Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
How effective am I in my work for Christ Jesus?
A simple question but one that every Christian should always be asking themselves. After all, if we’re truly going to profess ourselves to be Christian (or in other words, striving to be Christ-like), then we had better check regularly to see just how well we’re succeeding in that very endeavor.
So how would you grade yourself in accomplishing the Great Commission of Jesus to make disciples and teach them to obey all He commanded? And what would be your measure of effectiveness?
Well, Jesus took some time to talk about this very subject in our passage as we continue to examine His teaching from the Sermon on the Mount.
As we read His words, we see that He uses two distinct analogies to describe what we should be if we are to properly represent Him while going forth to carry out His will and way.
First, He tells us that we are the “salt of the earth”.
Huh?
What does salt have to do with effective evangelism and soul winning?
To find the answer, you have to look at the nature of salt and what it was used for in the New Testament days.
You see, salt was used as a primary preservation element for meat and fish. As long as salt maintained its nature and was salt, then it was useful to keep meat from spoiling and being ruined. If salt lost its saltiness, it was of no use and could preserve nothing. Or as Jesus said, “…if the salt loses its saltiness, …It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
A salty Christian is one who is filled with the Holy Spirit and thus walking in the ways of Jesus, fully attuned to His word and way. Well seasoned in Jesus, one can be effectively used by Him to preserve others…to prevent them from falling prey to Satan and his desire to spoil and ruin.
Turn from Jesus and align yourself with the world’s will and way…and you will lose your saltiness. Void of the Spirit, you won’t be able to save anyone from ruin and waste. In other words, you will not be good for anything that Christ might want to use you for.
Jesus also uses the analogy of light to show us how He expects us to witness to others about Him, telling us that we are the “light of the world”…and it’s just not natural for light to not shine and illuminate everything around it. In its purest sense, light is unavoidable to those who are in its presence.
So just how well does your light shine?
Is your lamp out, yielding way to darkness? Is it lit and under a bowl, concealed from sight?
Or is your light shining brightly on everyone you come in contact with so that they can’t help but see Jesus…the One who proclaimed, “…I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
In other words…as Christians we are only the light of the world because we have the true Light, Jesus, living and abiding within us.
Again I ask, “How well is your light working today?”
You can know the answer by how you’re living.
If you’re living fully for Jesus, then your light is shining on everyone you encounter…”that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
If you’re not living for Jesus, then you are dark and pretty useless for anyone who is trying to find their way to their Savior.
In the end, Christians need to be salt and light…well seasoned and well lit…preserving and guiding others out of the dark and toward their only hope and salvation…Jesus.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
THE DEFINITION OF BEING BLESSED
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:1-12
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Imagine you are a reporter wanting to get answers to a the following question for a human interest story you wish to write:
Who is blessed in life?
So you head out to the local mall and spend some time stopping people and asking them the question, writing down their responses so you could use them later to write your article.
What do you think the common answers would be?
Well after you finished and went home, you sat down to assess the answers and found three primary themes.
Most people attributed blessedness to financial status. A person who had achieved wealth and riches living in a large, extravagant home and driving an expensive, exotic car had been obviously been greatly favored.
Another large segment of those who were questioned believed success in life indicated the level of blessing a person enjoyed. A person who was able to go to college, earn a degree and then go onto attain a high paying position with a company could claim special providence over others. The same could be said for movie stars or musicians/singers who found their way to great fame.
And yet another significant number of people said that their health was the biggest indicator of being blessed. A person who had found their way through life without serious injury or chronic life threatening disease can see themselves as being on the receiving end of distinctive protection.
Wealth…success…fame…health. The world would almost always list them as indicators of being blessed in life.
Question: How do you define being blessed?
Only you can answer that question because everyone’s idea may be different. But whatever your answer is…hold onto it for a minute. Because as we set out to define who is blessed, we should be careful to not rely so much on what we think and defer instead to what God’s word says to provide us the answer. And as we look at His word, we will quickly find that the Lord’s definition of who is blessed is very different from ours.
So what does the Lord say?
For the answers, we turn to the passage for today as Jesus begins His first significant teaching…in what is commonly referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount”.
The opening of that sermon is a familiar one to those who read and study scripture regularly. It has been widely called “The Beatitudes”…the word beatitude meaning a state of utmost bliss.
