Category: Good Life Journal

Scripture:

Acts 2:39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Observation:

The promise of forgiveness, salvation and the seal of the Holy Spirit is for Jew and Gentile, near and far, anyone the Lord calls to Himself. This promise that Peter shares is counterintuitive to his mindset. He struggles with prejudice towards gentiles and foreigners throughout his life. Therefore you know this message is the Spirit’s.

Application:

A few things…

-The sacrifice of Jesus, His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of a promise. All were an act of God that he had planned from the beginning. The story of our faith is not a man made religion to address a problem. The story of Christianity is the fulfillment of God’s plan and promise. (Trust His plan over any self-help plan)

-Everyone (near and far off) means exactly that. Some people are so close and others seem too far away. Regardless they both have hope. No one I meet today, regardless of how sideways they are at God and how dark their life is, is too far gone. The only people too far gone are people who have already gone to the grave. (Treat everyone like they have hope)

-The Lord calls them to Himself. This is huge. Though I am called to treat everyone alive like they still have hope, the pressure is not on me to win them or persuade them. The scripture says that Lord calls them to Himself. He is the one that opens their eyes, softens their hearts and draws them in. The job of the believer is to love people and model and share the truth. I don’t have the right to pick and choose, that is Jesus’ job. I have the responsibility to treat everyone like they are being drawn and trust God with the rest. (Don’t carry a weight that isn’t mine (drawing and choosing) but faithfully carry the weight that is mine (loving, modeling and sharing)

Prayer:

I love the story of the church’s birth. It started with people stepping out in faith, the truth of the gospel and a movement of your Spirit. The same applies today. May I be faithful with what you called me to do and trust you with what you have promised that you would do.

Scripture:

Vs 6 So when they had come together, they (the apostles), asked Him (Jesus), “Lord, will you at this time …?”
vs 7 He said to them “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
Vs 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses …
vs 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women …
vs 23 And they put forward two …
Vs 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this ministry and apostleship …

Observation:

The Apostles have their final encounter with the risen Jesus. They want to know “What’s next?” … “Will you …?”

Jesus redirects their question from what they want to know to what they will have, the power of the Holy Spirit, and what they will do, be witnesses of Jesus.

The followers of Jesus come together to pray and ultimately choose a new apostle for their ministry.

Application:

I have heard and said many times the cliché of, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. In reading Acts 1, this statement rings entirely true in the best possible way.

I completely undeservedly know and have the best “Who” possible … the Holy Spirit and His power. This is infinitely better than any “what” I could know.

So, then why do I constantly run after the “what” of knowledge, rather than the “who” of the Holy Spirit? Is it because I believe that other cliché, “Knowledge is power”?

Jesus promised something much greater than knowledge.

When the apostles wanted knowledge, Jesus said, “It is not for you to know … but you will receive power of the Holy Spirit”. If I am filled with the Holy Spirit, then why would I want to be filled with mere information?

I am selfish. I think knowledge will give me power.

So, I have to ask myself then, what “power” am I devoted to? The power of knowledge or the power of the Holy Spirit? The first followers of the Resurrected Jesus, “with one accord devoted themselves to prayer”. What am I more devoted to? Seeking knowledge or seeking the power of the Holy Spirit? The Apostles were at the height of a “what’s next” time in their life … “Jesus, what’s gonna happen now?”

I find it incredibly relevant to myself and to our church … “Jesus, what’s next?!”

We are looking for the next leader of this ministry of Good Life. I am blessed to participate in the process … as the apostles did … to “put forward” individuals.  And I can know as much as I can about the individuals we are choosing among.

But I must “pray and say, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these You have chosen”.

I will imitate the apostles in putting forward individuals based on knowledge.
Will I imitate the apostles in being “devoted to prayer”?
Will I imitate the apostles in acknowledging a more important knowledge? “You, Lord, know the hearts of all”.

What a beautiful testimony the early apostles give to the sovereignty of God.

And what a sweet relief it is to me to know I do not do the choosing … “You, Lord, have chosen”!

Prayer:

Help me, Lord, be devoted to prayer Help us, Lord, be in one accord Show us, Lord, who You have chosen Amen

Scripture:

[16] He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
[17] He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
[18] They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.
[19] He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Observation:

This psalm was written long before Jesus was born but the theme is the same as what we know today. God is supreme and the most high.  David got his strength from the Lord, whom he loved.

