thee. 6. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; hearken to my cry of supplication. 7. In the day of my trouble I call on thee, for thou dost answer me. 8. There is none like thee among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like thine. 9. All the nations thou hast made shall come and bow down before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name. 10. For thou art great and doest wondrous things, thou alone art God. 11. Teach me thy way, O Lord, that I may walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name.
David readily admits to God that he does not possess the ability to bring about his own deliverance. He recognizes his total and absolute dependence upon God. He declares to God his trust in Him and claims possession of his great God—or rather recognizes that God possesses him! David knows and trusts that God answers our prayers, so he brings his request before his Lord.
David assures God that he is aware of God's sovereignty—that none of the lesser gods compare in any way to the one true God of David’s praise. David’s complete trust in God’s willingness and ability to answer his prayer serves as a model for us and how we are to approach God with our own requests and supplications. First we acknowledge Him as the one true, living God. Then we commit ourselves completely to Him and His will. Then we lay our request at the foot of the throne, humbly beseeching God’s action. We don’t cower in fear, but rather respond out of reverence and awe.
David envisions a day when all the nations will worship his God! All the peoples of the earth will recognize God’s divine actions in the world, and they will respond as David does, and as we are compelled to respond—with deep gratitude, with abject humility, and complete commitment to God’s will. We are to spend our lives on worshiping and praising the great and glorious God who does wondrous things! We are further to spread the word throughout the lands—preach the Good News to all mankind!
Finally David asks that God continue to teach and mold Him, so that he can grow in his understanding of the truth and make his heart and mind united in his actions, thoughts, and words. God had demonstrated to David on countless occasions His faithfulness and His desire and ability to intercede for David. Was it because of David’s complete reliance upon God? Was it because David worshiped and praised him every day, all day? Or did David worship Him because of the many times God interceded to spare his life? Did he praise God because he acknowledged that he was powerless without God’s strength and power? Yes!
It’s kind of like the chicken and the egg question. One is not possible without the other, and yet who knows which came first? Does it really matter?
I hope you spend your day glorifying God’s name and seeking His instruction in how to walk in the truth.
Mary
Striving After Wind
Ecclesiastes 4:1-4
1. Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive; 3. but better than both is he who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. 4. Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Romans 8:35-39
35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad I wasn’t born before Christ! Actually I’m so happy to be born after Christ and His resurrection! Without Jesus, life can seem meaningless and we feel as if nothing we do makes a difference. Worse than that, we feel powerless and inadequate. Without faith in God, and belief in the Risen Christ, our eyes can only view the evil, the sad, the hard and ugly places in the hearts of others, and in our world.
When we listen to the radio, read the paper and watch the news, it’s easy to be drawn into the doom and gloom, hopeless and desperate mindset of Ecclesiastes. It grows like a cancer in our minds and hearts, until it overtakes our lives. We live in fear and hopelessness. There is so much wrong in the world, and we are only one person. It’s no wonder we would feel as if anything we might do, in our own small way, would be “vanity and a striving after wind.”
But we have a reason to go out into the world unafraid! Christ has conquered death! And with it he trampled under foot fear and hate, anger and hopelessness! He overcame physical death to show us another way—and to fulfill history!
I chose to live in hope! I chose to rejoice in the gift of salvation given to me without merit. I prefer to revel in God’s grace! Do I have bad days—days where nothing seems to “go my way?” I sure do. Are there mornings when I wake up and can’t believe it’s 6am already? Yes! Do I struggle with the fact that there is so much to be done in the world and I just don’t have the time, energy or resources to do as much as I would like? Certainly. And I admit that there are days like those bemoaned in Ecclesiastes!
But in the long run, life is good. And it’s good because God is good. Not just to me, but to all of us—all of mankind. And if there are those who don’t have a place to live, or live in fear, or who are sick or dying; if there are those who are slaves to an addiction, or who struggle with wounds from their childhood, it is because God wants us to minister to others. He wants us to fix it—and we can only do that if each of us does what we can—no matter how small our contribution may seem.
