Category: Good Life Journal

Journal Ps 4-5 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

 

Scripture: “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds and be silent.

 

Offer right sacrifices and put your trust in the Lord.” (Ps 4:4-5)

 

Observation:  Talk about a seemingly impossible task: In my case “angry” and “sin” are handshake buddies.  Undoubtedly, I am of no character to have “righteous anger” and to start braiding a whip…

 

Analysis: I repeat: Angry and Sin go together in me like Peanut Butter and Jelly.

 

Here is the Holy Spirit, though, saying, “Be angry.”  (Check.  That one is easy, I can comply at the drop of a hat).

 

But He continues: “…AND do not sin.”  In obedience to the Scriptures, be “something” and “not something” at the same time.  If I think about this deeper, I am to cultivate anger and cultivate not sinning with the same effort on the same field of my heart.

 

Can this be done?

 

With God, nothing is impossible.  Nada, naught, zero.  All is possible in Him who is.  “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”  Luke 18:27

 

So, looking at this from the guise of progressive sanctification, how can I address this?  What is for sure for me at this point in my life (and maybe all my life), I must split the objective of learning about sinless anger into their component parts.

 

The second part of the reference scripture gives me clues:

1. Ponder in your own hearts AND
2. Be silent.
3. Offer right sacrifices;
4. Put your trust in the Lord.

 

Ponder in my own heart: I call it grinding on a subject and not in a good attitude.  There must be a way to do this in a godly manner.

 

Be silent: Easiest because is just means to keep my pie hole shut—at a time when grousing, grumbling, and complaining is leaking all over the place.

 

Offer right sacrifices: I would if I knew what they were.  Sacrifice of praise?  Getting closer to the right start but praise of what?

 

Put my trust in the Lord: Probably the easiest to do with my mouth but the hardest to do with my heart.

 

Here is what I have decided upon to start the ball rolling: “…give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for (concerning) You.” (Eph 5:18) This one scripture, focused upon every day, begins the work on my attitude so that Ps 4:4-5 can be accomplished eventually.

 

Progressive sanctification is a plan, made in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, so that “progress is evident and seen by all.”  (1 Tim 4:15) Am I discouraged?  Heaven’s no.  For I have the Lord God almighty to walk me through all of this.

 

Prayer:  Lord, as I write this, make it fact in my daily life.  Let my wife see it and comment upon it.  I want the evidence of Your work in me to perceived by folks in and out of the Church.  This only to honor You by walking worthy of the Gospel.  AMEN

 

Scripture

 

Vs 1 Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
vs 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

Vs 3 … In all that he does, he prospers.

 

Observation

 

The Psalmist describes the greatest contrast of people to begin the psalms.

In one category is the one who is “blessed”.

In the other category is the “wicked”, “sinner”, “scoffer”.

 

The psalmist first states what NOT to do.

Do NOT “walk” in the counsel of the wicked.

Do NOT “stand” in the way of sinners.

Do NOT “sit” in the seat of the scoffer.

These are all actions to avoid.

So … don’t take advice from bad folks.

Don’t hang too closely with those living bad ways.

And don’t be the one that just ridicules and disdains everything.

 

On the other hand, the psalmist distinguishes then what TO DO.

If I want to be the blessed person,

I must “delight” in the law and “meditate” on the law.

Interestingly, “Delight” and “Meditate” are both internal actions,

Juxtaposed to the external actions to avoid … “walk”, “stand”, “sit”.

 

In other words, the “blessing” begins from within!

 

Application

 

Where is my head? … And … Where is my heart?

What am I thinking and what am I feeling?

These, it seems, the psalmist is telling right from the beginning are what’s most important.

 

I want to concentrate on what I am “doing”.

I want to think that what I “do” will make my life better … or more “blessed”.

 

But the psalmist states, “What are you delighting in?” … “Where’s your heart?”

If it’s not God’s Word …. I’m going to “walk”, “stand”, and “sit” in the wrong direction and wrong place.

The psalmist also states, “What are you meditating on? … “Where’s your head?”

If it’s not God’s Word … I’m going to “scoff” … “sin” … and ultimately … “wither”.