God loved David as only the Lord can, and as David called to God for help, God listened and rescued him from his powerful enemies.

Application:

This is the Gospel found in the Old Testament. Almighty God is supreme and the most high.

When he sent his Son to die for our sins, we were offered salvation.  As we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, he drew us up out of the deep waters of addiction, lying, and all the rest.

He rescued us from the powerful enemy – satan; without God we are in satan’s strong grasp of worry, fear, addiction, or whatever..

The enemy loves to hit us when we are down (day of my disaster); he lies to us saying we can’t do it, we can’t quit our sin, we are weak, we are worthless, and other lies.

Through grace He rescues us from the enemy to a place of joy, knowing that our strength is from Him and believing His promise of spending eternity with Him.

Why did he rescue us?  He DELIGHTS in us!  That’s a wonderful feeling!

Prayer:

Lord I love you.  Thank you for loving me.  I find great joy in knowing you delight in me as I delight in you.  Thank you for pulling me from my depths and as I am tempted with sin daily, I know You will lead me from it if I focus on You.  In Jesus mighty name I pray this.  Amen

Scripture:

(Point) “The fool says in his heart there is no God.  They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.  The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God?  They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt.  There is none who does good, not even one…

(Counterpoint) “Who shall dwell on your holy hill?  He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue; (who) does no evil to his neighbor nor takes up a reproach against his friend….”  Excerpts from Ps 14:1-3 and Ps 15:1b-3 

Observation:  

See above.  These pair of Psalms looks like Point and Counterpoint: 14 describe folks who don’t make the grade and 15 describe folks that do. 

But there appears to be a conflict.  Which one of these describes me, right now, today?

Application:

I remember the cartoon where the little “Not me” spirit is invisible in the corner when Mom asks their son “Who did this?”  Family Circus is what I recall as the name of the cartoon. 

That is what I think about Ps 14: This does not describe me at all.  I neither am nor have ever been as despicable as that.  Ps 15: Ah, that is me.  All I do is seek after you O God.  Blameless: that is my prefix, my middle name, and my suffix.

Boy, how deceived I am—back then, now, and probably in the future.

I write my address as living in the State of Florida; really, if I am not ruthless with the truth concerning myself, I live in the State of Deception. 

I always want to think better of myself, especially before God.  Fact is if it wasn’t EXCLUSIVELY for Jesus’ atonement for my sin, I deserve every bit of God’s wrath.  That is the gift of Adam way back then:  all of man has an ability to fool himself to think of himself better that he is; not acknowledging the unbearable truth that he doesn’t do good, incapable of doing good, completely corrupt.

Speaking truth in my heart (like the guy in Ps 15) courageously and fearfully acknowledges the truth of Ps 14 that it is describing the man in the mirror.

I am looking forward to the new sermon series “The Simple Gospel.”

However the Gospel is responded to, however one bows their head in grateful faith for the Atonement, we all will come to the Fact that only He could redeem traitors to His rule—folks like the face in the mirror. 

Prayer:

Lord God, how I wonder at your ways.  I remember a song:  “Why would the Pure give your life for the vile; the Innocent seeking the guilty to be reconciled?  I can’t comprehend this fathomless love.  I am gripped and amazed at what You have done.  Why would the Adored become the Despised to bear all the furious wrath that was mine?  How awesome this mystery of Your fathomless love for me.”  AMEN.

Scripture:

Psalm 13:5-6 – But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Observation:

In the beginning verses of Psalm 13, David asks the Lord if He will forget him forever.  He asks God for an answer so his enemies don’t prevail. Verse 5, David trusts in the steadfast love of the Lord.  David’s salvation comes from God and he rejoices in song for God is good.

Application:

I need to trust in the Lord and rely on Him as my only hope for salvation.  God allowed David to suffer and even question Him to draw David nearer to Him.  God will do the same for me and put circumstances in my way that keep or redirect me on the path to Him.  I must remember that whatever I am facing, God has loved me so much that He has met me greatest need in salvation through faith in Jesus. That is the greatest news and cause for celebration and joy even before the situation may be resolved.

