Category: Living in the Spirit

Re:Verse passage – Mark 11:11-19 (day three) 

“He said to [the fig tree], ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again!’”

In an agrarian society, it was not remarkable for everyone to know it wasn’t fig season. So why did Jesus look for them anyway? Because he saw a tree in leaf – not in bud – and from a distance it looked like an unexpected find. Mark’s gospel tells us that Jesus was hungry. A false fig signal enticed him and then disappointed him. We might even describe his mood as “hangry.” While he was still stewing over the hollow promise made by a leafy tree, he walked into the temple and in a moment of cosmic déjà vu, realized that just as the tree had falsely promised figs, the temple falsely invited people into an encounter with God. God takes seriously the promises we make to people.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 11:11-19 (day two) 

The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. vs. 18

The chief priests were likely angry at Jesus for the extremely public rebuke that he gave them, but look at their response. They began to seek a way to destroy him. Let’s be honest, we are the same. I doubt you would actively seek to destroy someone who challenges, chastises, or rebukes you, but we do it in our hearts. How many times, when challenged, do you begin to harden your heart towards the person and miss the message? Being corrected is hard, and we live in a world that does not value humility. It is far easier to lash out, to assassinate the other’s character rather than take an honest look at what brought about the correction in the first place. Jesus won’t always turn over tables, but you can bet he will challenge your sin nature. How will you react? How will this inform how you treat others?

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:1-8 (day seven)

^” I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

When I am explaining baptism to our  young people who have expressed interest in taking that next step, I often show them my wedding ring. I ask them some simple questions, “What does this ring mean?” Usually that question is answered correctly, “It means you are married!” Then I proceed to take my ring off and ask a set up question that usually gets mixed answers, “What does it mean if I am not wearing my ring?” Sometimes they answer in confusion and say I am not married anymore. Sometimes they get it right. Either way they answer, I lead them down the same trail of thought: The ring is an outward profession of an inward commitment to my wife. If I take that ring off, I am still very much married to my wife. I made that commitment to her and nothing can take that away. I want the world to know my love for her, so that is why I wear my ring!

Baptism is the same way, it is an outward profession of an inward commitment to the Lord. We are baptized by the Holy Spirit inwardly, and we proclaim our decision to follow Jesus outwardly through water baptism. I pray that we have many of these conversations and we fill our baptistries with public proclamations of the work of the Holy Spirit in the coming days!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:1-8 (day six)

A voice crying in the wilderness…Isaiah 40:3

Our sin got us kicked out of the garden and into the wilderness. Chaos, disorder, brokenness, and a terrible curse were chains we carried as we traversed the soul sucking terrain-wilderness. 

And yet even before the beginning God planned to make a way for us to return to the promise land, and not for just a season but for all time; leading us out of the wilderness into the land of promise, righteousness forevermore.

It would take the Father-sent Son, sent into the wilderness to die and rise again, breaking the chains and forging a new path for whomever saw the wilderness for what it was and ventured to follow Him. And like the pillar of fire by night, and cloud by day, the Jesus-sent Holy Spirit would lead from the tabernacle of the human heart; testifying:

Welcome home. These are the children of God.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:1-8 (day five)

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  – Mark 1:4

Did you notice the moon last night?  Big. Beautiful. Full. What about back in April?  There was a supermoon on April 6.  It was a little brighter and a little bigger because it was closer than normal to the earth. One thing we can say about the moon is that, “it glorifies the sun”.  Think about it…  The moon gets it light from the sun. The moon is dependent on the sun to be seen or noticed the best.  The moon declares the power of the sun. What we can see and observe (especially with the naked eye) can only be done so because of the sun.  When we see the moon it is because the sun is shining on it.

John the Baptist was glorifying God. He was proclaiming God’s power and His promises. He was declaring the truth about God. His ministry was effective and meaningful because God was shining on him (anointing). He was speaking God’s words and pointing people to Jesus.

We have the same opportunity- speaking God’s words, talking about Who He is and What He’s done for us, and pointing people to Jesus. Let’s glorify God today!!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:1-8 (day four)

All through Scripture, God used men and women who were people of no worldly status to accomplish His work.  Moses was a fugitive; King Saul was the least of his tribe; King David was a lowly shepherd boy; Esther was an orphan; and Daniel was a refugee slave.  God chose each of these and more to serve Him and complete His plan.

John the Baptist had no rank or title…he said himself that he was not even worthy to untie the sandal thong on Jesus’ feet.  Yet John, whose ministry only lasted maybe six months, was said to be greater than any before him, by Jesus himself.  John was the very first to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  He believed in Jesus and preached His coming before anyone else.  He proclaimed the exclusive breaking news.  God had a plan for his life!

What about you?  What does God have planned for you?  Is it some grand assignment to lead a nation or proclaim the coming of God’s judgment? Or, is it to touch one life for Christ?  There are no small assignments in God’s plan.  To be chosen by the God of all the Universe to play any role in His plan is huge.  Even though we may be weak and small, His Holy Spirit will enable us to do greater things than John the Baptist!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:1-8 (day three)

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Turns out that salvation, long the exclusive focus of evangelistic fervor, isn’t an end in itself. It’s crucial, but inaugural. The coming One will immerse all willing souls in God himself, active in the world. Immersion in a language – speaking it, singing it, writing it, conversing in it – will develop in you the habits of thinking which correspond to that language. When you live with God – speak to him, sing of him, think about him, develop a life with his people – you’ll develop the habits of being that emulate “God active in the world” – which is one way to think about the Holy Spirit. That baptism will lead you to an eternity of reigning with God – having say over resources and activity and initiatives that will lead to a continually flourishing life for humanity.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:1-8 (day two) And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. Vs. 7

Professional baseball may be on hiatus, but I couldn’t help thinking of a type of pitcher that John the Baptist could relate well to. The Setup man. If you aren’t familiar with baseball there are eight position players and then the pitcher, but all teams carry specialists. Lefties, righties, knuckleballers, flame throwers, and then you have the roles they play. Most people are familiar with the starters and the closers, but the setup man is an often under-celebrated role. He won’t figure in to the win, he won’t get the save. His job is to take the team from the starter to the closer without giving up runs.

John knew this wasn’t his story to tell. His role in this grand tapestry was to prepare for the one who would redeem us all. John understood that fame and notoriety were completely unnecessary for this coming king. Repentance- this is what he preached. People heard, they were being prepared, and then came the Christ. Don’t downplay your part in this story. God has an assignment for you. It’s not to bring you glory, but to prepare for the continuing work of God.