Month: April 2024

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Thou Shalt Not…

Mark 15 Again we stand as a bystander at the sham trial of our Lord Jesus and see how the religious leaders treated Him. They have no shame! They would choose a murderer instead of the compassionate Jesus, thus cementing the fact that they have taken scissors to cut out the commandment from God’s Holy Word: thou shalt not kill. How quickly the evil one’s plans bring forth evil from their hearts. We stop and ask; how can these who have studied the scripture for years choose a murderer over Jesus? Yet, Paul wisely explains: “the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.”[2 Cor 4:4]

Today be wary of those who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves. 

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Do and Say

Mark 14 After supper when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He took them to the Garden. How is that they did not notice that Judas was not with them? And, when they saw the contingent of soldiers with Judas, how did they not connect the words of Jesus that one would betray Him? How did Peter not connect the warning to stay alert while Jesus prayed?  How often do I too miss the signs that God gives me? 

The religious leaders willingly chose to seek the death of the Righteous One thinking that if they did it on any other day than the Passover,their hands would be clean? How did they willingly forget the commandment to not murder? Again, how often do I forget the words of the Master and also choose to say and not do?

One thing God hates more than anything else is hypocrisy. I say I am a believer but do my words and actions prove that or do they say and do the contrast? How about you?

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Be on Guard!

Mark 13 We watch the news via TV, read the newspapers and google monuments of antiquity. Yet across our world we are seeing those being torn down and ruined by ideological fanatics. As Jesus listened to the disciples’ enthusiasm about the Temple, he reminded them that like today monuments which are man-made, they can and will be destroyed even at a great cost. Monuments are unimportant; it is men’s hearts and souls that are the keys to eternity. Jesus said the importance is this: no matter what men may do with monuments it is the heart of men that will live on and why they and us must be vigilant to carry the gospel message to the entire world.

Three times he reminded the disciples to “stay alert.” Twice he told them to be “watchful” lest they be deceived by those who come bearing the outward signs of truth but are really false. As the disciples were to be spiritually vigilant so are we to be so. Monuments may come and go but His words will not return void. The mandate is this: preserve and take the gospel to the four corners of the world lest men die in their sins and be forever separated from God eternally.

The truth remains the same for us today: Be Watchful; Stay Alert, be busy in the vineyard. Preach the gospel to all nations.

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Beware of False Teachers

Mark 12 Ignorance of the Word 

The religious leaders again sought to trap Jesus with their words but Jesus told them a parable about a vineyard and the owner’s slaves and son. It is interesting that these men who studied the scriptures thinking that in them they have eternal life have missed this important lesson that God was preparing to send His precious Son soon. 

How about us? Do we read and then walk away? What is the lesson Jesus is teaching here?

The OT scriptures foretold the coming of the Messiah and now He is here. The religious leaders listen to this tale and then walk away because they knew…get that…they knew He was talking about them! They had been given the promise of the vineyard with all its promises yet when the harvest time came they wanted to not share with the owner who is pictured as God. Over and over through the OT we see the vineyard populated but when harvest time came, they rejected giving of the truth to the Israelites. They wanted to keep them from knowing the truth! There are some religions today that say, only the priests or leaders can know the truth. This is heretical because 2 Tim 3:16 tells us the purpose of the Word. It is given to teach, to rebuke, correct and train us in righteousness. If you come across some of these leaders…run away from them. They are fools that are blocking the entrance into the kingdom of God from you. Pray for discernment so you are not hoodwinked!

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The Heart of the Matter

Mark 11 Fruit or Fruitlessness

We read this story of the barren fig tree and Jesus banishing it, leaves us with a bitter taste in our mouths, but Jesus was teaching about what looks on the outside is not necessarily or on the inside.  What the disciples, and us, see is just a tree with leaves but to Jesus, He saw a picture of Israel which looked wonderful on the outside but was barren on the inside. When Jesus looks at each of us, what does He see? This reminds me of a lady at church that always is dressed in her finery but if you stop to talk to her, you can sense her judgmental spirit because she looks at you with disdain because you are not dressed as she. If asked why she dressed so, she would reply, I was taught and I do as my mother taught me years ago. It wasn’t the mode of dress, but her attitude that was revealed. Is that what Jesus sees in me? Do I look beautiful on the outside but dead on the inside? 