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for your steadfast love and salvation through Jesus.  Help me to resonate on that and rejoice in you knowing trials can bring me closer to you.  

Scripture:

“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” 10:1

Observation:

The writer of the Psalm, a righteous, holy man is struggling with seeing so much suffering, so many afflicted and even himself struggling and afflicted and asks God, “Why do you feel so far?” The Psalmist felt like God was far in his time of need.

Application:

God will feel far. That doesn’t mean he is. God will feel distant and unloving and like he left you hanging, that doesn’t mean he has. God is still on his throne, and most importantly, God’s promises are true no matter how they feel.

God has promised us to never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)
God can’t lie. (Hebrews 6:18)

God cannot leave us nor forsake us. No matter how it feels, God is with you, he is with those who have put their trust in him. Don’t let th eenemy lie to you and make you believe that what you are feeling is actually the case. God is near you. Even in suffering, God is good & near you. Trust him.

And lastly, it is OK to struggle with God and ask him questions like, “Why do you feel so far away?” The Psalmist did it. We can do it. Do it. Wrestle with God, but trust in him as you do it.

Prayer:

God I thank you that your ways are higher than mine. Sometimes that really stinks. Sometimes I don’t understand. Sometimes you feel a million miles away but I pray that when that happens I wouldn’t trust my feeling, but I would trust what you have promised, what you have said to me. Give me the grace and power to do that.

Scripture:  

The Psalmist: “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all your wonderful deeds…Sing praises to the Lord (who sits enthroned in Zion); Tell among the peoples his deeds…O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises…” excerpts from Ps 9: verses 1, 11, and 13b-14a.

Observation:  

Recounting deeds of God…this is a pretty consistent sub-theme in Psalms.  When I praise God, I will bet it sounds most of the time like cheering at a sports event.  On the subject of praise in Psalms it isn’t like that at all.  It is more focused, mindful, engaged.

Application:

I saw a lot of things to journal about this morning in Psalm 9.  But the plain took second place in jewel digging today.  During all my reading through the Reading Plan, this thing about “remembering the deeds of the Lord”, recounting all his works”, etc. comes up steadily and consistently in the undercurrent of the Scriptures.

I wonder why?

Not “why is it in the undercurrent” but “why the stealth suggestion on recounting his deeds” (or the related “ways” and “works” of God).

When I was growing up in Christianity (the Jesus Movement of the “70’s), the practice of praise was consistently demonstrated.  The basis of praise was “because He is, I praise Him.”  That works and wouldn’t change that for a second and can’t argue with the premise.

But God, through the Scriptures, suggests a further development: “Why do I praise thee?  Let me count (or recount/remember) the ways…”

I can really, really embrace this.  Boy, I get it way down deep in my soul.  But practicing it?  There is where the rubber meets the road and I just slid into a ditch.

I know why I don’t do well in this: I am lazy.  It is hard work to recount the deeds of the Lord.  It certainly is hard work to sound like the Psalmist, all Christian sounding and accomplished.  When I do try that “recounting” stuff it sounds so plastic and unreal—like I am on a stage or something—unless I am prepared.

My “preparing” isn’t like studying for a role in a play; my preparation is doing what I am writing about above in the dark, by myself, where only God can hear my voice.  It is taking the time to write stuff down, organize it to remember, share with your spouse in your devotional time together.  And it takes practice, practice, practice.  It takes me asking the question to the “man in the mirror.”  It takes a trusted companion to ask “tell me what God is doing in your life—specifically the ways and the works.”  And it takes understanding failure will happen at the most embarrassing of times but keeping the objective clearly in front with a determination to pursue.

Oh, yeah: Recounting implies speaking.  Remembering can imply thinking.  I have to remember to be able to recount the ways and works of God to be able to tell it to the next generation.  Mind melding the Gospel to others isn’t in the biblical bag of tricks.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus.  Thank you for letting me dig myself into a hole of things to do.  Every time I write there is one more thing to add.  You are good to bring this to my attention.  I know that you do this so that I could be conformed to your Image.  I know that you are being my support in pursuing you.  I know that salvation isn’t any of my doing or effort—I can rest in your arms.  I also know that you point me up the mount of God and have me pursue you all my days.  Please help me go consistently forward in you. AMEN

Scripture:
[3] But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
[4] I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
[5] I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
[6] I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.

