Today’s Reading: Numbers 32; Numbers 33; Mark 10
Scripture: Mark 10:13, 35, 37, 46-48
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them...
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask..."
37 ..."Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory..."
46 ...a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Observation: Notice how often the people around Jesus get it wrong. In verse 13, the disciples rebuke those bringing the little children. In verses 35-37, James and John try to secure special privilege over the other disciples. In verse 48, Bartimaeus is trying to get Jesus' attention so he can be healed of his blindness. Many people around him "rebuked him and told him to be quiet."
Application: Lots of people have ideas about religion and God. But many of those ideas are just wrong. Sometimes the loudest and most vocal people have the worst spiritual direction. It requires discernment to not listen to those who prefer order and quiet and those who love position and promotion. I find God to not be easily confined. And I don't even want to try. I want to listen to Him and I want to be free to yell if that's what it takes to get His attention.
Prayer: Lord, I'm sure that I have gotten it wrong plenty of times. And I would bet that I have listened to those who got it wrong plenty of times. But Lord, I want to listen to You. I want to get it right. Help me to do what I need to do to make this happen. Give me discernment to know and boldness to speak up.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Friday, March 02, 2007
Title: Real Power / Topic: Prayer
Notice: This post was delayed due to a bad attitude.
Today’s Reading: Numbers 30; Numbers 31; Mark 9
Scripture: Mark 9:25, 28-29
25 ...he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again..."
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
Observation: Jesus casts a demon out of a boy. The disciples had tried to do it but had failed. Afterward, they ask Jesus why. His reply in verse 29 is significant. It states what most of us know: prayer is a key to real power in the spiritual realm.
Application: We talk about power -- we believe in power -- but do we have power? If not (and not is probably all too often true), then we can look right to this issue: prayer. Do we pray? I mean really pray. Do we travail and intercede and pray through and tarry and keep praying until we know that heaven is moving with an answer? I know that I rarely do. But I am choosing to change that. My affirmation: I am a man of prayer that is releasing great spiritual power that will cause breakthroughs for me, my family, my church, and my community.
Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You are always accessible. I purpose myself to access You more and more deeply. I choose to be a man of prayer -- and to walk in the power that comes through prayer. I thank You that You stand ready to assist me in this righteous and spiritual pursuit. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Title: Stand For God / Topic: Courage
Today’s Reading: Numbers 28; Numbers 29; Mark 8
Scripture: Mark 8:38 "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Observation/Application: This is a challenge to stand and not cower in the face of a society that reviles God. It is not easy to speak up, to "not be ashamed" to be a Christian, when it is so mocked and derided in so many ways. Yet the call we have is to not let the pressure of the crowd make us hang our head or silence our words.
Prayer: Lord, help us to find ways to express our love for You and our love for Your word in positive ways in this aldulterous and sinful generation. And help us to be walking the walk so that when we talk the talk, it has credibility. Give us creativity to speak so that the truth can overcome the attacks of the enemy.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Mark 8:38 "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Observation/Application: This is a challenge to stand and not cower in the face of a society that reviles God. It is not easy to speak up, to "not be ashamed" to be a Christian, when it is so mocked and derided in so many ways. Yet the call we have is to not let the pressure of the crowd make us hang our head or silence our words.
Prayer: Lord, help us to find ways to express our love for You and our love for Your word in positive ways in this aldulterous and sinful generation. And help us to be walking the walk so that when we talk the talk, it has credibility. Give us creativity to speak so that the truth can overcome the attacks of the enemy.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Title: Cloudy Vision / Topic: Humility
Today’s Reading: Numbers 24; Numbers 25; Numbers 26; Numbers 27; 1 Corinthians 13
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Observation: This statement of Paul's is something that every Christian should keep in mind. We don't have clear vision now. We do not have the ability to see and understand things clearly now. In fact, what we do see is "but a poor reflection as in a mirror." Sometimes I think that means we see things backwards. But at best, they are unclear to us.
Application: Keep humble. The bold dogmatic statements made by many Christians belie a lack of humility and an amazing arrogance. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. I know that God is way too big for me to understand Him fully. The little I do understand about God causes me to love Him and serve Him. But there is more about Him that I don't understand than that I do understand. Stay humble.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to walk the balance of confidently sharing faith in Jesus, but being humble and teachable.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Observation: This statement of Paul's is something that every Christian should keep in mind. We don't have clear vision now. We do not have the ability to see and understand things clearly now. In fact, what we do see is "but a poor reflection as in a mirror." Sometimes I think that means we see things backwards. But at best, they are unclear to us.
Application: Keep humble. The bold dogmatic statements made by many Christians belie a lack of humility and an amazing arrogance. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. I know that God is way too big for me to understand Him fully. The little I do understand about God causes me to love Him and serve Him. But there is more about Him that I don't understand than that I do understand. Stay humble.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to walk the balance of confidently sharing faith in Jesus, but being humble and teachable.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Title: Heart Problems / Topic: Spiritual Condition
Today’s Reading: Numbers 21; Numbers 22; Numbers 23; Mark 6; Mark 7
Scripture: Mark 6:52, 7:20-23
Mark 6:52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Mark 7:20 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "
Observation: The disciples had seen Jesus feed thousands of hungry people starting with just five loaves and two fish. But they missed the whole message of what happened because, as Mark 6:52 tells us, "their hearts were hardened." Their lack of softness of heart caused them to miss the miracle. I don't know what they thought, but they somehow did not get the idea that Jesus achieved result impossible through normal means. He transcended the physical realm. And in chapter 7, Jesus explains that the heart is the source of evil. They had all been focusing on external issues -- clean and unclean foods, hand washing practices, etc. Jesus says that the external is not really an issue at all. It's the heart that counts.