Don’t give up! Stay strong! Don’t let your hope fade! God is in heaven and He loves us and cares about us too much to abandon us or forget us. The world is far from perfect. Life is not easy. But God is good. And if we believe that, and if we preach that truth to others, and if we serve as living examples of our faith, that will be enough.
I hope you spend today spreading the Good News of God’s grace—the source of our strength and hope.
Mary
The God Who Fills Heaven and Earth
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Jeremiah 23:13,16-24
13. In the prophets of Samaria I saw an unsavory thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. 16. Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes; they speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, `It shall be well with you'; and to every one who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, `No evil shall come upon you.'" 18. For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to perceive and to hear his word, or who has given heed to his word and listened? 19. Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. 20. The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his mind. In the latter days you will understand it clearly. 21. "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. 22. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. 23. "Am I a God at hand, says the Lord, and not a God afar off? 24. Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.
There is only one truth. There is only one God. There is only one way to live. God makes it very clear, throughout the history of the world – since Adam and Eve – what the expectation is! These verses offer a pretty good test of whether or not a prophet is from God, or is of man. And these verses from Jeremiah warn us that no good will come from following the prophecies of false gods—from manmade ideas and out of the weakness and sin of mankind.
Who among the pundits and the powerbrokers has stood in the council of the Lord? Who among the leaders and the rulers have perceived and heard God’s word? Who of those invading our homes and our minds and filling our ears and our hearts with promises have given heed and listened to what God says? This is what we must judge for ourselves every day. We must consciously, deliberately discern what is from God and what is not.
Once we make that decision, we must act upon it. We must structure our lives around what we believe. We must do the “little things” and the “big things” that put the world on notice that we worship a God who cannot be defined by man’s limitations, or limited by man’s creations. We honor and praise a God who possesses wisdom and might, mercy and tenderness, and who dispenses justice and judgment without impunity.
At the end of days, God’s hand will move across the horizon and strike down the false prophets, he’ll silence them and they will be no more. In the meantime, we must decide for ourselves who and what is right and just and good and true. Teach it to our children. Preach it to our neighbors. Live our lives accordingly. We will pay a price for our faith. We will stand out in the world. We will be scorned and ridiculed. But whose approval do we seek? Whose love do we need? Whose promise do we know to be immutable?
Each day we must ask ourselves these questions! Every morning we must commit ourselves anew to living by these truths. And our reward will be greater than we can even imagine! It will be worth it! It will be wonderful! And all our troubles will be washed away.
I hope you spend today reminding yourself who your God is, and remembering what He has promised you.
Mary
Guaranteed Return on the Investment
Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23
3. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. 4. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6. but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. 7. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9. He who has ears, let him hear." . . . 18. "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19. When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. 20. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21. yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22. As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23. As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
I have heard this parable throughout my life. I don’t remember ever reading verses 18-23 before! God reveals new wonders every day! Of course, we must be open and receptive to what He chooses to reveal! And that leads into discussion of this scripture today!
The sower here actually refers to us—as we spread the word of God in the world/on the earth. At various points in my life I have lived out each of the scenarios represented in this parable. I think all of us have, it’s only human. As we mature in our faith, we become like the fertile soil, and the roots of the seeds grow down deep and the stalks become strong and resilient. But I’ve sure spent a lot of time on that rocky soil, too!
When we’re new in our faith, we are so excited and anxious to testify to the good news and rejoice in our new relationship with Jesus Christ! But without continued study, without reading the bible, spending time in prayer and reflection, and unless we seek out others more mature in their faith, we start to “fizzle out” and can become disillusioned. At the first sign of trouble, we revert back to our old ways—Satan loves that! He actually is very happy every time there is a new believer—because he knows it will just be a matter of time before he’ll have and opportunity to seize upon their distress and overcome their new and fragile faith.
Then there are those who hear the word, who know the truth of the Risen Lord, but choose to stay in the world. They may go to church every week, but that’s about it—they “talk the talk” but never really “walk the walk.” They choose to spend all their time wrapped up in worldly pursuits and allow themselves to be influenced by the media and by non-believers and have only themselves to fall back on when trouble comes. That’s when they blame God and loose their faith. Because they have not pursued a relationship with God, they have nothing to support them in times of despair, fear, uncertainty.