Observation:
As David wrote this, he was running from his own son who conspired against him with armies.  He had plenty of reason to despair and be afraid but what does he do?  He gives glory to God as his protector.  He calls out expectantly.  He gives glory to God for his sleep, for his sustenance, and for his waking breath.

Application:
We may not be running from armies of thousands chasing us, but it may seem like that sometimes.  Like everywhere we turn someone or something is against us, trying to steal our happiness – troubles with our job, troubles in our families, seeing loved ones in pain, or whatever the case may be.  But our joy comes from the Lord at all times.  Let us turn to Him, knowing that even in the midst of our troubles He can give us peace that allows us to sleep at night, and the strength to get up in the morning to face the world.

Prayer:
Lord help me turn to You in times of trouble and pain.  I know You are my strength and my source of joy.  Help me Father to sleep well tonight knowing that you are my strength.  Amen

Scripture:   “And they (the ladies) went out and fled from the tomb for trembling and astonishment had seized them and they said nothing to anyone (for they were afraid)…But when they (the disciples) heard that he was alive and had been seen by her they would not believe it…After these things he (Jesus) appeared in another form to two of them (probably the Road to Emmaus incident) as they were walking into the country.  And they went back and told the rest but they (the disciples) did not believe them… 

Afterward he (Jesus) appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at table and he (Jesus) rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart—because they (the disciples) had not believed those who saw him after he had risen…” excerpts from Mark 16; verses 8; 11; 12; and 14.

Observation:   I see a common theme here: Unbelief.  Jesus related it to hardness of heart as well.  This is about folks (disciples) who hung out with Jesus for the past 3 years—and they had issues with belief?  What makes me think I am above them?  What makes me think I don’t have issues with believing?  What makes me think I am not carrying around a hard heart?

Application:   And it is said that high blood pressure is a silent killer… 

Ok: Unbelief may not be in that same category but in some ways it could be.  Unbelief hides—mostly in plain sight (only if I am looking for it).

Where does it hide?  It could hide in activity; knowledge; excuses; lack of humility; all the “self’s—self-determination, self-reliance, self-atonement; selfishness, etc.    I know that I can and have and am encountering these on a daily basis.  I rely on me—I say I rely on Him who is my Lord buy in a number of ways I do not acknowledge all my ways as belonging to Jesus.

There are a few things I should do to combat unbelief.  One thing that certainly does not work is “Believe harder…” as if physical or mental effort exerted can increase belief.  My experience is that it just gives me a headache…

1.       Plant the Word of God in my heart.  No, strike that—Pound the Word in my heart.  Consider the Scriptures as more true than what my eyes see and my mind conceives.  This is hard work and takes years—only because there is sooooo much sin and rebellion lodged in my heart that has to be supplanted.

2.       Cultivate humility.  I have a little wall document in my cubical “How to weaken Pride and Cultivate Humility.”  I review this every day—sometimes I review deeply, most times I just gloss/speed read over it.  But it is a useful reminder of how I should approach growth in righteousness—incrementally and take the long view.

3.       Diligently practice the Spiritual Disciplines.  I am writing or journaling like this.  I am also making sure I write to the “man in the mirror”, being transparent and fierce with my own heart only.

4.       Continually acknowledge that I must preserve to the End to be saved.  To do that I don’t whip up my heart to a bonfire, I must stoke the embers of my heart to produce a consistent flame. Fellowship with brothers/sisters I trust enough to confess the depth of my dark, dark heart may be the best way to start.

The disciples were REBUKED by Jesus—not scolded, not downplayed, not met with “oh, I totally understand your temporary doubt”—they were rebuked.  I deserve every bit of that rebuke on a daily basis—and I press in to avoid the need for that rebuke from my Lord.

Prayer:   Father, I hope that I don’t communicate condemnation with the above.  I don’t feel or think I am condemned when I fall short—I am continually reviewing the Gospel to combat unbelief in that area and getting up, brushing off the dirt, and getting back on the road.  The older I get I experience more difficulty—only because I am getting into more detail and depth—it is harder to remove and put to death those bitter roots of indwelling Sin.  You have unshackled me from the dominion of Sin; help me to mortify Sin in my body (and mind) daily.  I want a soft heart, fertile for your Word…AMEN.

