A Fine Line...

There are two kinds of people in this world: healthy and sick. Jesus only came for one of them. His will is to save the lost. I think you can figure out which kind He came to save. The problem is not with Jesus, rather it’s with those who misdiagnose themselves. There’s a fine line between pride and humility, yet without God’s help, few are able to distinguish it.

13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to Him. 14 As He walked along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow Me and be My disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed Him.15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and His disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with such scum?”17 When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:13-17

To the Feet of Jesus...

Of all the stories in the four Gospels, this is one that stands out as an example of how and what we are to do as Christians. It’s pretty simple: take our friends, relatives, and acquaintances to the feet of Jesus. Then let Jesus do the rest. Our job isn’t to convert anyone. Our job is to take people to Jesus, even if that means digging a hole through a roof and lowering them down on a mat. That’s what our focus should be. All those who are sick, need healing. And Who else can give a hurting person the peace and comfort they need than Jesus. Do you have this mindset? Do you have this resolve? Are you willing to take your friend to the feet of Jesus? He is the answer to the world’s problems. We need to see this and put it into action.

1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that He was back home. 2 Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While He was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above His head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is He saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so He asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” Mark 2:1-12

Satisfy the Craving...

Have you ever wondered why evil continues to grow? Why it seems that people have to outdo others when it comes to evil behavior? One-up the latest happening? It says here in Proverbs 10 that God refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked. Just like drug use, you start out using little, then more and more, until you move on to a harder drug. The “fix” just doesn’t satisfy, so you have to up the usage to get the same effect. It is the same with wicked behavior. God will never approve of any type of behavior that violates His character.

3 The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but He refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked. Proverbs 10:3

Pointing People Towards Jesus....

Although the leper was told not to tell anyone about Jesus healing him (except the priest), he went out and told everyone anyway. As a result, many people began coming out to see Him. Though this incident was a disobedient act, how often do you tell others about Jesus (as an obedient act), about what He’s done in your life? What has Jesus done in your life? Are you telling others about it? Think about it. It’s God Who gives you your next breath. How can we not be grateful for that? Are we pointing people towards Jesus? If not, why?

40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean,” he said.41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” He said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and He couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to Him. Mark 1:40-45

How Would You Have Reacted?

Here in Mark chapter one, we read of Jesus casting out an evil spirit from a possessed man. I have several questions from this passage. First, if the evil spirit obeyed Him, why do we have such a hard time obeying Jesus? Second, if this evil spirit was legit, why didn’t the people “get it” when he called Jesus -the Holy One of God? Lastly, how did the people see Jesus? And what did they do about it? How would you have reacted?

21 Jesus and His companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, He went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at His teaching, for He taught with real authority–quite unlike the teachers of religious law.23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting, 24 “Why are You interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One sent from God!”25 Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” He ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey His orders!” 28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee. Mark 1:21-28

A Man After God’s Own Heart...

David was known as a man after God’s own heart. Yes, he committed many sins, but that didn’t keep him from repenting each time he did. The thing that made David “the man....” wasn’t his ability to not sin, rather it was his ability to get right with God through his repentant heart. He knew God was merciful. He didn’t maliciously sin, knowing God would forgive him. He knew that those that trust God will never be disgraced. He was human. Being human means we will get caught up in our selfish thoughts and eventually do things that offend God. That doesn’t mean it’s premeditated or malicious. David knew God. He knew his place. He put his hope in God daily. That’s what it means to be a man after God’s own heart. It’s not perfect living, it’s knowing God’s character and trusting Him to do what He says He’ll do. That’s the kind of living He expects us to do.

1 O Lord, I give my life to You.2 I trust in You, my God!Do not let me be disgraced,or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.3 No one who trusts in You will ever be disgraced,but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. 4 Show me the right path, O Lord;point out the road for me to follow.5 Lead me by Your truth and teach me,for You are the God who saves me.All day long I put my hope in You.6 Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and unfailing love,which You have shown from long ages past.7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.Remember me in the light of Your unfailing love,for You are merciful, O Lord. Psalms 25:1-7

A Believer’s Response...

Repentance and Faith are believer’s response to God’s gift of Grace.

4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Mark 1:4

The Neccessity of Sacrifice....