So as Jesus mentions what brings the ultimate joy in life, note that these may not be in yours or any one else’s top 10. Here’s who He counts as blessed:
1. The poor in spirit.
2. Those who mourn.
3. The meek.
4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
5. The merciful.
6. The pure in heart.
7. The peacemakers.
8. Those who are persecuted because of righteousness.
Each of these is considered blessed with Jesus stating the following blessings they receive:
1. The poor in spirit…theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Those who mourn…will be comforted.
3. The meek…will inherit the earth.
4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…will be filled.
5. The merciful…will be shown mercy.
6. The pure in heart…will see God.
7. The peacemakers…will be called sons of God.
8. Those who are persecuted because of righteousness…theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
When the world looks at this, they would see it as being crazy and all backwards. How could those who have less actually be the ones who get more…the needy richer than those who have everything? It just doesn’t make sense.
And from a world view, it doesn’t. But from a Christian view…from one who looks at life through the lens of Jesus, it makes perfect sense.
For we gain our peace, hope and joy through our faith and trust in a Savior who is all we need in life to gain the best reward available…salvation. We see and understand through Jesus that the utmost bliss in life isn’t something materialistic that can be attained and accumulated. No…we live today in the spirit of Jesus, carrying out His will and Great Commission, knowing our reward…the kingdom of heaven…is waiting when this worldly life is over. And there, we will see our Savior face-to-face.
In the meantime, He is alive in Spirit and wishes to dwell in our hearts and minds, leading us in truth, righteousness and love.
Friends, indeed we are blessed beyond belief in life. But only when Jesus is the treasure we measure our blessedness by.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:1-12
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Imagine you are a reporter wanting to get answers to a the following question for a human interest story you wish to write:
Who is blessed in life?
So you head out to the local mall and spend some time stopping people and asking them the question, writing down their responses so you could use them later to write your article.
What do you think the common answers would be?
Well after you finished and went home, you sat down to assess the answers and found three primary themes.
Most people attributed blessedness to financial status. A person who had achieved wealth and riches living in a large, extravagant home and driving an expensive, exotic car had been obviously been greatly favored.
Another large segment of those who were questioned believed success in life indicated the level of blessing a person enjoyed. A person who was able to go to college, earn a degree and then go onto attain a high paying position with a company could claim special providence over others. The same could be said for movie stars or musicians/singers who found their way to great fame.
And yet another significant number of people said that their health was the biggest indicator of being blessed. A person who had found their way through life without serious injury or chronic life threatening disease can see themselves as being on the receiving end of distinctive protection.
Wealth…success…fame…health. The world would almost always list them as indicators of being blessed in life.
Question: How do you define being blessed?
Only you can answer that question because everyone’s idea may be different. But whatever your answer is…hold onto it for a minute. Because as we set out to define who is blessed, we should be careful to not rely so much on what we think and defer instead to what God’s word says to provide us the answer. And as we look at His word, we will quickly find that the Lord’s definition of who is blessed is very different from ours.
So what does the Lord say?
For the answers, we turn to the passage for today as Jesus begins His first significant teaching…in what is commonly referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount”.
The opening of that sermon is a familiar one to those who read and study scripture regularly. It has been widely called “The Beatitudes”…the word beatitude meaning a state of utmost bliss.
So as Jesus mentions what brings the ultimate joy in life, note that these may not be in yours or any one else’s top 10. Here’s who He counts as blessed:
1. The poor in spirit.
2. Those who mourn.
3. The meek.
4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
5. The merciful.
6. The pure in heart.
7. The peacemakers.
8. Those who are persecuted because of righteousness.
Each of these is considered blessed with Jesus stating the following blessings they receive:
1. The poor in spirit…theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Those who mourn…will be comforted.
3. The meek…will inherit the earth.
4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…will be filled.
5. The merciful…will be shown mercy.
6. The pure in heart…will see God.
7. The peacemakers…will be called sons of God.
8. Those who are persecuted because of righteousness…theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
When the world looks at this, they would see it as being crazy and all backwards. How could those who have less actually be the ones who get more…the needy richer than those who have everything? It just doesn’t make sense.
And from a world view, it doesn’t. But from a Christian view…from one who looks at life through the lens of Jesus, it makes perfect sense.
For we gain our peace, hope and joy through our faith and trust in a Savior who is all we need in life to gain the best reward available…salvation. We see and understand through Jesus that the utmost bliss in life isn’t something materialistic that can be attained and accumulated. No…we live today in the spirit of Jesus, carrying out His will and Great Commission, knowing our reward…the kingdom of heaven…is waiting when this worldly life is over. And there, we will see our Savior face-to-face.