 

I must be thinking and feeling the correct way about the correct thing … God’s Word.

I must have the right head and heart posture about God’s Word.

And it must be both.

I can think … “meditate” … about God’s Word all day … but if I don’t “delight” in it,

Then I could become like the Pharisee who had God’s Word memorized, but with no heart for people.

Or I can feel … “delight” … about God’s Word in the moment … but if I don’t “meditate” on it,

Then I could become the flimsy follower … who lasts for a little while … and then fades away.

 

Do I want to be like the seed who fades and withers like the parable of the soils?

Or do I want to be like a tree that is fruitful and a leaf that does not whither?

The difference is my inner posture to God’s Word …

My head and my heart …

I must “meditate” on it … and “delight” in it!

 

Prayer

 

Thank you, again, God, for Your Word!

Guide me in it, open my eyes to it.

Soften my heart to it an sharpen my mind for it!

Help me crave it

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture:

[6] “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

 

Observation:

He WAS crucified

He HAS risen!

See the place – proving to them not just by what the angel SAID but by what they SEE.

The resurrection was proof that Jesus IS who He says He is

 

Application:

Jesus died for our sins so, when we became followers of Him, our old lives were killed.

I AM born again with the promise of spending eternity with Him.

With His resurrection and His promise we know that we will be resurrected as well

 

Prayer:

Lord You are so good.  Thank You for sending your Son to be crucified for our sins and for the promise we can hold on to of spending eternity with You.

Scripture: “And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom.”  (Mk 15:38)

 

Observation:  This is significant, because it now shows entry into the Holy of Holies isn’t reserved for a select few (the Priesthood).  Through Jesus’ death, men can approach the Creator directly.

 

Analysis:  Out of all the components of Chapter 15 (which are many), this is the one sentence that has always gotten my attention.

 

Can I approach God without any earthly intermediaries?  As Protestant Christians the assumption is yes.  As Western Christians the assumption is yes (because we are a democratic culture and basically Reformed Theology based).

 

Paul writes to the church at Ephesus concerning the mystery of the Gospel: “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs (with the offspring of Abraham), members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.” (Eph 3:6) Continuing, “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence though our faith in Him,” (Eph 3:11-12)

 

This is what the writer of Hebrews says, “Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.  THEREFORE, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus; by the new and living way that he opened for us THROUGH THE CURTAIN (that is, through his flesh) and since we have a great priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” (Heb 10:18-22a)

 

This is, in my opinion, a big deal.  So many reasons why Jesus came to die and this one is quite close to the top of all the reasons.  It is why we can boldly come to the Throne.  It is much of the basis of God’s Love toward us.  It is why we are not only subjects of the Sovereign God but also adopted children.  It is why the playing field is level across all of Creation and so much more.

 

An old song reinforcing this (as songs and hymns are supposed to do) comes to mind:

 

Your Grace opens the way

That I might draw near to You

With my heart full of faith

Your Grace is all undeserved

Though there are times I fail still You are with me…

(Your Grace, Andy Park, 1998 Mercy Vineyard Publishing)

 

Prayer:  Father, even as my day starts with struggles, I remember that I can approach You.  Freely.  Confident.  Knowing I have an Advocate in the Son my Lord.

 

I don’t have to wait outside the Curtain any longer, for the Curtain has been removed.

 

Thank you, Merciful God.  AMEN.

 

 

Mark 14:38 –  “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.  The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.

Observation-

Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane praying to the Father for the Father’s will to be done.  Jesus has instructed Peter, James and John to watch him.  After the disciples, in their own flesh, fall asleep, Jesus returns and gives them the instruction found in verse 38 to observe him as he prays that we may be kept from temptation.  Our flesh alone by ourselves is weak but the Spirit is strong.

Application –

I must follow the instruction Jesus gives to the disciples in the garden.  I need to carve out time, alone to pray, communicate with God just as Jesus does.  I have to submit and ask God for me to follow His will not my own agenda.  Part of my prayer request, as Jesus instructs us in the Lord’s Prayer, should be to keep me free of temptation.  This is not going to occur of my own power or doing by myself.  I have to be in God’s word and in prayer to provide wisdom and discernment for the Spirit to guide me.