The good soil refers to a foundation of faith that includes attending worship, praying, reading scripture, participating in studies to gain a deeper, broader understanding of how to apply the lessons in the bible. It also includes choosing to not be “of the world.” It means going against conventional wisdom sometimes, and it may involve making choices about how you spend your time, your money, your energy and your life that seem silly—even crazy to others! But God promises us that it will be worth the investment – and the ridicule!
Jesus gave us His very life! He modeled perfect faith, perfect obedience. Did He ask God to save Him from what was to come? Yes. But did He also submit to God’s will? We know He did! In light of that sacrifice; in comparison to what He endured, how can we make any other choices except those that glorify God and fulfill His will for our lives?!
I hope today you spend time thinking and praying about God’s will for your life, and that you invest your time and energy in a future that yields real and wonderful returns!
Mary
The Hiding Place of God’s Love
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Psalm 32:1-7
1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3. When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. [Selah] 5. I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. [Selah] 6. Therefore let every one who is godly offer prayer to thee; at a time of distress, in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7. Thou art a hiding place for me, thou preservest me from trouble; thou dost encompass me with deliverance. [Selah]
There is absolutely no true comfort without God. And there is absolutely no lasting peace until we confess to God our sin and weakness. Though He knows us better than we know ourselves, when we go to Him, begging forgiveness, he bestows upon His the unspeakable blessing of unending love, unfathomable love and incalculable grace.
When we deny our sin, we walk around, dragging our feet and feeling like a dark cloud hangs over our head. When we fail to admit to God or transgression, and refuse to acknowledge God’s power over us, we do, indeed, feel as if God’s hand is heavy upon us. We just don’t seem to be able to get it together, and nothing seems to go exactly right. Oh, we may be able to keep it together for a while. We may fake it pretty well for a time. But eventually we realize that all our efforts are futile, without God behind us!
The world today is so invasive and intrusive into our lives. There really are very few opportunities to be “alone with God.” I find it very challenging to get up early in the morning, and in fact have been sleeping later and later. It’s not a “sin” per se, but it is neglect of my obligation to worship God and my commitment to spread His word to others. I shared with some friends last night that I was in quite a “snit” yesterday. And I know that its because I was fighting what God intended for me to be doing. I’m looking to the future, making plans to fulfill His desire for me. But I’m wondering now if I should speed up that timetable and be more deliberate in my planning.
God is the only thing upon which we can rely in this world. To refuse to submit to His mercy and beg for His forgiveness is just foolish! He longs to be our “hiding place” from the trials and tribulations, from the temptations and distractions of this life. He yearns for us to seek Him so he can “encompass [us] with deliverance.” Webster’s dictionary defines encompass as “to envelope or encircle.” I long to be enveloped in God’s love and mercy. I need to be encircled by His mighty presence in my life!
Any time spent away from God can feel like an eternity! It’s foolish to deny our sinfulness and unwise to hang on to our pride. We are not self-reliant or all-sufficient. We need God in our lives. We need Him every minute, every second. When we humbly go before Him, he rejoices as He welcomes us back into His loving arms.
I hope you spend today offering up to God your pride and confessing to Him your sins, so that you may dwell again in the hiding place of His love.
Mary
The Highest of Mountains
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Micah 4:1-3
1. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, 2. and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;
This familiar scripture to me, though I never remember that it is from Micah! The mountain of the Lord shall be the highest mount and shall be raised up above the hills. I wonder if the intent is that everyone will be able to see it from anywhere in the world—it will be the tallest of all mountains everywhere? People shall flow to it because God placed within each of us a tiny bit of Himself, which longs to become a part of the whole—reunited with Him.
Micah predicts Jesus. He promises that He will teach God’s laws to us once and for all, so that we can place them upon our hearts. They will become a part of us, and we will long to obey them so that we can spend eternity in heaven with our Father. Laws we know that Jesus came to exemplify and model perfect obedience and love—God’s law. A better law than any man could think of or enforce.