In the meantime, He is alive in Spirit and wishes to dwell in our hearts and minds, leading us in truth, righteousness and love.
Friends, indeed we are blessed beyond belief in life. But only when Jesus is the treasure we measure our blessedness by.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com
Saturday, February 20, 2010
THE GREAT HEALER
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Matthew 4:23-25
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 4 closes, we find Jesus, having called His first disciples, going “throughout Galilee” and teaching in the synagogues while “preaching the good news of the kingdom”. Yesterday, we saw how the Lord expects us to use our inherent gifts to carry out His will for us. One of Jesus’ many gifts was the gift of instruction and when we commit to following Him daily, He never fails to teach us something new.
But teaching wasn’t the only thing Jesus did in the synagogues.
Scripture tells us He also healed “every disease and sickness among the people”. Note He didn’t heal some of the diseases and sickness. No…He healed “every disease and sickness”.
Question: How many physicians do you know that can heal every disease and sickness?
I can think of none.
Except Jesus, the Great Physician and the Great Healer.
Well, the news of Jesus’ miraculous healing power began to get around. We read where it “spread all over Syria” and as the news spread, more and more people came to Him bringing “people…who were ill with various diseases…suffering severe pain”, possessed by demons, afflicted with seizures and paralyzed. And as they came to Jesus, He healed them and this resulted in “large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan” following Him.
Jesus, the Great Healer, had formed an impressive following because of the mighty power he displayed. And He continues to do so today.
Question: As we have progressed several days into Lent, are you wounded in some way? Possibly you have a physical ailment. Maybe you have a mental problem or struggle with some form of addiction or compulsive behavior. Or perhaps you’re spiritually sick…and frankly we all are because we can’t deny our sinfulness and live in truth.
So in some way or another, all of us are suffering from some disease or sickness. And with this fact, we need help. We need a Great Healer.
Friends, is it not good news that as we accept Jesus as Savior in our lives we not only receive salvation but also the miraculous healing power that He and only He possesses. Does this truth not set us free to live and love and learn, carrying out Jesus’ call to make disciples and teach what He commanded? Believe that it does.
So what ails you today? What are you suffering from?
All you need do is honestly answer the question…and then turn to the Great Healer. His name is Jesus.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Matthew 4:23-25
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Chapter 4 closes, we find Jesus, having called His first disciples, going “throughout Galilee” and teaching in the synagogues while “preaching the good news of the kingdom”. Yesterday, we saw how the Lord expects us to use our inherent gifts to carry out His will for us. One of Jesus’ many gifts was the gift of instruction and when we commit to following Him daily, He never fails to teach us something new.
But teaching wasn’t the only thing Jesus did in the synagogues.
Scripture tells us He also healed “every disease and sickness among the people”. Note He didn’t heal some of the diseases and sickness. No…He healed “every disease and sickness”.
Question: How many physicians do you know that can heal every disease and sickness?
I can think of none.
Except Jesus, the Great Physician and the Great Healer.
Well, the news of Jesus’ miraculous healing power began to get around. We read where it “spread all over Syria” and as the news spread, more and more people came to Him bringing “people…who were ill with various diseases…suffering severe pain”, possessed by demons, afflicted with seizures and paralyzed. And as they came to Jesus, He healed them and this resulted in “large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan” following Him.
Jesus, the Great Healer, had formed an impressive following because of the mighty power he displayed. And He continues to do so today.
Question: As we have progressed several days into Lent, are you wounded in some way? Possibly you have a physical ailment. Maybe you have a mental problem or struggle with some form of addiction or compulsive behavior. Or perhaps you’re spiritually sick…and frankly we all are because we can’t deny our sinfulness and live in truth.
So in some way or another, all of us are suffering from some disease or sickness. And with this fact, we need help. We need a Great Healer.
Friends, is it not good news that as we accept Jesus as Savior in our lives we not only receive salvation but also the miraculous healing power that He and only He possesses. Does this truth not set us free to live and love and learn, carrying out Jesus’ call to make disciples and teach what He commanded? Believe that it does.
So what ails you today? What are you suffering from?