 

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for loving me so much that you want to have a relationship with me.  Help me follow Jesus to be in prayer asking for protection from temptation.  Let the Spirit guide me to do your will and bring your glory.

Scripture: (Jesus speaking) “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

 

Be on guard, keep awake.  For you do not know when the time will come.  It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.

 

Therefore, stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come: in the evening; or at midnight; or when the rooster crows; or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.

 

And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” (Mk 13:32-36)

 

Observation:  This section is eerily familiar in one respect: Gethsemane.   Is Jesus speaking about That Day (yes, he is), or is he speaking about persevering/enduring/pursuing him to the End?  How about both?

 

Analysis: I couldn’t help but think about Gethsemane and Jesus asking the 3 main joes to stay awake and pray with him during that agonizing night.

 

Yes, this section is about That Day and how silly it is to pursue any particular day on our calendar, when even Jesus himself doesn’t know the day or the time of That Day.

 

“Is it Sunday, Father?  Will it be at High Noon or at Sunset?  Maybe the break of day?”

“Son leave it alone.  Just tell me: Are you ready?”

“Say the Word, Dad.  I am on the Ready 6…”

 

I am being silly, but that is sort of how I should be—ready, willing, “on the Ready 6.”  (Aircraft carrier talk—did you ever see “Top Gun?”)

 

Candidly, I am not ready all the time.  Shucks, I don’t even think most days I am that far out of bed, tackling the day in His Name.  I do get up, do my chores, go to work, and so forth—but alert for His Coming?  Ready for the horn to blow?  Not even close.

 

Why is that?  It is because I am not putting the effort into being a disciple.

 

Becoming a disciple isn’t a matter of asking “Lord, please make me a disciple” and poof, there I am—a full-fledged, completely enabled and trained, fully vested Disciple of the 1^st Rank.

 

It doesn’t happen that way.  What does happen is submitting to the Training of the Holy Spirit through cooperation by systematically shedding and adding “Fruit.”  Takes a long time, a lifetime for all, because none on earth gets to that magic moment when it is said, “You are done, complete, here is your Disciple 1^st class badge.”

 

What it takes, simply put, is intention.  Am I intending to become a disciple or am I hoping that by some process of osmosis eventually will I become one?

 

This thought keeps me going every day.

 

Prayer:   Lord, I want to be ready for That Day (which could come even as I am writing this).  I have been told “Plan for 100 years from now, be ready for 100 seconds from now.”  Help me systematically put my nose to the grindstone and please You all my days.  AMEN.

Scripture: “And Sadducees came to (Jesus), who say that there is no resurrection.  And they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.

 

(My insert: So, what if—7 brothers, all died one by one, all had the same wife from the 1^st brother until the last, all the brothers were dead—then the wife dies—whose wife is she in the resurrection?)

 

Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?…As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying: “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.

 

You are quite wrong.”  Excerpts from Mk 12:18-27

 

Observation:  How do theories get argued against effectively?  By the Word of God and strong doctrine.

 

Analysis:  These “Sadducees” kind of folks have stopped coming to my door.

 

I supposed everyone gets a shot by them.  They are admirable, consistently doing their “missions”, their once per quarter “witnessing” into my neighborhood.

 

Their most effective prospects?  Those who only know some of the Scriptures and are already focusing on the “moral conduct presentation” of being a Christian— “I know I need to act good if I am a Christian.  I don’t know why, but that is what being a Christian is about, right?”  This is so-called Christianity defined as moral conduct only, the lack of knowing Him intimately, the folks of “exit, stage left” Matthew 7:21-23.

 

Jesus hung these Sadducees on their own petard by being accurate with not just the Scriptures, but accurate with the Doctrine of God (He is God of the Living—a Communicable Attribute of God).

 

He didn’t do this to notch the spine of his Bible, nor to pat Himself on the back (“Hah, got those guys!), He did this to give honor to His Word and the supremacy of Biblical Truth by accurately responding with Scripture.  And not just shooting off Verse Bullets (Ka-pow, ka-pow), nor tossing a Quote Bomb but talking and reasoning as if the Word of God was woven into His mind and character (which of course, it is).

