October 2020 – Page 2 of 3 – Sonshine's Journal

October 21, 2020

Where is Your Decapolis?

Mark 4 to 6 The demoniac freed from his prison desired to follow Jesus, much like the blind Bartimaeus, but this is not the time. Jesus needs the “man freed from demons” to be left behind to go and proclaim what the Lord had done for him. Obediently he did, and all marveled. The herders in the region of Gadarenes may have asked Jesus to leave, but God’s message must be proclaimed. He removed the evil influence so he could be his missionary, ready to go and tell. Jesus is not wanted, but the message of who He is needed.

The demoniac will always be known as the “man freed from demons” and will be the first missionary to carry the “LIGHT” to his pagan land. The swine herders did not want to hear the good news of the kingdom, for they “loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil,” however, God had a love message that needed to be shared, and who better to do it than one through whom the LIGHT pierced the darkness.

Today spiritual darkness hangs like a pall over our culture, but we have the LIGHT within us. Where is your Decapolis that needs the Light of the World to come and pierce their darkness?

You have been redeemed to be His witness. How are you doing on this task?

October 20, 2020October 20, 2020

“Listen, Hear and Do Immediately”

Mark 1 Many feel that Mark’s ear heard the words of Jesus as Peter shared them with him. He wants us to walk, see and listen as Jesus moves from the river to the wilderness, from the wilderness to the city proper, from the city proper to the synagogue, from the synagogue to Simon’s house, from Simon’s house to a deserted place, and from the deserted place to a place in Galilee.

Hear Jesus say there is only a short time to accomplish the Father’s work and bring about the good news of salvation to all people. Jesus was about the Father’s business, whether by the river, in the wilderness being tempted, by the Sea of Galilee, or in a remote place in prayer.

With Jesus, we must be ready to see, hear, and repent, for we only have a short time to bring the good news to a lost and dying world. Whether we live in the countryside or in a bustling city, God has a divine appointment for you this day. Jesus was prepared to do the Father’s will; are you? He was always in communion with God so that he could say: “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach.” Let’s go and “immediately” begin the work He has prepared and called us to do, for that is what He came to do.” Are you prepared to step out and change your culture as He did?

October 19, 2020

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Matt 26-28 With his detailed observation skills, Matthew recalls the last week of the earthly life of our Lord. He now recalls his notes on two people, Judas and Mary. Judas was a taker with his embezzling self-seeking heart, whereas Mary was a giver of the most expensive gift of the oil poured out.

Judas would be revealed along with the religious leaders, as those who would conveniently erase Ex 20:13 “You shall not murder.” Judas would forever be known as the betrayer of innocent blood when he said to the religious leaders—what will you give me to betray Him. Mary would be forever remembered as the one who came and anointed Jesus for his burial. Jesus remarked that she would be remembered for what she did whenever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world.

Charles Spurgeon was right when he asked: What do men think of a love which never shows itself in action? Judas never loved Jesus, but Mary loved with abandon.

What say you regarding your words, I love the Lord Jesus?

What do your actions say about these words?

October 18, 2020

“Mirror of the Soul”

Matt 23 In the movie Snow White, the wicked queen stopped by her mirror each morning asking: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? The mirror replied that she was—until one day the mirror said it was not she, but Snow White. This a picture of what Jesus saw as he observed the self-righteous religious leaders.

The mirror of the Pharisees revealed knowledge but lacked understanding. When Jesus looked deeply into their mirror, he saw hypocrisy. Rather than seek to correct the flaws the mirror revealed, they just piled on more phylacteries and longer tassels. Inwardly, their mirror reflected a lack of compassion. These religious leaders, just like us, had blind spots. God has given us His mirror called His Word, which reveals who we truly are. But too often, like the man in James, when God reveals the truth, we walk away and forget what we saw or like the religious leaders, we heap on more and more “makeup” to cover our flaws.

What does your mirror reveal? If it is self-exaltation, God will humble you, and if the mirror reveals humility, He will exalt you. It is your choice.

October 17, 2020

Who is Jesus to you?

Matt 20 to 22: Jesus asked his disciples: who do men say I am? [Matt 16:15] They skirted the issue by saying that some say you are John the Baptist, others Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets just as we see in these chapters. It was Peter alone who said, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. [Matt 21:11]

Twice Jesus is noted that the crowds in Jerusalem said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” On the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, two blind men called him “the Son of David.” [Matt 20:39] While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them pointedly: What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? [Matt 22: 41-43] They answered, just like the two blind men: The son of David.

Even though the crowds, the Apostle Peter, and even the religious leaders knew Jesus was not just an ordinary man, they would not commit to following Him. Instead, as they saw His ability to heal and heard the children crying out: Hosanna to the Son of David, they sought to kill him.

From Genesis to Revelation that same question is asked of men. Jesus comes to each one with the same question; Who do you say I am. What would be your response?