All you need do is honestly answer the question…and then turn to the Great Healer. His name is Jesus.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Friday, February 19, 2010
GO FISH
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
One of the most exciting parts of being a Christian is the opportunity to be used by the Lord in powerful ways to help bring others to Him to find their way to relationship and subsequent salvation. All of have special gifts that were instilled in us to be revealed and used in God’s perfect time to fulfill His will.
Some people are gifted speakers. Others are gifted writers. Still others may have the gift of discernment…or the gift of making music…or the gift of encouraging. I could go on and on but you get the point. The key for all of us is never discounting what the Lord has placed within you so that He might use you toward a wonderful, blessed purpose.
In our scriptures today, we find a perfect example of Jesus revealing His purpose and will to who would become His first disciples. We read that He was “walking beside the Sea of Galilee” when He “saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew”. Scripture tells us they were “casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen”. In other words, they made a living by putting to work their skills as fisherman to catch fish. Jesus had a further application for their talents.
For we read where Jesus asks Simon Peter and Andrew to “Come, follow me…and I will make you fishers of men." They were already proficient at dedicating themselves to catching fish but no amount of fish could rival the value of one saved person. One can’t help but think that the Holy Spirit overwhelmed Simon Peter and Andrew as they considered the call of Jesus. I say this because they didn’t stand around and think about whether they should go. There was no debate. Instead, we read where they “left their nets” at once and followed Jesus. There was work to do far beyond fishing.
Jesus followed this by moving on and finding two others…the brothers James and John. Ironically, they too were fishermen and “were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets”. In other words, the brothers were at work and not alone but with their father. But you see, the Father’s call was more powerful and carried more influence. We know this because Jesus “called them and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him”. Again, no amount of fish could exceed the value of what following Jesus and being used by Him to catch others represented.
Friends, as we continue this Lenten journey and seek to draw nearer to Jesus, let us leave everything behind and follow Him…just as the first four disciples did…using the gifts that the Lord has placed inside us. Maybe you’re doing this already. Maybe you need to get started. Either way, Jesus stands by ready to train us, teach us and show us where He wants us to go and what He wants us to do. We need only be fully obedient and ready to be used as an instrument of His will…open to giving everything for Him just as He gave everything for us.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
One of the most exciting parts of being a Christian is the opportunity to be used by the Lord in powerful ways to help bring others to Him to find their way to relationship and subsequent salvation. All of have special gifts that were instilled in us to be revealed and used in God’s perfect time to fulfill His will.
Some people are gifted speakers. Others are gifted writers. Still others may have the gift of discernment…or the gift of making music…or the gift of encouraging. I could go on and on but you get the point. The key for all of us is never discounting what the Lord has placed within you so that He might use you toward a wonderful, blessed purpose.
In our scriptures today, we find a perfect example of Jesus revealing His purpose and will to who would become His first disciples. We read that He was “walking beside the Sea of Galilee” when He “saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew”. Scripture tells us they were “casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen”. In other words, they made a living by putting to work their skills as fisherman to catch fish. Jesus had a further application for their talents.
For we read where Jesus asks Simon Peter and Andrew to “Come, follow me…and I will make you fishers of men." They were already proficient at dedicating themselves to catching fish but no amount of fish could rival the value of one saved person. One can’t help but think that the Holy Spirit overwhelmed Simon Peter and Andrew as they considered the call of Jesus. I say this because they didn’t stand around and think about whether they should go. There was no debate. Instead, we read where they “left their nets” at once and followed Jesus. There was work to do far beyond fishing.
Jesus followed this by moving on and finding two others…the brothers James and John. Ironically, they too were fishermen and “were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets”. In other words, the brothers were at work and not alone but with their father. But you see, the Father’s call was more powerful and carried more influence. We know this because Jesus “called them and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him”. Again, no amount of fish could exceed the value of what following Jesus and being used by Him to catch others represented.
Friends, as we continue this Lenten journey and seek to draw nearer to Jesus, let us leave everything behind and follow Him…just as the first four disciples did…using the gifts that the Lord has placed inside us. Maybe you’re doing this already. Maybe you need to get started. Either way, Jesus stands by ready to train us, teach us and show us where He wants us to go and what He wants us to do. We need only be fully obedient and ready to be used as an instrument of His will…open to giving everything for Him just as He gave everything for us.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
THE GREAT LIGHT
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 4:12-17
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Matthew writes that after Jesus had persevered through Satan’s attempts to tempt Him, he left his hometown of Nazareth and moved to Capernaum, located “by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali”. We read where this happened so to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah who had predicted:
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
Indeed, a light indeed had dawned…the Light of the World…Jesus Christ, not only bringing light to the people of Israel who were living in darkness but still bringing light to people today.