 

I think that the point (for me, at least) of this section of Scripture is not the argument of whose wife is whom, but the picture of the Living Word woven in and out of the discussion by the Master.

 

I want the Word of God coursing through me like that.  C.H. Spurgeon said of John Bunyan, ““If you cut him, (John Bunyan) he’d bleed Scripture!”  That’s what I am talking about aspiring to.

 

Got aspirations yourself?

 

Prayer:  Father, pumped up again—I want more of You.  AMEN.

Scripture: “On the following day, when they came from Bethany, (Jesus) was hungry.  And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it.

 

When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves (for it was not the season for figs).  And (Jesus) said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”  And his disciples heard it…

 

As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.

 

And Peter remembered and said to (Jesus), “Rabbi, look!  The fig tree that you cursed has withered.  And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.”  (Mark 11:12-14 and 20-22)

 

Observation:  Let’s see: Jesus was hungry; fig tree didn’t have fruit; Jesus cursed the tree.  Later, everyone saw the fig tree withered.  In between Jesus threw the moneychangers out of the temple and afterward taught about having faith as a mustard seed (out of Matt and Luke).  So how do these sections fit together?

 

Analysis:  Here is my astute analysis: Beat’s me.

 

Really.  That’s all I have.  I have been thinking about this since the past Sunday wondering what is being taught with the story of the fig tree.

 

I had a pretty bad day at work yesterday and to keep from grinding about the situation and growing bitter with every nuance and thought through the night, I forced thinking about this Fig Tree into my brain and continually asking “What is up with this, Lord?”

 

When my thoughts started to wander back, I grabbed hold and got them back on the track I chose about the fig tree.

 

What I am remembering right now is “…take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Cor 10:5b)

 

Did I come up with anything about the discourse starting with “Being hungry” and ending with “tossing mountains in the sea” and dealing with temple businessmen inbetween?  No, I didn’t.  Had some observations that I tossed from considering because there must be something I am missing, but really: I am dry.

 

What I think I learned: 1) Not everything is clear, this is what meditation and study are about, and; 2) disciplining the noggin to take every thought captive is hard but not impossible in Christ.

 

Prayer:  Lord, I am still grinding away at “taking every thought captive” in your Name.  It is one thing not to dishonor You with visible actions, it is another thing to not dishonor you where only You can see—like my heart and mind.  It is another aspect of “walking worthy of the Gospel”, isn’t it?

 

Help me do the right thing concerning the issue confronting me.  O Lord, thank you for my wife helping guide me through this minefield.  AMEN.

Scripture

 

1 …And again, as was his custom, Jesus taught them.

 

2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful … “

 

15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.

 

21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

 

28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 

29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

 

Observation  

 

Here we have Jesus talking about the “upside down” Kingdom of God.

Everything is so counterintuitive about God’s eternal kingdom compared to our standard way of seeing the world.

 

Mark shows us what describes some of the actions and thinking of the people on the scene here.

 

A couple of themes:

Teaching vs. Testing

And 

Truth vs. Treasure

 

What characterized the actions of Jesus? Teaching.

“as was his custom, Jesus taught”

 

What characterizes the actions of the Pharisees? Testing.

“in order to test (Jesus)”

 

What motivates the actions of the followers of Jesus vs the would be followers of Jesus?

Truth and Treasure 

Jesus said multiple times:

“Truly, I say to you …”

Peter said “we have left everything and followed you.” 

While the rich young man went away sorrowful because of his unwillingness to leave his great possessions.

 

Application  

 

What do I really want, Truth or Treasure?

There’s a way to have both.

It’s just the opposite way of seeing the world from the standard.

I want to pursue treasure and then justify it as right.

Jesus says to pursue Truth … His Ways and His Words … and I end up with Treasure, eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

 

So, then, how do I lean into the Truth of Jesus?

Do I want to follow His teaching?

Or do I want to test His teaching?

 

I’m an excellent “rationalizer”.

I can rationalize just about any choice I make or action I take.

 

I’ll test Jesus instead of follow His teaching.