God will judge us, individually as a people of the world, among and within the world. To me, this says that we are responsible for everyone else—I’ll try not to get too political here, but I think we have a tremendous responsibility to be sure we’re in line with God’s vision of peace and freedom before we go charging off into other countries! OK, I got it out of my system! God will “decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.” Peace. Love. Harmony. Unity as well-loved children of God. That’s God’s idea of a perfect world. Our on-going challenge is to be in tune with that idea.
As private citizens we can’t necessarily change world politics or the dynamics of world leaders—except through our vote. And then we have only prayer. But what a powerful tool! Prayer is so very powerful and it unleashes God’s power into the world. The other night I was compelled to pray for a couple of hours—ardently, completely engrossed, fully engaged, and open to God’s leading. He wanted me to pray that He open the floodgates of heaven and pour out His love upon the world.
That sounds a little crazy I guess! Some people might call to mind snake-charming and other kinds of whacky things. But I promise you, if you have ever had the experience, it is unbelievably powerful. I don’t know what was going on in the world at that time, but I know that God desired me to request His divine action in this world. Of course He could do it on His own, but I think He wants us to ask—He allows it to be our idea. But that doesn’t mean He won’t give us a nudge, or wake us up in the middle of the night, or prompt us to act.
Is it so hard to believe? He made the world and everything in it. He made us and placed within us a deep, deep desire to seek and find Him. The other night as I prayed I felt as if I were outside myself. I was in a perfect communion with God. He reached down from heaven and urged me to go to Him on His holy mountain. He beseeched me to pray for the world. Was a disaster averted? I don’t know. Was a life saved? Who knows? Was the world different the next morning because I prayed the night before? Undoubtedly. And so was I! Changed. Purified. Full and overflowing at my communion with God.
I hope you spend today seeking God’s Holy mountain, praying for peace and that you find peace and comfort in knowing that God is in absolutely everything.
Mary
A Day in His Courts
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Psalm 84:10-12
10. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in thee!
This is such a beautiful psalm! I have a cd with this psalm set to music and every time I play it, I continue to hum it the whole day. A day in God’s courts—one day in heaven will be better than the best day we have ever had or can ever imagine on earth. Wow! Better than the birth of my two children? Better than my 25th wedding anniversary? Better than a hot air balloon ride? Better than, well . . . anything!? Anything!
The Lord is a sun and shield. His love is what shines upon us. This reminds me of the bright light of God’s presence with Moses. The glowing face of God shines so brightly we cannot look upon it—even with our eyes closed it will be too bright to behold! Just as we cannot look at the sun directly for too long without going blind, we will not be able to behold God’s face—it will be too awesome for us to see—literally, with our eyes, but also with our minds and hearts.
God is our shield against the forces of evil in this world. Complete reliance upon His promise, absolute dependence upon His gift of grace—only through these will we succeed in achieving the perfection we seek in heaven with our God. God withholds nothing from us—now or in the future when we walk in His ways. And only by going to Him and trusting in Him will we approach that perfection. Blessed are we when we trust in Him. We can ride out the storms of life through His strength. We can stay on course, with Him as our guide.
A doorkeeper, though humble, has an important job. He stands at the door of the tabernacle. He doesn’t go into the holiest of places, but stands at them, helping others going in. This lowly lot in life, this simple, humble task, if it allows and affords a physical closeness to God, is enough—more than enough for us! To have that intimacy affords us a blessedness only possible through closeness to God and walking in His ways.
Better, indeed is one day in God’s presence than a thousand anywhere else! One instant, one millisecond! Oh, how wonderful to be in His presence. I long for His courtyard! I would rather be the doorkeeper for His house than live in luxury and ease! How lovely, indeed is His dwelling place. That I could be a sparrow and fly so close to His presence!
I hope you spend today yearning for His courts, rejoicing that He has prepared a place for us in His house in heaven.
Mary