Have you ever thought about the reason behind the sacrifices God required of the Israelites? In order to be made right with God, the individual who sinned had to bring some sort of animal (farm animal or bird) to sacrifice it as an offering to God. The animal’s blood was then sprinkled on the altar. Why blood? Blood is the life-force of living, breathing creatures. By shedding its blood was proof of its death. In order for God to forgive, and remain just, something had to die. “For the wages of sin is death”, Romans 6:23. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin”, Hebrews 9:22. So blood was the evidence of something dying for our sin. Sound familiar? The OT trained the people to understand that they deserved death when they sinned. Yet God provided a substitutionary way to forgive them without requiring their own blood to be shed for their own sin. They knew what had to take place in order for them to be made right with God, something had to die. The Israelites lived every day fully knowing and understanding this. Fast forward to today. Why is the sacrificial system no longer instituted in the Jewish custom? Because there is no Temple to make the sacrifices. There’s no Temple because God allowed it to be destroyed in 70 A.D. Why did He allow this? Because Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was the once-and-for-all sacrifice that put an end to the temporary sacrificial system the Jewish nation had been commanded to follow. The OT sacrificial system was a type or shadow of the “FINAL” sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. There is no more need for an animal to die for the temporary forgiveness God offered. Jesus’ sacrifice fully atoned for our sins on the cross. His blood covered, covers, and will cover the sins of the past, present, and future of all people who repent and place their trust in Him. Just as the Jews of the OT knew that forgiveness was a daily thing, we too must never take for granted what Jesus did on the cross. Yes, it’s a one-time, for all-time, sacrifice, but it’s also a daily reminder that we are to cherish it and live out our gratitude towards Him every single day. We are to be “living sacrifices”, as Paul said. Just because we don’t have to go to them Temple and present a sacrifice every time we sin, doesn’t mean that we can live our lives the way we want to, knowing God has forgiven us. We easily forget the words of Jesus when He said, “anyone who wants to follow Me, must deny himself (die to self), take up his cross, and follow Me”, Luke 9:23. Instead of sacrificing an animal and shedding its blood to atone for our sin, we are to sacrifice ourselves by denying ourselves, living for God and others, rather than living for ourselves. Again, we are to be “living sacrifices”. This is the sacrifice that is still commanded today. It’s a choice we have to make every single day. And it’s a constant reminder that God knew what He was doing long ago. The only way this is possible is because Jesus paved the way with the shedding of His blood, and it’s in His power that it’s possible for us to make that daily sacrifice of “self” that we can do even greater things to further the kingdom of God. I trust the One Who made this possible. Do you?

14 Then Moses presented the bull for the sin offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the bull’s head, 15 and Moses slaughtered it. Moses took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on the four horns of the altar to purify it. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. Through this process, he made the altar holy by purifying it. 16 Then Moses took all the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat around them, and he burned it all on the altar. 17 He took the rest of the bull, including its hide, meat, and dung, and burned it on a fire outside the camp, just as the Lord had commanded him. Leviticus 8:14-17

Walking the Walk...

The reason we are not “making disciples”, is because we are not “being disciples” first. Maybe some have never been discipled to begin with. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t model what you don’t possess. Plug into God today. Ask Him to empower you with His Spirit. He will either disciple you Himself, or send the right people to help you in this process. In the mean time, discipline yourself in His Word daily. This discipline is part of the “discipling” process. Your effectiveness in showing others how to obey Jesus’ commands depends on your willingness and consistency in obeying these commands yourself. You can’t expect to be an effective teacher if you’re not “walking the walk” yourself.

Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. Matthew 28:18-20a

Comforting Words....

These are some of the most comforting words we can ever hear while living on this earth. It tells us we will never walk through the dark valleys alone. We will not suffer alone. And we will never die alone. What can the “world” say about that? What kind of comfort can the “world” offer that tops that?

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20c

What They Want to Believe...

People believe what they want to believe, even if it means denying the truth. The religious leaders knew Jesus was resurrected, but instead of repenting and accepting the Truth, they paid off the Roman soldier witnesses, and made up a lie that’s still in circulation today.

11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole His body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today. Matthew 28:11-15

Wisdom Comes From....

Wisdom comes from God. Embrace it and it will mold and shape you to your benefit. Scorn it, and eventually you will suffer because of it.

Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;learn to use good judgment.” 7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;they will only hate you.But correct the wise,and they will love you.9 Instruct the wise,and they will be even wiser.Teach the righteous,and they will learn even more. 10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. 11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. Proverbs 9:6-12

Just If I’d.....

Who can stand in God’s Holy Place? The Bible says those whose hands and hearts are pure. Those who do not worship idols. Those who never tell lies. Does this sound like you? Certainly doesn’t sound like me. How can anyone say they qualify for these requirements? Sounds impossible. How then can we draw near to God? Through the admittance, acknowledgement, and repentance of your sin. It’s only through the Blood of the Lamb that we can be made right with God. It’s as if when God looks at us, He sees Jesus. That’s what it means to be saved. When we are forgiven, God sees us as “Justified”. Just if I’d never sinned. That’s something we can focus on every day and give God our gratitude for. It’s because Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law that we can stand in God’s Holy Place.