 

And usually it’s because I want immediate treasure over eternal truth.

 

It’s the same thing that goes all the way back to that first tempter and tester in the Garden …

“Did God really say that?”

 

Sure, I may get what I want immediately … whatever  “forbidden fruit” that may be.

But what am I giving up eternally?!

 

I must always pursue Teaching over Testing and Truth before Treasure!

 

Prayer

 

Thank you, God, for your Truth

Help me hunger for it

Help me follow it even when I don’t understand it 

Help me see you as the ultimate treasure 

Help me leave anything that keeps me fro  you

In Jesus name

Amen 

Journal Mk 8 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

 

Scripture: “The Pharisees came and began to argue with (Jesus), seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.  And (Jesus) sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign?  Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.

 

And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side…” (Mk 8:11-13)

 

Observation: Signs, signs, everywhere and everyone wants to see a sign; myself included. While Jesus is speaking to this group of Pharisees, is the observation applicable to every generation—including today?

 

Analysis:  If I really think about what the Pharisees do, I should recognize myself in their reflection.

 

Because of the Fall, it is difficult to approach someone without wanting desperately to talk about myself and my own opinions.

 

Concerning Christianity, why is that?  After all I have the Bible and a couple of thousand years of historical precedent that I should be able to fall back on, right?

 

Alas, I seem to revert to a character as from Missouri, the “Show Me” state: Prove it!  Prove what you are saying is true; be overwhelming convincing; “show me a sign.”

 

“If you are going to ask me to upend my life (which I kind of like how I am at the moment), you better have some convincing proofs—proofs that are more convincing than my own opinions.”

 

Jesus defines the above attitude characteristics 3 ways: Eyes that cannot see; Ears that refuse to hear; a Heart that is hard and stony.

 

When I shut myself down like this, one thing is for certain: I cannot hear the Whisper of God. Shucks, I even go blind to the written Word of God and only see the stuff that makes me happy, self-important, and self-satisfied.  It also keeps me shallow and forgetful of the Gospel.

 

So, what do I do?  Do I stop having an opinion or arguing about the Scriptures?  That isn’t supported by the Scriptures at all.  I am supposed to think, to reason, to imagine, to correlate and all those “thinking” type synonyms. Goodness, if someone way back when didn’t put their punkin’ head down to figure out why Jesus’ death on the Cross was enough for the Atonement of Sin and they came up with the concept of the Trinity.

 

I must keep thinking, but I should think humbly and with a strong dose of “I could be wrong, let me study more” even if that study is for several years.  Paul considered his gospel for 17 years before bringing it to the Elders.  17 years!  That is not too long, right?

 

Prayer: Lord, obstinacy runs deep within me and You allow me to fight it every day.  Let my so-called convictions run deep alongside Your Word and on the shoulders of Fathers of the Faith that have come before.  I want to keep my heart bowed to You and my eyes lifted to see You every day.  AMEN

 

 

Rick Sutton

“Saturday Morning Coffee at IHOPs”

Mobile 941-730-8106

Mk 9

Scripture:

[4] And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

[5] Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” [6] (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

 

Observation:

Peter – frightened by what he saw, said something Peter-ish.  He basically lowers Jesus to the same level as Moses and Elijah.  Earlier Peter rebukes Jesus when Jesus was predicting His own death, he loses faith when Jesus has him to walk out of the boat, and now Peter lowers Jesus to be equivalent with Moses and Elijah.

 

Application:

How often to we do this like Peter?  We rebuke Him when we don’t want to believe where He’s leading us, we lose faith I’m Him when He doesn’t show up in our life situations the way we think He should, or we get frightened or confused and lower Jesus to be no greater than other heroes, vices, fears, or whatever?  Money, job, house, even family. With strong faith we should know that He is always with us, even when we’re confused and frightened.

 

Prayer:

Lord we exalt you above all.  As the pressures and concerns of this life attack us, let us never for an instant forget your supreme place and that You are with us.  Amen.

Mark 7:20-23. – And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting , wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and define a person.”

