With My Own Eyes

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 9:7-10:20; Mark 4:26-5:20; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 10:6-7.

Mark 4:27 (NIV)
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

The longer I am in ministry, the less I understand it.  Why is it that some churches flourish and others do not?  Why is it that some leaders have “success” and others do not?  That question becomes even more difficult when we consider those leaders of questionable character who attain this success.  The one thing I do know is that my job is to be faithful in preaching  the Word, praying, and loving people.  The results are God’s business.

Mark 4:40 (NIV)
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

I have been just like those disciples–fearing and doubting.  The good news is that I am growing–fearing less and trusting more.  Thank you, God.

Looking forward to a great day of worship…

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 7:28-9:6; Mark 3:31-4:25; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 10:5.

Proverbs 10:5 (NIV)
He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Is the church sleeping during the harvest?

Mark 3 includes the parable of the soils.  I am struck by how important it is that when people respond to the Gospel that we help them develop roots.  Without roots there is no lasting fruit.

Here is today’s Bible reading: Leviticus 6:1-7:27; Mark 3:7-30; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 10:3-4.

Psalm 37:4 (NIV) 
    Delight yourself in the Lord
        and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 

This verse is so often quoted and so often misapplied.  It does not make God a genie in a bottle granting us self-centered wishes.  Rather, it grants us one specific wish, and that is to know God intimately–to delight in Him.  It is the wish that God will grant every single time.  It is the prayer that is always answered affirmatively.  Do you find your delight in the Lord, or other things?

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 4:1-5:19; Mark 2:13-3:6; Psalm 36:1-12;
Proverbs 10:1-2.

Mark 2:16-17 (NIV)
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
[17] On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I need to spend more time with sinners.

Happy 12th birthday to my daughter Anna!

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 1:1-3:17; Mark 1:29-2:12; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 9:13-18.

Mark 1:35 (NIV)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Any time that you spend with God is good, whether it is in the morning, afternoon, evening, or late at night.  But there is something different about giving to God the firstfruits of the day.  There is something about seeking Him first before the day gets busy and the heart grows distracted.  Like many of you, I continue to wrestle with giving to God the place in my morning He deserves.  It is so much easier to either sleep or instantly get busy.  But the days I give Him first place are always different, always better.  My focus on Him is heightened throughout the day.  May God enable me to make the most of the morning as Jesus did.

We have finished our first New Testament book together.  Great job!  Onward to the book of Mark.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Exodus 39:1-40:38; Mark 1:1-28; Psalm 35:1-16;
Proverbs 9:11-12.

Mark 1:15 (NIV)
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Any Gospel message that does not include repentance (they are quite prevalent today) is not the Gospel.

Mark 1:25 (NIV)
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

Mark’s first recorded ministry act by Jesus is a demonic deliverance.  This was a key element to the ministry of Jesus.  Is it a key element to the ministry of the church today?  I fear that much of our ministry is like cutting down weeds without removing the root.  The weeds just come back again, more plentifully.  How would Jesus have us to remove the roots of sin and demonization from the lives of people?

Romans 12:3-8 – “Exercising The Body”

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One of the Apostle Paul’s favorite ways to describe the church is by comparing it to a human body.  Bodies need exercise, or they become unhealthy.  The church is to exercise three things: (1) Spiritual Gifts; (2) Humility; (3) Faith.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Exodus 37:1-38:31; Matthew 28:1-20; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 9:9-10.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This passage defines the mission of the church:  make disciples.  It isn’t enough to attract attenders (even if there are thousands of them) or even make converts. The mandate is to make disciples:  fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.  Making disciples is laborious.  It is a long process with no shortcuts.  There is no substitute for time and personal investment.  Are you a disciple?  Is your church making disciples?   How are you involved in the process of making disciples?

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Exodus 35:10-36:38; Matthew 27:32-66; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 9:7-8.

Psalm 34:5 (NIV)
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

Isn’t this exactly what we talked about yesterday?!  Very cool.

Matthew 27:52-53 (NIV)
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. [53] They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Uhhhh.  Wow.  Did you know this?  There are some stories to be told here.

Exodus 36:5-7 (NIV)
and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”
[6] Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, [7] because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

That is awesome.  When God’s people join together and give generously, great things happen.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Exodus 34:1-35:9; Matthew 27:15-31; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 9:1-6.

I was most struck today by the Exodus passage and how Moses’ face was radiant after being in the presence of God.  May my face radiate God’s glory.