Scripture:

Mark 15:43 – Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.   

Observation:

Joseph of Arimathea was seeking the kingdom of God.  Joseph was courageous and put kingdom work above his own safety.  Jesus was crucified, dead and buried in an identifiable tomb cut into rock.  

Application:

I need to be seeking Jesus and the kingdom of God.  When pursuing the kingdom of God, it will be countercultural to the norm of the world. Therefore, I can expect resistance and need to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to give me strength and encouragement. Joseph of Arimathea sought the kingdom of God without knowing how the story would end but be the greatest beginning the world has ever known! It is not a small fact to be overlooked that Jesus was buried. Jesus overcame the grave and defeated sin/death so that we can have a relationship with the Father.

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for your love, grace and mercy in Jesus’ atoning death for mankind.  Help me to live a life to seek your kingdom. Let the power of the Holy Spirit give me strength and courage to follow you.

Scripture:

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Observation:

Jesus knows what is about to happen. He knows his body is about to be broken, his blood spilled. He also knows that the very men who have been right at his side don’t know what is really going on. Not only that, they will all leave him. Some deny him. Some will run. Some will betray him.

Jesus doesn’t go to the cross because we are worth it. He doesn’t get broken because we are good. He doesn’t pour his blood out for those who get it. He dies for the least of these.

Application:

Our application is simple: rejoice. If there is hope for the disciples, there is hope for you. These men walked with Jesus. Touched him. Smelt him. Talked with him. Ate the Passover with him. He even told them about what was going to happen but they were too dumb to get it, they couldn’t see it.

And after all of this they denied even knowing him. They couldn’t pray with him. They couldn’t be there for him. They left him. And Jesus sees it coming. He tells them it will happen but also says, “Don’t worry. You are going to scatter but I will meet you in Galilee. I will forgive you. We will be reconciled.”

We feel like we have done too much. But we haven’t. The broken body & blood poured out is done for the worst, the least, the dirties, for you & me. Rejoice. He is enough for you. He has made you right. He became nothing, so you would be worthy before the Holy of Holies. He didn’t die because you were worth it. He died to make you worth it.

Prayer:

Thank you. I pray that would be seared into our hearts at Good Life, that we would be a people who rejoice always in our weakness & your strength.

Scripture:   Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us when will these things be and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”  And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray.  Many will come in my name saying ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.  And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars do not be alarmed.  This must take place but the end is not yet.”  Mark 13:3-7

Observation:  End time stuff—maybe the one subject that gets all our generation all aquiver.  Why?  Because it is a mystery and we all love mysteries… 

But, without employing the guardrails that Jesus gives us, is pursuing this “mystery” healthy?

Application:   “Do not be alarmed.”  “Be on your guard.”  “Do not be anxious.”  “Keep awake.”

These warnings, directives, or imperatives in some sense are repeated approximately a dozen times in this chapter alone.  Basically the Word of God is saying “Be aware, pay attention.”

There was a time in my life where I got into all of this stuff to map out the timelines, find the clues, break down current events, etc. and apply them to the subject of End Times.  It was a lot of effort reading, going to conferences, buying books, and studying scripture. 

I would say that it was somewhat profitable to learn to the extent that I gained knowledge—I wouldn’t do it differently.  However I wonder what I missed in a prioritized way?  I cannot beat myself up about that—I learned what God wanted me to learn I suppose. 

So, a few decades later, what can I glean?  Signs are just that—signs.  Like billboards, we can be aware, be cognizant, but pay attention to the road that you are driving on.  What day is The Day?  We don’t know.  I can add all the clues up, take the signs and pile them one on the other like a deck of cards, shuffle them, deal the cards and what do I get?  Only the Father knows the day and time—not even the Son knows.  So I think I can figure it out?  Really?

Deuteronomy 29:29 (one of my go-to verses lately) says “The secret things belong to God…” and that He has revealed what He wants us to know and immerse ourselves in and pursue.  Those things may not have “sizzle” like End Times stuff but they may be more profitable in living for the Kingdom and the Gospel.