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?Who may stand in His holy place?4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. 6 Such people may seek You and worship in Your presence, O God of Jacob. Psalms 24:3-6

Refusal to Believe...

The problem for the Jewish leaders who crucified Jesus wasn’t their honest unbelief. It was their refusal to believe. There’s a huge difference between the two.

62 The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while He was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent His disciples from coming and stealing His body and then telling everyone He was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it. Matthew 27:62-66

What Should Our Response Be....

If God is consistently pursuing us with His goodness and unfailing love all our days, what should our response be?

6 Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:6

Still Guilty...

Here’s s thought for the unbeliever who argues with God about His guilt. If a man sins and doesn’t realize it, he is still guilty. It’s not because we sin that we are guilty, but because we are sinners that condemnation is assigned. So regardless of who you are or what you believe, Jesus is the only answer and remedy for our brokenness toward God.

13 “If the entire Israelite community sins by violating one of the Lord’s commands, but the people don’t realize it, they are still guilty. Leviticus 4:13

22 “If one of Israel’s leaders sins by violating one of the commands of the Lord his God but doesn’t realize it, he is still guilty. Leviticus 4:22

27 “If any of the common people sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands, but they don’t realize it, they are still guilty. Leviticus 4:27

17 “Suppose you sin by violating one of the Lord’s commands. Even if you are unaware of what you have done, you are guilty and will be punished for your sin. 18 For a guilt offering, you must bring to the priest your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. Through this process the priest will purify you from your unintentional sin, making you right with the Lord, and you will be forgiven. 19 This is a guilt offering, for you have been guilty of an offense against the Lord.” Leviticus 5:17-19

Our Sinful Nature...

You’ve heard it time and time again, “my sinful nature caused me to.....”. But what exactly is a sinful nature? By definition, it’s anything the goes against God. It’s missing the mark. It’s the reason everyone isn’t right with God. It’s the reason why people end up in Hell for all eternity (because of there lack of acknowledging it through repentance). These are all good descriptive words but what does our sinful nature look like in reality? Here are three examples that will help clarify what it looks like in our own lives. Have you ever said you’d do something and then didn’t do it? You feel bad, and know you should do something about it, but you don’t. That willingness to not own up to your word is your sinful nature. Have you ever done something to someone that hurt them, and they tell you how hurt and upset they are, and you blow it off or try to downplay it’s serious effect it had on them? That justification, that putting yourself before others, is your sinful nature. It tries to protect yourself at the expense of another person, make you look better than you really are. Have you ever done something that you knew was wrong, and yet still did it anyway? That’s your sinful nature. As Christians, we will always have this tendency to be rebellious, to preserve ourselves, to justify our actions, or to divert blame from ourselves. We are Saints and Sinners at the same time. We’ve been saved from the power of sin, but still are tempted by sin. We don’t have to give into it any more. To a rescued sinner, sin has lost its power to control us. However, sin will always be there crouching at our door. The issue isn’t about whether we sin or not, rather it’s what do about it when we sin. It’s what we do when we are tempted to sin. It’s what we focus on doing instead of focusing on what we are trying not to do. We don’t live our lives thinking about ways to not sin, rather we live the way God wants us to by doing the things that are above the law. The only way to counter act our sinful nature is to live by the Spirit, to love, to honor, to do justice, and to walk humbly with God. We focus on that. And when we do sin, we don’t waller in self pity, rather we repent, and make it right with God and whom ever else that was involved in the offense. Peter did just that. He denied knowing Jesus, then repented, and was strengthened enough to lead the early Church. So recognizing what our sinful nature looks like is the first step towards being made right with God and learning how to really live. The question or attitude of “Is it possible to live the rest of your life without sinning?” shouldn’t be our focus. Our focus should be recognizing the difference between living by our sinful nature and living by the Spirit. As Paul said (Gal 5:23) about living by the Spirit, “against these things there is no law”, and thus no condemnation. This is the freeing truth of the Gospel, it shows us we are condemned sinners, then points us to the Solution, giving us a redeeming way to live. No that’s Good News.

69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying–I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know Me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75

What God Says, He Does....