As we take our first step past Ash Wednesday where we were reminded of how far short we fall of the Lord’s favor, we emerge from the darkness into the presence of a great light…a Light that exposes our sins and calls us to change. Or in other words, Jesus, the Great Light of the World, preaches and demands that we "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Friends, if we’re truly going to get the best out of Lent, we have to first turn to the Light…our Savior, Jesus…and then turn from our sinfulness toward His way…the way of righteousness. When we trust Christ and truly believe in Him, making Him our greatest treasure in life (Matthew 6:21), then we will find ourselves embodying everything that is in Him through His Holy Spirit. Light begets light and we become light bearers, ever walking in the footsteps of Jesus and in doing so, letting His light shine through us to others.
Day 1 of this journey showed us the power of the Word of God and how we need it to fend off the attacks of Satan…and trust me when I say he will try and attack you…he will try to drag you back into darkness. But know and trust that he can only drag you into darkness if you choose to turn from the Light. Stay focused on Jesus…stay in His light…and there will be no room for the devil to cause you to revert to your sinful desires.
Question: Are you walking in the light or in the darkness?
My prayer for you and every person this day is that you will come to the Light and never turn away from it. Scripture reminds us that the path of righteousness is narrow and few will travel it. This is because the only way to travel the narrow path is if you can see where you are going. Or in other words…you need the Light.
Tomorrow, we will anticipate with great excitement how the Lord will again illuminate us and instruct us through His word, guiding us on our journey through Lent. I can’t wait to sit back down again and allow the Holy Spirit to give me the words to write. I pray the Lord is richly blessing you by them.
God bless all of you. I’ll see you tomorrow.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 4:12-17
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Matthew writes that after Jesus had persevered through Satan’s attempts to tempt Him, he left his hometown of Nazareth and moved to Capernaum, located “by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali”. We read where this happened so to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah who had predicted:
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
Indeed, a light indeed had dawned…the Light of the World…Jesus Christ, not only bringing light to the people of Israel who were living in darkness but still bringing light to people today.
As we take our first step past Ash Wednesday where we were reminded of how far short we fall of the Lord’s favor, we emerge from the darkness into the presence of a great light…a Light that exposes our sins and calls us to change. Or in other words, Jesus, the Great Light of the World, preaches and demands that we "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Friends, if we’re truly going to get the best out of Lent, we have to first turn to the Light…our Savior, Jesus…and then turn from our sinfulness toward His way…the way of righteousness. When we trust Christ and truly believe in Him, making Him our greatest treasure in life (Matthew 6:21), then we will find ourselves embodying everything that is in Him through His Holy Spirit. Light begets light and we become light bearers, ever walking in the footsteps of Jesus and in doing so, letting His light shine through us to others.
Day 1 of this journey showed us the power of the Word of God and how we need it to fend off the attacks of Satan…and trust me when I say he will try and attack you…he will try to drag you back into darkness. But know and trust that he can only drag you into darkness if you choose to turn from the Light. Stay focused on Jesus…stay in His light…and there will be no room for the devil to cause you to revert to your sinful desires.
Question: Are you walking in the light or in the darkness?
My prayer for you and every person this day is that you will come to the Light and never turn away from it. Scripture reminds us that the path of righteousness is narrow and few will travel it. This is because the only way to travel the narrow path is if you can see where you are going. Or in other words…you need the Light.
Tomorrow, we will anticipate with great excitement how the Lord will again illuminate us and instruct us through His word, guiding us on our journey through Lent. I can’t wait to sit back down again and allow the Holy Spirit to give me the words to write. I pray the Lord is richly blessing you by them.
God bless all of you. I’ll see you tomorrow.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
THE JOURNEY
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Ash Wednesday…another one in another year.
Another Ash Wednesday in another year to reflect on how far short I have fallen of the Lord’s expectations for my life. And as I reflect, I’m not happy with myself…but then again, I shouldn’t be because this day is all about seeing the need to repent and to draw nearer to the only One who can help us become better.
And that’s just what I aim to do over the next 40 plus days as I set out to journey with Jesus through Lent.
I have chose to start this journey with Him after his baptism…as He entered the desert being led “by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil”.