Application: This just underscores our need to keep our hearts soft before God. We can be right in the middle of a miracle and miss it if our hearts are not soft. There are many experiences in life that can harden our hearts. Wounds, disappointments, personal attacks, disloyalties, etc., can all cause us to put our hearts in a hard shell to protect ourselves. The problem is, when I try to protect my heart in this way, I keep God out too. I must trust and risk opening up my heart if I am to see the miracles that are happening around me.
Prayer: Lord, keep me soft before You. Help me to keep my heart open to You and to others in spite of the potential for hurt. I want to see Your miracles and to grow in faith as a result.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Mark 6:52, 7:20-23
Mark 6:52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Mark 7:20 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "
Observation: The disciples had seen Jesus feed thousands of hungry people starting with just five loaves and two fish. But they missed the whole message of what happened because, as Mark 6:52 tells us, "their hearts were hardened." Their lack of softness of heart caused them to miss the miracle. I don't know what they thought, but they somehow did not get the idea that Jesus achieved result impossible through normal means. He transcended the physical realm. And in chapter 7, Jesus explains that the heart is the source of evil. They had all been focusing on external issues -- clean and unclean foods, hand washing practices, etc. Jesus says that the external is not really an issue at all. It's the heart that counts.
Application: This just underscores our need to keep our hearts soft before God. We can be right in the middle of a miracle and miss it if our hearts are not soft. There are many experiences in life that can harden our hearts. Wounds, disappointments, personal attacks, disloyalties, etc., can all cause us to put our hearts in a hard shell to protect ourselves. The problem is, when I try to protect my heart in this way, I keep God out too. I must trust and risk opening up my heart if I am to see the miracles that are happening around me.
Prayer: Lord, keep me soft before You. Help me to keep my heart open to You and to others in spite of the potential for hurt. I want to see Your miracles and to grow in faith as a result.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Title: Harsh Reality / Topic: Expectations For Leaders
Today’s Reading: Numbers 19; Numbers 20; Psalm 28; Mark 5
Scripture: Numbers 20:7-12
7 The LORD said to Moses, 8 "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
Observation: The Israelites have no water in the desert and they are once again complaining. Moses and Aaron go to God and He tells them what to do (verse 8). But something goes haywire. After gathering the people, Moses lets his anger and frustration control him and, whether out of some planned theatrics or just simple rage, he strikes the rock twice. God told him to speak to the rock but Moses struck it instead. As a result, judgment comes against both Moses and Aaron. Neither will be allowed to make the final leg of their journey into the promised land. It's sad.
Application: The application is that leaders have a high standard to which they are held. Evidently, when God lays out His expectations, He expects those in leadership to follow them carefully and precisely. Any deviation from that can result in a rejection by God. It seems harsh to me. But it is the harsh reality.
Bottom Line: Be careful how you live and lead if you are a leader. God has a higher expectation for those of us who lead.
Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my life and leadership pure and true. I want to please You and do the best job possible. I choose to live and lead this way.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Numbers 20:7-12
7 The LORD said to Moses, 8 "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
Observation: The Israelites have no water in the desert and they are once again complaining. Moses and Aaron go to God and He tells them what to do (verse 8). But something goes haywire. After gathering the people, Moses lets his anger and frustration control him and, whether out of some planned theatrics or just simple rage, he strikes the rock twice. God told him to speak to the rock but Moses struck it instead. As a result, judgment comes against both Moses and Aaron. Neither will be allowed to make the final leg of their journey into the promised land. It's sad.
Application: The application is that leaders have a high standard to which they are held. Evidently, when God lays out His expectations, He expects those in leadership to follow them carefully and precisely. Any deviation from that can result in a rejection by God. It seems harsh to me. But it is the harsh reality.
Bottom Line: Be careful how you live and lead if you are a leader. God has a higher expectation for those of us who lead.
Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my life and leadership pure and true. I want to please You and do the best job possible. I choose to live and lead this way.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Title: Snoring Through The Storm / Topic: Worry
Today’s Reading: Numbers 17; Numbers 18; Psalm 29; Mark 4
Scripture: Mark 4:36-38
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
Observation: I just love the fact that while the disciples are freaking out about the storm, Jesus is napping.
Application: We worry a lot about a lot of stuff. God isn't worried. I want to connect more with Him so I can find out what's on His mind. I want His mind in my skull. I am sure I would worry a lot less.
Prayer: Lord, help me to know what You are all about and to have Your perspective on the things that trouble me. I want more of You and less of the old me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Mark 4:36-38
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
Observation: I just love the fact that while the disciples are freaking out about the storm, Jesus is napping.
Application: We worry a lot about a lot of stuff. God isn't worried. I want to connect more with Him so I can find out what's on His mind. I want His mind in my skull. I am sure I would worry a lot less.
Prayer: Lord, help me to know what You are all about and to have Your perspective on the things that trouble me. I want more of You and less of the old me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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