When I read the account of Jesus’ betrayal I can’t help but think about the sovereignty of God. God orchestrated every single event, person, action, and word spoken. Just think, He knew Peter would betray Him (even told him he would). The Sadducees and Pharisees, who normally despised each other, united in this evil plot to rid Israel of this “so-called prophet”. They illegally arranged a hearing, trial, and sentencing at night, which also never happened before. Even the Roman government was brought in and helped in this Jewish problem (which is unheard of). Through all of this, God still arranged certain people to speak truth even in the midst of all of this injustice. The Jewish court witnesses couldn’t agree on a fabricated story to prove Jesus’ guilt. The Jewish leader Caiaphas’ declaration of, “its better for one man to die to save the people” speech, was without the realization of the deeper significance in what he said. Judas’ confession of betraying an innocent man. Pilates wife’s dream. Pilot’s own confession of Jesus’ innocence. And the Jewish crowd acknowledging their responsibility for Jesus’ death. Every word, action, and breath taken were all part of God’s sovereign will. Jesus knew this, it’s why He had the strength to endure it. As I’ve said before, “the safest place you could ever be is right in the middle of God’s will”. I need to start seeing this and living my life based on this fact. The Bible is crystal clear on fulfilled prophecy. What God says He will do, He does.

47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet Him with a kiss.” 49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave Him the kiss.50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested Him. 51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.53 Don’t you realize that I could ask My Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly?54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest Me? Why didn’t you arrest Me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted Him and fled. Jesus before the Council 57 Then the people who had arrested Jesus led Him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter followed Him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.59 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put Him to death. 60 But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward 61 who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t You going to answer these charges? What do You have to say for Yourself?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I demand in the name of the living God–tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God.”64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”65 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard His blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?”“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!”67 Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat Him with their fists. And some slapped Him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, You Messiah! Who hit You that time?” Matthew 26:47-68

He’s Been There, He “Gets It”...

Anytime you’re feeling down and wondering why you are experiencing sorrow, a sense of loss, or pure rejection, think of how Jesus felt when His own people, His creation, could treat Him this way. Here you have the creation spitting in the Creator’s face. He knows what it feels like to be rejected. He knows your pain. He completely understands. Cry out to Him, for He is the Great Comforter. He is the One and Only True God. And He cares for you very much. He will relate to you and be the One Who grabs your hand and walks you through your trial. Trust me on this one.

67 Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat Him with their fists. And some slapped Him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, You Messiah! Who hit You that time?” Matthew 26:67-68

Move or Be Moved...

Following God involves constant awareness. Sometimes it means packing up and moving (action). And sometimes it means staying put (resting in Him). In either case our closeness to Him, is the determining factor, allowing us to know if we need to move or be moved.

36 Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. 37 But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. 38 The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys. Exodus 40:36-38

Obedience’s True Meaning....

When we are obedient to God, He blesses us. Always, every time. This may not be monetarily or an increase in wealth, but we certainly benefit from His blessings. Obedience to God is what we are created to do. What more can you say about honoring God than through doing what He says? True love, honor, and gratitude are proven through loving, honoring, and respecting one another. Doing what someone asks is the greatest way of demonstrating this kind of loyalty. In the end the one who proves his love is the one that was obedient. God rewards this kind of behavior, because it’s reciprocating back the love He gives us. Faith without works is dead, and love without obedience isn’t real love. Today, give God the love He desires from us without any reservation. You’ll find the most loyal, discernible, and unmitigated love you can give, comes from an obedient heart.

42 So the people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses. 43 Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them. Exodus 39:42-43

In Life’s Most Pressing Moments...

In times of great stress or sorrow, we tend to close ourselves off and retreat to the confines of self. Jesus, in this state of mind, moments away from His arrest and crucifixion, took James, John, and Peter, His three closest companions, with Him to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. This shows us the importance of having someone close to you when you are in greatest need. Most of the time, just being there is enough, not even saying a word. Here’s a Swedish proverb that helps illustrate this point: sorrow shared is half sorrow, and joy shared is double joy. Regardless of which situation you might be in, surround yourself with your closest friends, who will help share your burden. Or be the friend of one who is in need. Jesus’ example should be our example of what to do during life’s most pressing moments. Be there.

36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and He said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and He became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” Matthew 26:36-38

Truth and Justice...

My whole life I have always held truth and justice in the highest regard. Of course I need to work on the Grace and Mercy side of the equation. As far as truth is concerned, there is nothing more important in a man’s life than to hold Truth in the highest regard, living his life based on objective truth. And you will not find it anywhere more so than here, in the Bible. It’s value is more precious than gold.

10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,and knowledge rather than pure gold.11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.Nothing you desire can compare with it. Proverbs 8:10-11

We Have Everything We Need....

We have everything we need for life, for God created it all. It’s just a matter of rearranging it from those whose hearts are for God. Just imagine if all believers got on the same page? It’s the “unity” Paul talks about throughout his epistles. Nothing is impossible with God, nothing. It’s starts with me (you).