Scripture tells us that Jesus fasted “forty days and forty nights” which left Him hungry. And who would enter in a time when He was at His weakest then “the Tempter”…better known as Satan or the devil.
Now…as I enter into this 40 day journey with Jesus, I know well in advance that it’s not going to be easy. It is going to be long…and I know it’s going to wear on me. I know as well that I am going to be hungry. But I also know that I’m going to make it. I couldn’t be more certain about anything else in my life.
Why?
Because Jesus made it and He will help me make it too. I only need to travel with Him through the journey…and be nourished by His life and the Word of the Father. After all, that’s our spiritual bread.
Doubt that?
You shouldn’t because Jesus affirmed it. For we read where when Jesus was in His state of weakness, Satan came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Satan knew full well what Jesus was capable of…of the power He possessed to do anything…even turn stones into bread.
But Satan had no right to demand any display of power from the Son of God. Jesus didn’t have to justify Himself to Satan…and he doesn’t need to prove Himself to us either. He is Jesus…the Lord of Lords…the King of Kings.
So in the midst of Satan’s ludicrous request, Jesus speaks words of power and wisdom…not just to Satan but to us as well. For Jesus answered, “It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Jesus countered Satan’s temptation with the Word of God, drawing from the Old Testament scriptures to remind us where our true sustenance comes from. We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.” And God answers that prayer through the abundance of wisdom we find in every word in the Bible.
But Satan wasn’t about to give up in trying to have his was with Jesus. No…he tried to tempt Him again.
This time, Satan “took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple” before challenging Him by saying, “If you are the Son of God…throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
See how sly Satan can be?
Jesus used the word of God to counter the first temptation so Satan tries to tempt Jesus the second time by drawing from a scripture verse to try and trick Jesus. But Jesus would have none of it as He replied, “It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " Again, drawing from the Old Testament, Jesus used God’s word to stifle the devil.
Question: How many times do people twist the scriptures to try and accomplish their own agendas? Too many times, I’m afraid. But if we stay firmly embedded ourselves in the word of God, we’ll always possess the wisdom to see when someone is trying to manipulate us. God will always expose those who try and deceive, especially when they try and use His word to do it.
So twice Satan tempted. And twice Jesus denied him using God’s word.
Would Satan now give up?
No…he never does. His pursuit of destroying any good and perfect thing that God has made is relentless.
No…Satan again tried to persuade Jesus to do his will…this time taking Him to a “very high mountain” and showing Him “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor”. In what was his most ridiculous request of all, Satan said to Jesus, "All this I will give you,…if you will bow down and worship me."
OK…let me get this straight. Jesus…the Lord of all Lords…the King of all Kings…should bow down and worship Satan so Satan could give Him what He already had? How stupid is that?
And Jesus had to have felt the same way. I could almost sense Him thinking, “Are you kidding Me?” before He commanded Satan to get “Away from me…!” because “it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' " Another priceless scripture…at another perfect and priceless time…for a perfect and priceless purpose. For after using God’s word to defend Himself, we read where the devil left Jesus and left him to the angels who came and attended to Him.
Friends, I know well that if Satan went after Jesus..the Omnipotent Savior and Messiah…then he surely will come after me…and you…as well. And he’ll do it at will whenever he senses he can get his way…especially when you have been in the desert wastelands of life and find yourself weak and hungry.
But I also know that we, like Jesus, can withstand any attack…any plot…any scheme that the devil might decide to launch…but only if we learn from Jesus and use the word of God as our defense…the very word that is our daily bread…that which we live by.
I hope you’ll check in daily and even join me on this walk. I look forward to traveling with you if you so choose…and I know Jesus wouldn’t mind you tagging along either. Let’s get started.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Ash Wednesday…another one in another year.
Another Ash Wednesday in another year to reflect on how far short I have fallen of the Lord’s expectations for my life. And as I reflect, I’m not happy with myself…but then again, I shouldn’t be because this day is all about seeing the need to repent and to draw nearer to the only One who can help us become better.
And that’s just what I aim to do over the next 40 plus days as I set out to journey with Jesus through Lent.
I have chose to start this journey with Him after his baptism…as He entered the desert being led “by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil”.
Scripture tells us that Jesus fasted “forty days and forty nights” which left Him hungry. And who would enter in a time when He was at His weakest then “the Tempter”…better known as Satan or the devil.