Observation-

Jesus is answering the disciples question about what defiles a person. There is nothing from outside that enters a person that can make them unclean. Rather, it is what comes from inside a person’s heart that is evil. Therefore the ceremonial cleansing from the Mosaic law is tradition that does not to a changed heart.

Application-

Jesus comes to fulfill the Mosaic law. The law is not able to be kept and does not lead to a new heart filled with mercy that God desires of us. In other words, I can know scripture and feel religious/righteous without having a purified heart surrendered to Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I can lead a changed life internally not just intellectually. I must follow Jesus, have compassion and mercy for the things that burden him and live a changed life for him.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for the truth in your word and sending Jesus to save me. Let me be a person with a heart that loves you and others not someone who practices religion.

Scripture: “(Jesus) went away from there and came to his hometown (and his disciples followed him).  (And) On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?  What is the wisdom given to him?  How are such mighty works done by his hands?

 

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, brother of James and Joses, Judas, and Simon?  And are not his sisters here with us?

 

And they took offense at him.

 

And Jesus said to them: “A prophet is not without honor…EXCEPT in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”  And he could do no mighty work there (except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them).

 

And he marveled because of their unbelief.” (Mk 6:1-6a)

 

Observation: I would think that Jesus would get a break at least when he came home to visit.

 

Analysis: One definition of “marveled” is “dumbfounded.”

 

I must think that is what was meant using “marveled”; it certainly wasn’t meant as ‘admirable.’  Nothing admirable about the above scenario.

 

It isn’t because Jesus’ reputation, reports, and news of his exploits didn’t reach home—all he has been doing and saying, complete with historical family background.  These folks knew about Jesus.

 

And?  They took offense.

 

At what?  Wisdom?  Teaching?  Ok, these are ideas and sounds of the mouth.  Folks can get upset when words cut to the quick.  But getting upset at mighty works?  I am going to get upset at…mighty, miraculous, visible, touchable, “I can see that” works?  These were MIGHTY works.  For sure they weren’t, “Oh, glad Jesus healed that (whatever) now, but really, a little goat’s milk and mashed olive mixture would have done the same thing in a week or two” mediocre works.

 

I know people like that.  Shucks, I am one at times.  I will listen intently to a stranger with a reputation than my neighbor whom I have known for years—the guy I see mowing his yard on Saturday and later in the day preparing for Sunday morning.

 

What is that equal to?  Unbelief.

 

Unbelief is not the refusal to acknowledge facts at hand.  In the above reference all the folks acknowledged multitudes of stuff about Jesus.  What they refused to make the leap about is this guy, Jesus, being a Prophet or (gasp) embracing the claim that the Carpenter was the Son of God.

 

That is where I must renew my mind daily (Ro 12:2) and not succumb to the notion that Jesus was a great Teacher or that the Christian walk is only a moral walk.  Not so.  Not so.

 

I belong to a chosen generation (1 Pet 2:9), brought for good works, so that I might glorify Him above all things.

 

At least, keep me from Jesus shaking his head, dumbfounded at my unbelief.

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus. Separate from the work of Justification, help me to glorify You, bringing pleasure to you, to enjoy you all my days.  It is my privilege to serve you.  AMEN.

 

 

Rick Sutton

“Saturday Morning Coffee at IHOPs”

Mobile 941-730-8106

Journal Mk 5 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

 

Scripture: (The demon possessed man) “As (Jesus) was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him.

 

And (Jesus) did not permit him be said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

 

And (the demon possessed man) went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.”  (Mk 5:18-20)

 

Observation:  Is this a clear description of what to do with the aftermath of tossing demons in a herd of pigs?  There are consequences to bringing the Gospel to folks.

 

Analysis: I remember the story about the disciples returning to Jesus after being sent out for the first time: “Lord, that was sooo cool.  I was preaching the Kingdom; sick people came up to us and we laid hands on them and they were healed!!  Really healed.  And, and, and…we cast out demons!  Actual demons!  It was so good (whispered “I about wet myself it was so good).”

 

“Good for you, boys.  Well done.  Now, after you did all that, what did you do then?”

 

Ah, that has always been the question for me: What do I do then?