20 So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents. 21 All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments. 22 Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the Lord their offerings of gold–brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the Lord. 23 All those who owned the following items willingly brought them: blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; and tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather. 24 And all who had silver and bronze objects gave them as a sacred offering to the Lord. And those who had acacia wood brought it for use in the project. Exodus 35:20-24

4 Finally the craftsmen who were working on the sanctuary left their work. 5 They went to Moses and reported, “The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do!”6 So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings. Exodus 36:4-6

Don’t Be a Judas...

Have you ever wondered why Judas never repented and became a true disciple? I wonder that a lot. As I was reading today, a thought came to me. It doesn’t fully answer that question, but it does give more insight into the problem. Judas’ guilt was unbearable. He took it to heart. When Jesus told the disciples, about the one who would betray Him, it would be far better for that man if he had never been born, I can imagine it destroyed Judas. His pride wouldn’t allow what his heart was telling him not to do. It wasn’t until after the betrayal that he realized this. But it was too late. He couldn’t deal with the guilt and shame that this sin brought about. How often do we do the very same thing. Guilt and shame are part of the sin process. But unlike Judas, we know the outcome if we don’t repent and return to God versus if we do. If you’re dealing with something today, don’t be a Judas and let Satan communicate to your pride, holding you captive with guilt and shame. Instead ask God to forgive you. God always forgives sincerity in repentance. There’s a reason you were born, and it’s far better than your current circumstance.

20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 While they were eating, He said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me.”22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”23 He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with Me will betray Me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays Him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”25 Judas, the one who would betray Him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”And Jesus told Him, “You have said it.” Matthew 26:20-25

People Will Never Succeed...

People will never succeed when they go against God!!! They may get what they want, but it won’t deliver on the promise it made. In the end, those who oppose God will live with regret for all eternity.

11 Although they plot against You,their evil schemes will never succeed. Psalms 21:11

God’s Jealousy...

God will not share His Glory with anyone or anything. The reason there is so much turmoil in the Middle East till this day, is because the Israelites didn’t follow God’s command. They assimilated instead of eliminated the pagans in the Promised land. As it says in Romans 12:2, we are not to conform, but to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. All of this still happens today. When will we ever understand God’s jealousy isn’t the kind of jealousy we think of from a human stand point. He’s jealous for us. Jealous for a relationship with us.

12 “Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped. 13 Instead, you must break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about His relationship with you. Exodus 34:12-14

What Would a Person Say...

I wonder what a person who knows God exists, but refuses to accept His goodness, and claims He is a tyrant, would say about this passage in Exodus 34? What would they say about God’s unfailing love, His faithfulness to do what He says? His willingness to forgive? His unwillingness to excuse the guilty? I know what I would say, “you’re not talking about the God of the Bible”. Obviously, they don’t KNOW what they are talking about.

6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord!The God of compassion and mercy!I am slow to angerand filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.But I do not excuse the guilty.I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;the entire family is affected–even children in the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:6-7

You Must Ask....

A True Seeker: pursuing God takes boldness and persistence. Daily seeking leads to knowing God more intimately. You must ask.

18 Moses responded, “Then show me Your glorious presence.”19 The Lord replied, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will call out My name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20 But you may not look directly at My face, for no one may see Me and live.” 21 The Lord continued, “Look, stand near Me on this rock. 22 As My glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove My hand and let you see Me from behind. But My face will not be seen.” Exodus 33:18-23

Let Both Grow Together...

When people ask me, “Why does God allow evil people to live?”, I simple say, “cuz if He didn’t, we all would be dead”. We are all sinners and have the capacity to do evil. Jesus told us the reason, when He told the parable of the wheat and the weeds: “ ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.“ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’ ”. (Matt 13) There are only three kinds of people: blatant rejectors of God, pretenders of God, and those faithful to God. That’s it. Here in Matthew chapter 25, we read of Jesus talking about the final judgement. Here He refers to the latter two kinds of people, the pretenders - goats, and the faithful -sheep. The difference between sheep and goats is, sheep reverence God and treat people as important even when no one is looking. Goats, on the other hand, only pretend when people are looking, putting on a show to make them look good, only to abandon the treatment when no one is around. How often do we act like goats? Ask God today to examine our heart, and help us to make it right with Him. 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33 He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left.34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home.36 I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink?38 Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing?39 When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?’40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!’41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink.43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.’44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?’45 “And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46

A Simple Thought...

A short, simple thought: God’s presence isour ultimate joy. It’s an eternal blessing we get to experience here on earth and in Heaven. Think about that, allow it to shape your thoughts.

6 You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of Your presence. Psalms 21:6