October 16, 2020

Forgiveness or Unforgiveness

Matt 18 How deep is your forgiveness cup? Is your content shallow like a teacup, or is it deep like a mug? How often is our forgiveness like the shallow teacup whose contents get cold quicker? Peter wanted to forgive only seven times, but Jesus reminded him that our forgiveness must be deep and heartwarming.

When Jesus had finished that statement, he launched into the story of the unforgiving servant. The king heard his tale of woe and, with great passion, forgave his debt fully. Yet, after leaving his presence where he was forgiven all, he refused to forgive a paltry amount of another slave. The servant seemed to have only a teacup’s worth of forgiveness.

The unforgiving servant is a picture of how we hold onto to hurts and refuse to forgive. They say that if you seek forgiveness and hear the words “I forgive,” you can move on. But, what if the person who offers forgiveness on the outside is still stewing about that problem? The unforgiving servant is a picture of what we do when we refuse to forgive another. We not only imprison another, but we also imprison ourselves.

Today be willing to forgive, for it is the deepest gift you can give another for as the Father has forgiven you, so you should forgive another.

October 15, 2020

“Transformed by Jesus”

Matthew 13:53-58 One of the wonders of God’s creation is the butterfly who goes through a transformation from a caterpillar to a winged creature with beautiful colors. As a believer you have been transformed when you moved from darkness to light. Just like the marvel of the butterfly’s transformation, Jesus transforms us and we are no longer as Nathanael asked: what good can come out of Nazareth.

Jesus was the person who moved away and has returned; he came “home” to Nazareth and began to teach the people in their synagogue. The people’s reaction was much like Nathanael’s. Those in our hometown recall our life story just as they knew Jesus’ story, but it was when Jesus began to teach; they reacted with astonishment. Their wagging tongues began to whisper, where did he get all of this wisdom and miraculous powers?

Just like the Nazarenes, they had preconceived ideas and others will have them about you. They will be watching you, and it will be your fruit–your spiritual beauty–that they will examine. Will you reflect the life change wrought by Jesus? Jesus said by your fruits—by your spiritual transformation—that you will be known.

October 14, 2020

How Great is Your Faith?

Matt 8 to 10 One question Jesus asked those who came seeking healing: Do you believe I can do this? They and we may respond with an affirmative, but it is the action behind our answer that proves whether we believe or not.

Jesus asked the leper: Do you believe I can do this, but even without an answer, Jesus responded with instant healing. How great is His mercy! Then the centurion came and sought healing, but responded that Jesus’ healing powers were so powerful that He could heal without even seeing the afflicted one. What great faith! Seeing his daughter die, the synagogue leader came and asked Jesus to lay his hand on her and restore her to life. Why would he take that step unless he believed in His power? While a storm raged, the fearful disciples woke Jesus up and heard him ask: “Why are you cowardly, you people of little faith?”

Jesus tested all of these with one question: Do you believe I can do this? Is our faith in Jesus so strong that we believe with a word, in his presence or not? We say we believe, but our actions prove whether we are just answering or responding in faith.

October 13, 2020

Study under the Master

Matt 5 This is the first in a series of “Heaven on Earth 101” class, where we will learn how to make the gospel relevant to our society. One of the things we learn from Jesus is that He always took advantage of the opportunities God the Father gave him to “go and make disciples.” So in the chapter on the Beatitudes, we see him using this time to fulfill what we are called to do: “go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching to obey.” As the master teacher, He used real-life examples to show them that to “just” know the gospel is not enough. The test is demonstrating what we have learned in “real-life.”

Jesus also places some warnings so that we should not hesitate to do what He has commanded. The first is if we break one of the least of these commands to be salt and light, to be meek, and yet do not mourn over sinful habits, then we are no better than the experts in the Law who knew God’s Law but did not live by it.

Truly James was right; the world does not know us and therefore does not know the one we call Savior because our walk and talk don’t harmonize. Beloved, “heaven on earth” is to not just live by the letter but by the heart.

October 12, 2020

“God’s Who’s Who Record”

Matt 1- 4 Who’s Who is a book that contains concise biographical information about people both present and past. God has his own Who’s Who the Book of Life. Matthew’s gospel begins with God’s record of those individuals He would choose to be in the line of his Son, Jesus Christ. Matthew begins at the beginning with the genealogical records. We will look intently that we might see this story through his eyes for one purpose; that we might come to know Jesus, the divine Son of David, Son of Abraham was and is Immanuel, God with us.

God’s Who’s Who Book of Life includes names of those who were scoundrels and those who were of notable reputation, each saved by His grace alone. We, too, are sinners in need of salvation saved by His grace for this Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, came to “save his people from their sins,” and we fall into that same category.

The Apostle Matthew will reveal Jesus as the divine Son of God, Son of Man, who will save us from our sins. Matthew seems to have taken copious notes as would befit his character. He begins with the account of our Savior’s birth and ends chapter four with the excellence of Christ’s journey into the wilderness where he conquered temptation and the works of the adversary, Satan.

The question remains: are you in the Who’s Who Book of Life today?