This story reveals what Jesus saw in the religious leaders and yes, even some of the people. They outwardly were doing the “right thing” but inside their hearts were hard and judgmental. This is a warning to me to check my heart as I enter the sanctuary. God told Samuel that God looks at the heart not the outward dress and that should be true for me as well. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way people do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”[1Sam16:7]

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Transformation!

Mark 9 “From the Inside Out”
Jesus takes three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, to the top of a mountain to show them, and us, what it means to be transformed. Mark records Peter’s recollection of this amazing story of Jesus’ Transfiguration.

Jesus supernaturally metamorphosed from his humanity to his divinity thus giving them, and us, a picture of our heavenly reflections that we will one day receive. 1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Until then we should also be in the process of being transformed from the inside out that the world may see a new “us.” 2Co 3:18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed .”

Before this process can begin we must repent of our sins and turn from our sinful ways to He who has the power to change us from the inside out and then live in this way: Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
Beloved, how does the world see each of us …as we “were” or as we “are becoming?”

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What is your answer?

Mark 8 Life or Death

When Jesus came many believed because of the signs he did, but the religious leaders after seeing them wanted more and more and more. What more could Jesus do than heal the lame, open the eyes of the blind, and restore the hearing of the deaf? What did they expect Him to do to prove that He was who He said He was? How often are people today just like then? They say if God does this or that, then they would believe. God is deeply offended because He said: I sent my only Son to you to die for your grievous sins and yet that is not enough?  Where are you my friend? Are you like the religious leaders or are you like Peter who said: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God? This is not just a question for them, it is for me as well. 

God forgive us for we know not what we have done. Your Son has given me life instead of the death I deserve. May my life reflect that today. 

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Check your heart!

Mark 7 Rules vs Tradition

The religious leaders come to test Jesus once again. It is good to test those who present the words of God, but when a practice overrides the Word then it is not right. Thus, we see they came to ask about washing of hands, cups and benches, but what about their heart? And this pertains to us as well. When we go to church and we partake of the communion table, are our hearts cleansed? 

From that hostile interchange, Jesus took his disciples north away from the prying eyes of the religious leaders, but a woman heard he was in the area. She needed the spiritual help only He could give, and so she sought him out. On the surface his words seem rather harsh but Jesus was testing her heart, just as he had done with the religious leaders. Whereas he found them condemning, hers was pure. They trusted in their traditions but she trusted in the person, the Word. 

Lesson for me is check my heart before I seek God’s help. Check my heart because it is deceitful and desperately wicked.  (Jer 17:9) 

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Two Dinner Parties

Proverbs 9 Having a dinner party requires much advance planning. Lady Wisdom has taken the steps to ensure that the dinner she is preparing is designed not to just whet the appetite outwardly, but also to ensure that those who feed at her table eat the finest foods. She has spared no expense for her guests. Her invitations are sprinkled with the dew of heaven and the words tickle the palate. Will you set aside the date?  Jesus told a parable which is similar and He sent his servants to do the same as Lady Wisdom, but not many accepted his invite. They had a myriad of excuses of why they have chosen to not attend.

Her invitations were not just for the wealthiest but those who need wisdom. 

In contrast is the dinner planned by Foolish Folly.  She too has made grand plans but her servants are busy/and she alone knows the one to invite. They are the naive and include the mockers and the unrighteous who gather to feast unaware of the foods that are tainted with lies and sin. 

When you are invited to the Lord’s Table called Wisdom,  do you accept or are you enamored by the glitz and glamor of Foolish Folly’s table full of the world’s riches which fall to ruin to rust and decay? Lady Wisdom’s invitations are for all to live a life full of God’s blessings, but Foolish Folly’s guests are destined for the grave. 

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Actions speak louder than words

Mark 6 Listening but not believing

Mark notes that Herod was baffled by the words of John but he never made a commitment to the Lord. We can listen all we want but if we do not commit, then we are as lost as Herod. Prov 29:25 comes to mind: the fear of man is a snare and we see that in this chapter. 

On a night when Herod had a dinner, he made a foolish vow to give the child who danced before him a gift of whatever she asked. Her mother told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Hearing this, Herod was sad but he was more afraid of not keeping his word than keeping the life of a man who spoke truth to him. There are many like Herod in our world. They love to sit in the pew but do not bow the knee to the Savior. They are baffled but do not step out and search their hearts. 

Are you more like Herod or like John the Baptist? Are you just listening or are you committed to Jesus? 

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