S: Mark 5:34 He said to her, "Daughter, Your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
O: Jesus was walking to the synagogue rulers house when a women touched his cloak. Immediately Jesus felt that he lost some power. This is interesting from the fact that he was surrounded by people. When Jesus spotted the women he told her that she had been healed. What strikes me about this woman is the tremendous amount of humility that she has. It is almost as if she is saying that she didn't want to disturb Jesus. She had a great combination of confidence and humility. These are two concepts that I usually don't put together. I make them into competing ideas, but some how in God's economy they work together
A: When I come to God I can have a great amount of confidence that I will be accepted and loved, but I need to balance that with a true humility. During the times I suffer I can know that God is with me and he has my best interest in mind. When I pray for relief and freedom from my suffering I can come to God humbly, but confidently.
P: God, I need your help to understand how these two concepts can work together. Through my sinfulness I can make these two things compete with each other. When you get a hold of them you make them into something beautiful. Continue to mold me in your image and likeness. Give me that confident humility that can only come from you.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
February 19, Mark 1:16-20
Scripture: Mark 1:16-20 "As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew 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. when he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."
Observation: We see Jesus begin the process of selecting the guys who will become his disciples. It seems as if Jesus is just walking along and asks the first people he saw. What was it about Simon and Andrew that prompted an invitation from Jesus? What was it about James and John? Was it their work ethic? Did they already know Jesus and have a friendship with him? This scripture doesn't tell us why he chose them, but it does show us their response to Jesus' invitation. All four men immediately left what they were doing and followed him. They didn't ask questions. They didn't consult their family. They didn't say, "I need to pray about it." These aren't bad things to do, but I sometimes use these as an excuse to buy more time. These men were so eager to follow Jesus that they literally dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus.
Application: As much as I try to convince myself that I am willing to do whatever God asks of me, I know that i quickly become hesitant when these promptings arise. I need time to process things. I need to talk to someone else and bounce it off of them. Again, this isn't always foolish, but how often do I use it as an excuse. What would my life be like if I would respond like these first disciples? Would I reduce some of the stress I put on myself from worrying about decisions? Would my faith increase the more I put it to use (I think I know the answer to that!)? I desire to increase my faith and my eagerness to do what God has asked of me.
Prayer: God, I long to deepen my faith and rely on my faith rather than on my thoughts and my feelings. Help me to put my faith into practice. Thank you for never giving up on me and for your persistence in nudging me to grow in my relationship with you. Thank you for loving me and accepting me as one of your children.
Observation: We see Jesus begin the process of selecting the guys who will become his disciples. It seems as if Jesus is just walking along and asks the first people he saw. What was it about Simon and Andrew that prompted an invitation from Jesus? What was it about James and John? Was it their work ethic? Did they already know Jesus and have a friendship with him? This scripture doesn't tell us why he chose them, but it does show us their response to Jesus' invitation. All four men immediately left what they were doing and followed him. They didn't ask questions. They didn't consult their family. They didn't say, "I need to pray about it." These aren't bad things to do, but I sometimes use these as an excuse to buy more time. These men were so eager to follow Jesus that they literally dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus.
Application: As much as I try to convince myself that I am willing to do whatever God asks of me, I know that i quickly become hesitant when these promptings arise. I need time to process things. I need to talk to someone else and bounce it off of them. Again, this isn't always foolish, but how often do I use it as an excuse. What would my life be like if I would respond like these first disciples? Would I reduce some of the stress I put on myself from worrying about decisions? Would my faith increase the more I put it to use (I think I know the answer to that!)? I desire to increase my faith and my eagerness to do what God has asked of me.
Prayer: God, I long to deepen my faith and rely on my faith rather than on my thoughts and my feelings. Help me to put my faith into practice. Thank you for never giving up on me and for your persistence in nudging me to grow in my relationship with you. Thank you for loving me and accepting me as one of your children.
Monday, February 11, 2008
February 12, 2008 Matthew 26:26-50
Scripture: Matthew 26:43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time saying the same thing.
Observation: There were times when Jesus leaned on his disciples for support, especially His three closest disciples Peter, James and John. Maybe He chose them because they understood Him better than the rest of the disciples. In this passage even they are not available to Him. He had specifically chosen them to go with Him in His darkest hour and had asked them to keep watch with Him, to pray for Him as He struggled with the reeality of the upcoming crucifixion. They got tired and fell asleep even when He had warned them to stay awake and be vigilant.
Application: As much as I count on my friends to support me, love me and pray for me there will be times when the only one I can count on is the Father. Others are human, the Father is the only one who will not fall asleep on me or abandon me. The night before my open heart surgery my beloved wife left me in the hospital to go home. We had talked about her staying there in the room but she would not have gotten any sleep with all of the interuptions. After she left it was just God and me. No one else was available. As I went into the night I was afraid and it occured to me that I needed to know God better. He had to be enough for me. Often I had depended on others to meet my needs more than Him. Afterall they could talk to me, hold me, listen to me, give me advice. Now it was God alone and I sensed that that was the way He wanted it to be. In essence He was asking me "am I enough for you?" He said "I want you to desire me more than anything, more than anybody." He wanted me to make Him the number one priority above all else. I had to take a look at my relationship with Him and decide if we were close enough, if I trusted Him enough so that if I just had Him, and no one else was around, that that would be enough. Perhaps this is what Jesus experieced to a greater extent when His disciples were all too human and left Him to fend for Himself.