My question above “…is pursuing this “mystery” healthy?”  The extent of pursuit may call for employing a trusted friend to look over the shoulder to keep Jesus’ guardrails in place so as to keep it healthy and on the road to righteousness.  Outside the guardrails there may be a cliff…

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I hope that I am adequately framing this subject up.  I know what I have come to grips with in You concerning That Day.  I am aware that if I read the Scriptures clinically and not try to fill in the gaps with my imagination, there are more things that cannot be answered that can.

 

I can’t say that I have completely arrived in this but it seems daily I am a little more comfortable with mystery in You.  AMEN.

Scripture:

Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

Observation:

There is so much in this chapter. We’re going to see this a lot in Marks Gospel. Mark does a really good job of giving us the information of what happens with Jesus. He is really concerned with just telling us what happens. Nothing fancy. Just here it is.

The verse I want to look more closely at is this one above. It has such a deep truth to it.

The people see that what Jesus is saying and they see something so big in it that they marvel.

Application:

So what is he saying?

He is asked about whether or not they should pay taxes to Rome. See Jesus is being viewed as a political figure, one who might save the Jews from Roman occupation and rule.

So he is trapped in this question. Should we pay Caesar taxes? If he says no – he will be arrested and killed. If he says yes, he is a sell out to Rome and not the Messiah everyone is hoping for.

Jesus relies with a question: Who’s image is on your money?

They reply: Caesar.

He says: then give to him what is his.

But then he adds this line: and give to God what is Gods.

Then they marveled. Here is why they marvel. Because Jesus turns a trap into this amazing truth: just as Caesar’s image is on the money, Gods image is on us.

Jesus is referencing when in Genesis, God says “let’s make man in our image”

You and I are made with Gods image. The imago dei. Created in his image.

What is reasonable then? We give to God what is Gods. We give our life to him because we are his. Whether we admit it or not. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we hate him or not. We are his.

Our lives are his. And he came back to rescue the imago dei. He came back to reveal to us this truth.

You are Gods. Give him what is his already.

Prayer:

I pray that I would remember this truth. That our church would give to God what is already his. Make this a reality for us each and everyday.

Scripture:

Vs 3 (Jesus said) … If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it …”
Vs 5 And some of those standing there said to (the disciples), “What are you doing…?”
Vs 6 And (the disciples) told them what Jesus had said …
Vs 27 As (Jesus) was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him,
Vs 28 and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?”
Vs 33 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Observation:

Jesus gives guidance of how to respond when people ask questions of the disciples about what they are doing. Let the questioner know that the Lord needs them to do it. When Jesus, Himself, is later asked a question by the religious leaders, however, He does not provide an answer to their question.

Application:

Jesus gave many examples of how to respond in various situations. I, as a Christian, should then try to live out His examples … I must be Christ-like.

Why, in Mark 11, does Jesus seemingly act different from how He tells the disciples to act?

Jesus tells us to give a clear answer when people ask why we are doing what we are doing. Jesus, Himself, though, denies an answer to the religious leaders when they ask a question to Jesus.

This different response must be about the questioner, not the question. Jesus knew the people would ask questions.

Jesus also knows the hearts of the questioner.

Jesus is not opposed to questions. He was asked and answered them all the time. But He often redirected His answer or responded with a redirected question to get to the heart of the matter.

The townspeople wanted to know “Why?” …

But the townspeople also had to be satisfied with the authority of the answer … “Because the Lord …”

God is OK with my “Why” questions if I keep Him in the seat of authority … Jesus is Lord. This is how I show I have faith … This is lived faith …

“Why?” … “Because the Lord …”

The religious leaders, on the other hand, question the authority of Jesus. … They question his “Lordship”. Jesus is not OK with this. When I find myself questioning God, I need to question my own heart and mind first.

Am I questioning why God is doing something or am I questioning who God is? “Why are you doing this God?” vs “Who do you think you are God?”

What’s more is … only one posture leads to obedience. The disciples did “what Jesus had said”. When I maintain Jesus as Lord … in other words, when I trust who Jesus is … I will comply even if I don’t understand the “why”.

When I question the Lordship of Jesus, I will make myself the authority … I will make myself lord.

Prayer:

Thank you God for your word. Help me to see you and obey you as Lord Help me trust who you are always When I am asked why I am doing something, Help me to communicate you in it In Jesus name, Amen