Now…as I enter into this 40 day journey with Jesus, I know well in advance that it’s not going to be easy. It is going to be long…and I know it’s going to wear on me. I know as well that I am going to be hungry. But I also know that I’m going to make it. I couldn’t be more certain about anything else in my life.
Why?
Because Jesus made it and He will help me make it too. I only need to travel with Him through the journey…and be nourished by His life and the Word of the Father. After all, that’s our spiritual bread.
Doubt that?
You shouldn’t because Jesus affirmed it. For we read where when Jesus was in His state of weakness, Satan came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Satan knew full well what Jesus was capable of…of the power He possessed to do anything…even turn stones into bread.
But Satan had no right to demand any display of power from the Son of God. Jesus didn’t have to justify Himself to Satan…and he doesn’t need to prove Himself to us either. He is Jesus…the Lord of Lords…the King of Kings.
So in the midst of Satan’s ludicrous request, Jesus speaks words of power and wisdom…not just to Satan but to us as well. For Jesus answered, “It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Jesus countered Satan’s temptation with the Word of God, drawing from the Old Testament scriptures to remind us where our true sustenance comes from. We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.” And God answers that prayer through the abundance of wisdom we find in every word in the Bible.
But Satan wasn’t about to give up in trying to have his was with Jesus. No…he tried to tempt Him again.
This time, Satan “took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple” before challenging Him by saying, “If you are the Son of God…throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
See how sly Satan can be?
Jesus used the word of God to counter the first temptation so Satan tries to tempt Jesus the second time by drawing from a scripture verse to try and trick Jesus. But Jesus would have none of it as He replied, “It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " Again, drawing from the Old Testament, Jesus used God’s word to stifle the devil.
Question: How many times do people twist the scriptures to try and accomplish their own agendas? Too many times, I’m afraid. But if we stay firmly embedded ourselves in the word of God, we’ll always possess the wisdom to see when someone is trying to manipulate us. God will always expose those who try and deceive, especially when they try and use His word to do it.
So twice Satan tempted. And twice Jesus denied him using God’s word.
Would Satan now give up?
No…he never does. His pursuit of destroying any good and perfect thing that God has made is relentless.
No…Satan again tried to persuade Jesus to do his will…this time taking Him to a “very high mountain” and showing Him “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor”. In what was his most ridiculous request of all, Satan said to Jesus, "All this I will give you,…if you will bow down and worship me."
OK…let me get this straight. Jesus…the Lord of all Lords…the King of all Kings…should bow down and worship Satan so Satan could give Him what He already had? How stupid is that?
And Jesus had to have felt the same way. I could almost sense Him thinking, “Are you kidding Me?” before He commanded Satan to get “Away from me…!” because “it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' " Another priceless scripture…at another perfect and priceless time…for a perfect and priceless purpose. For after using God’s word to defend Himself, we read where the devil left Jesus and left him to the angels who came and attended to Him.
Friends, I know well that if Satan went after Jesus..the Omnipotent Savior and Messiah…then he surely will come after me…and you…as well. And he’ll do it at will whenever he senses he can get his way…especially when you have been in the desert wastelands of life and find yourself weak and hungry.
But I also know that we, like Jesus, can withstand any attack…any plot…any scheme that the devil might decide to launch…but only if we learn from Jesus and use the word of God as our defense…the very word that is our daily bread…that which we live by.
I hope you’ll check in daily and even join me on this walk. I look forward to traveling with you if you so choose…and I know Jesus wouldn’t mind you tagging along either. Let’s get started.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
WHO GETS AFFLICTED?
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king's son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
As for the other events of Azariah's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
2 Kings 15:1-7
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As people perceive life…their own and others…I think there’s a misperception that the only people who end up afflicted are those who struggle…those who are down and out…those who can’t afford to stay in good health because they don’t have the means to do so. The rich get richer…even in health…while the poor get equally poorer in all parts of their life.
While this may be true in some instances, it is not an accurate answer to the question, “Who gets afflicted?” For if the truth be known, affliction is an equal opportunity attacker. It has no sense of finances or status…no sense of gender or race or age…no respect for fitness or physical prowess…no selectivity of wrongdoer over righteous.
Doubt that?
If you do, then we need only take a look at our scripture today.
For as we finished 2 Kings 14, we found Azariah ascending to the throne in place of his father, Amaziah who through his arrogance caused Jerusalem to fall. You’ll recall that Amaziah was killed by conspirators at Lachish and some people might say that he got what he deserved.