Prayer: God I want to love You so much, trust You so much, know You so well and prioritize You so thoroughly that I am more than content should it be just You and me. Thank you for not falling asleep on me, ignoring me or losing interest in me. I am greatful that every thought, fear, confusion and question is known to You before I even say it. You know me and love me and love it when I depend on You. Ultimately my relationship with You is the only one I get to keep. May I be satisfied in You.
Observation: There were times when Jesus leaned on his disciples for support, especially His three closest disciples Peter, James and John. Maybe He chose them because they understood Him better than the rest of the disciples. In this passage even they are not available to Him. He had specifically chosen them to go with Him in His darkest hour and had asked them to keep watch with Him, to pray for Him as He struggled with the reeality of the upcoming crucifixion. They got tired and fell asleep even when He had warned them to stay awake and be vigilant.
Application: As much as I count on my friends to support me, love me and pray for me there will be times when the only one I can count on is the Father. Others are human, the Father is the only one who will not fall asleep on me or abandon me. The night before my open heart surgery my beloved wife left me in the hospital to go home. We had talked about her staying there in the room but she would not have gotten any sleep with all of the interuptions. After she left it was just God and me. No one else was available. As I went into the night I was afraid and it occured to me that I needed to know God better. He had to be enough for me. Often I had depended on others to meet my needs more than Him. Afterall they could talk to me, hold me, listen to me, give me advice. Now it was God alone and I sensed that that was the way He wanted it to be. In essence He was asking me "am I enough for you?" He said "I want you to desire me more than anything, more than anybody." He wanted me to make Him the number one priority above all else. I had to take a look at my relationship with Him and decide if we were close enough, if I trusted Him enough so that if I just had Him, and no one else was around, that that would be enough. Perhaps this is what Jesus experieced to a greater extent when His disciples were all too human and left Him to fend for Himself.
Prayer: God I want to love You so much, trust You so much, know You so well and prioritize You so thoroughly that I am more than content should it be just You and me. Thank you for not falling asleep on me, ignoring me or losing interest in me. I am greatful that every thought, fear, confusion and question is known to You before I even say it. You know me and love me and love it when I depend on You. Ultimately my relationship with You is the only one I get to keep. May I be satisfied in You.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
February 5, Matthew 23:1-22
Scripture: Matthew 23: 11-12..."And don't let anyone call you 'Master,' for there is only one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Observation: This passage is a part of Jesus ripping into the Pharisees after his series of exchanges with them and other jewish leaders in chapter 22. He's basically explaining to his disciples that even though the Pharisees set themselves up as moral/spiritual guides for the people, the Pharisees are mainly interested in their image rather than being truely righteous. He warns his disciples to not be like them. In verses 11 and 12, he summarizes the heart of the problem that he will go on to develop in the rest of the chapter: The Pharisees have put themselves in the place of God. They are eager to be called "master" ("kathegetes" in greek meaning guide/master/teacher), make up rules that override the heart of God's law, and even prevent sincere seekers of God from finding Him. Jesus says, by contrast, the real leader in God's kingdom, a leader worthy of following, is one who is a servant.
Interestingly, Jesus was getting ready to humble himself and die for these people he came to serve. Unlike the Pharisees whose leadership oppressed, discouraged, and alienated people, Jesus frees, uplifts, and embraces people.
Application: As a "leader" in the church, to my children, and among my friends, I am convicted to be more humble and to be a servant who seeks to uplift and encourage.
Prayer: Father, thank you for teaching me through Jesus' example and warning. Help me to serve you and yours and to seek your righteousness rather than trying to impress people with mine. You are the only messiah. Help me serve them by pointing them to you.
Observation: This passage is a part of Jesus ripping into the Pharisees after his series of exchanges with them and other jewish leaders in chapter 22. He's basically explaining to his disciples that even though the Pharisees set themselves up as moral/spiritual guides for the people, the Pharisees are mainly interested in their image rather than being truely righteous. He warns his disciples to not be like them. In verses 11 and 12, he summarizes the heart of the problem that he will go on to develop in the rest of the chapter: The Pharisees have put themselves in the place of God. They are eager to be called "master" ("kathegetes" in greek meaning guide/master/teacher), make up rules that override the heart of God's law, and even prevent sincere seekers of God from finding Him. Jesus says, by contrast, the real leader in God's kingdom, a leader worthy of following, is one who is a servant.
Interestingly, Jesus was getting ready to humble himself and die for these people he came to serve. Unlike the Pharisees whose leadership oppressed, discouraged, and alienated people, Jesus frees, uplifts, and embraces people.
Application: As a "leader" in the church, to my children, and among my friends, I am convicted to be more humble and to be a servant who seeks to uplift and encourage.
Prayer: Father, thank you for teaching me through Jesus' example and warning. Help me to serve you and yours and to seek your righteousness rather than trying to impress people with mine. You are the only messiah. Help me serve them by pointing them to you.
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