 

It is not an easy answer.  Oh, I can come up with the basic Billy Graham format: “Read your Bible, pray, find a good church, we have representatives from local churches all around praying for you…”  But even if a convert does all the above and gets to the “local church” discovery step, what would I do?  Shoot, a person can self-testify being a Believer for 10, 20, 50! Years and not know what to do to bring a newby, a rookie, into the Faith.

 

So, what did Jesus do with the Freed Demoniac?  “No, you can’t come with me.  Stay here.  I want you to do no more than this: tell people how I set you free, how I had mercy on you.”  No more instruction than that.  Jesus didn’t elaborate, he didn’t expand, no background, no options or alternatives depending on the circumstances—Stay.  Speak.  Tell of my Mercy on you.

 

In the old days, this was called a Testimony.  I need to think of my Testimony on how Jesus had and has mercy on me.  It might not sound like “I had a demon and now I am set free by Jesus and His mercy” but being set free…at any place, in any capacity, is so very sweet and awesome.

 

Prayer:  You have set me free, Lord Jesus.  I remember that day under the awning at the Methodist church where I surrendered.  Took me decades to take off chains, put them on, take them off, ad nauseum—and still have that pattern today.  Thank you for setting me free; please keep me from chaining myself up again.  AMEN.

 

 

Rick Sutton

“Saturday Morning Coffee at IHOPs”

Mobile 941-730-8106

Scripture: “And (Jesus) said to (the disciples), “Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?

 

The sower sows the word:

1. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown.  When they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.
2. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground—the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.
   1. And they have no root in themselves but endure for a while.
   2. Then when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.
3. And others are the ones sown among thorns—they are those who hear the word, but:
   1. The cares of the world and
   2. The deceitfulness of riches and
   3. The desire for other things

enter in and choke the word and it proves unfruitful.

1. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit—thirtyfold and sixtyfold and hundredfold.” (Mk 4:13-20)

 

Observation:  Parables are not just interesting stories; they are object lessons meant to induce thinking.

 

Analysis:  Jesus loves to tell stories.  It is too bad I don’t follow the story through to the punch line often enough.  I guess that is why the Scriptures need to be read over and over so that the Spirit can deliver what needs to be known.

 

I remember a time when I first read this parable.  This is what I thought: “Those thick-heads: of course, there are 4 categories’, anybody can see that.  I am pridefully glad I am of the 4^th and most admirable category.”

 

Well, I didn’t say “pridefully”, but that is what it was—looking backward from my 50-year perch.  I probably did think “thick-heads”; maybe something worse.  Monday morning quarterbacking isn’t just for football.

 

What this isn’t ONLY about is objective observation of other people: it can be vitally important in looking at myself—because I can slip in and out of any of the above characteristics daily.  The question becomes, “How can I stay in the #4 slot?  Good soil, really hearing the Word, bearing fruit to a 30x, 60x, 100x rate of return?”

 

Paul told the Corinth church: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.” (2 Cor 13:5) Think this verse is just for a bunch of folks who are on the wrong path?  I must think “no”, this is a verse for those who are exhorted to reconsider every day, every way, and whether or not “walking worthy of the Gospel” is what drives them.

 

Examining myself isn’t an exercise in “doubt management”; it is an active and purposeful exercise of reflection in and of my conduct and whether my conduct is pleasing to Him who calls.

 

Back to the parable: I would be tickled pink if I could only get to 2x, much less 30x and beyond.  Here is what I am confident of: that God, who called me in his Light, will not stop His work in me until I either see “That Day” or He conforms me into the image of His Son.  (Ro 8:29)

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus: Keep me from sinking in the morass of the cares of this world any more than I have.  Let me see the difference between reality and objective; temporal and eternal as it applies to me—where I am that I can see, feel, and experience and where I am in the eternal sight and position of the Kingdom.

 

You know this is weird shifting gears like this, right, God?  But I must; all of mankind must!  The Old Dead Guys, saints and fathers of the Faith from ages past seems to do this effortlessly.  Please let this facet of the Gospel grow in me…AMEN

 

 

Rick Sutton

“Saturday Morning Coffee at IHOPs”

Mobile 941-730-8106