So would Azariah decide to follow the wrongs of his father or would he choose to do what was right in the ways of the Lord?
As Chapter 15 opens, we find the answer. For we read where Azariah became king at the young age of sixteen and “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” even though he failed to remove the high places where the “people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense”.
So Azariah should have been OK right? He did what was in the eyes of the Lord and didn’t make any mistakes that the other kings before him had made. Surely he warranted the Lord’s reward for his actions.
It didn’t quite work that way.
For King Azariah, after doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, became afflicted with leprosy by that same Lord…and remained that way until the day he died. During that time, he was caused to live “in a separate house” because lepers were outsiders in Old Testament times…considered unclean and not fit to be with those who are not afflicted. In his stead, his son, Jotham, was in “charge of the palace and governed the people of the land”. And this just didn’t go on for a short period of time. No…Azariah “reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years”. That’s a long time with much of it spent afflicted, isolated and alone.
Friends, affliction is part of the life experience. It happens the moment we emerge from birth into this world. For it is at that moment that we are sinners, defective with a disease that has plagued mankind since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden of Eden, thus defying God’s command (Genesis 3). It’s an ailment for which there is no cure on earth…one that we can only place into remission through continuously remaining close to the only One who can save us from our sin…our Savior Jesus…the One who suffered for us and bore the penalty for our sins while He hung crucified and dying on the cross of Calvary…the One who is our remedy for sin and will strip us of it when we are ushered into eternal life with him at our death.
So who gets afflicted?
The answer is all of us.
Thanks be to God we have good news in His Son, Jesus Christ…the Author of our Salvation…the One who allows us to rejoice and have hope in the midst of our afflictions.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
F4HWRGMQJBC6
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king's son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
As for the other events of Azariah's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
2 Kings 15:1-7
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As people perceive life…their own and others…I think there’s a misperception that the only people who end up afflicted are those who struggle…those who are down and out…those who can’t afford to stay in good health because they don’t have the means to do so. The rich get richer…even in health…while the poor get equally poorer in all parts of their life.
While this may be true in some instances, it is not an accurate answer to the question, “Who gets afflicted?” For if the truth be known, affliction is an equal opportunity attacker. It has no sense of finances or status…no sense of gender or race or age…no respect for fitness or physical prowess…no selectivity of wrongdoer over righteous.
Doubt that?
If you do, then we need only take a look at our scripture today.
For as we finished 2 Kings 14, we found Azariah ascending to the throne in place of his father, Amaziah who through his arrogance caused Jerusalem to fall. You’ll recall that Amaziah was killed by conspirators at Lachish and some people might say that he got what he deserved.
So would Azariah decide to follow the wrongs of his father or would he choose to do what was right in the ways of the Lord?
As Chapter 15 opens, we find the answer. For we read where Azariah became king at the young age of sixteen and “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” even though he failed to remove the high places where the “people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense”.
So Azariah should have been OK right? He did what was in the eyes of the Lord and didn’t make any mistakes that the other kings before him had made. Surely he warranted the Lord’s reward for his actions.
It didn’t quite work that way.
For King Azariah, after doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, became afflicted with leprosy by that same Lord…and remained that way until the day he died. During that time, he was caused to live “in a separate house” because lepers were outsiders in Old Testament times…considered unclean and not fit to be with those who are not afflicted. In his stead, his son, Jotham, was in “charge of the palace and governed the people of the land”. And this just didn’t go on for a short period of time. No…Azariah “reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years”. That’s a long time with much of it spent afflicted, isolated and alone.
Friends, affliction is part of the life experience. It happens the moment we emerge from birth into this world. For it is at that moment that we are sinners, defective with a disease that has plagued mankind since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden of Eden, thus defying God’s command (Genesis 3). It’s an ailment for which there is no cure on earth…one that we can only place into remission through continuously remaining close to the only One who can save us from our sin…our Savior Jesus…the One who suffered for us and bore the penalty for our sins while He hung crucified and dying on the cross of Calvary…the One who is our remedy for sin and will strip us of it when we are ushered into eternal life with him at our death.
So who gets afflicted?
The answer is all of us.
Thanks be to God we have good news in His Son, Jesus Christ…the Author of our Salvation…the One who allows us to rejoice and have hope in the midst of our afflictions.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
F4HWRGMQJBC6
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