The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:36-45 (day six) 

 Moved with compassion (anger), Jesus reached out and touched him. Mark 1:41

Some early greek manuscripts replace compassion with anger. It makes for an easier scene when we see Jesus respond to a broken man with compassion. It’s the Jesus we want.

What if Jesus responded in anger? How would that equally make sense?

Anger is an emotion that can forcefully tell us things are not as they should be. At its best it moves us to act for the good of others. We see it when Jesus enters the Temple courtyard and turns over the money changers’ tables saying, “You have turned my Father’s house into a den of thieves!” Or when we get angry at cancer, or a son’s drug addiction.

Jesus wasn’t angry at the man, but the man’s condition, his brokenness and isolation. It shouldn’t be like this! And busting through every social norm, he touched him, and the leprous man was made well.

Both compassion and anger should move us to act for the broken. Be angry and act (and sin not)!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:36-45 (day five)

“He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” Mark‬ ‭1:38‬

Jesus’ mission has been made clear from His first night as a human. “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Would have been easy for Jesus to stay with the crowds and heal and minister. Yet, He keeps His mission clear (result of His prayer life- discipleship). There was a subtle but dangerous thing happening in the hearts of the people. They were beginning to seek the “hand” of Jesus rather than the “face” of Jesus. Leads to confusion of what our biggest need actually is. It’s why salvation and then regular repentance are so powerful. They keep us focused on our spiritual need. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

We need, more than anything, a savior and a right relationship with the Living God.

This year, will you seek the Lord’s face rather than His hand?  Three ways that will help-  Repent Witness Disciple.

Happy New Year!!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:36-45 (day four)

The leper was humble…he did not demand that Jesus heal him, he asked.  “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  He did not exhibit obedience when Jesus told him ‘to tell no one’, but he did demonstrate enthusiasm and thoroughness.  He was so excited when he was healed, he told everyone…to the point that Jesus could no longer enter a city.

Our Re:Verse says “they were coming to Him from everywhere.”  When you have something people need, your location does not matter…they will find you.  The leper’s enthusiastic witness let everyone know the power of Jesus.

3 Questions:  1) Is your witness for Jesus enthusiastic enough that everyone around knows about Him?  2) Does your church demonstrate the power of Christ so that people want to know more about Him?  3) Will you commit in the coming year to live your life for Christ so that everyone will know Christ?  Like the leper, we can impact our city and region for Christ!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:36-45 (day three)

“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Theories differ as to how miracles happen. Some say they result from a suspension of the laws of nature: molecules of water vanish from existence and molecules of wine appear in their place. Others say no, miracles result from a mastery of the laws of nature: an enormous amount of energy is brought to bear to break the water’s molecular and atomic bonds and reassemble them into the molecules for ethyl alcohol, etc. At issue, though, is not the method of Jesus’s miracles, but rather their meaning. Without meaning, a miracle will carry no soul-healing power. Jesus told the man that only the fellowship of God’s people would teach him this miracle’s place in the purpose and potential of his life.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:36-45 (day two)  And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Yesterday on the Re:vlog I mentioned another passage of scripture that had a similar feeling to me. I wanted to follow up on that text. In the very familiar account of Peter walking on water there is this exchange between Jesus and Peter.

Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:28-29

Both the leper and Peter recognize in Jesus the power and ability to conquer fear, disease, and nature. They first acknowledge that what they seek is rooted in the savior. This recognition goes beyond Jesus’ ability to perform miracles, it begins with humility and submission. Turned around the questions could have easily been asked this way. I desire to be healed/to come near you, but I desire your will not mine. Sound familiar?

Recognize Jesus’ authority today in your petitions.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:21-35 (day seven)

An interesting thing happens after our students return from camp every summer. Community is heightened, activities have increased engagement, and our students desire to serve. Similar events transpire after Freedom Weekend and other major events in the Youth Ministry. What was different from before these events? What was the catalyst to create this zeal? It was that our students had a personal encounter with the Lord. The byproduct of encountering the Lord is zeal. This is evident in our passage this week,

“And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them.” Mark 1:31.

Simon’s mother-in-law immediately began to serve Jesus after she was healed. This was not a misogynistic depiction of the woman. This was the byproduct of her healing, of her encounter with Jesus. Not only did God heal her physically, but she became filled with the Spirit and exuded zeal.

Romans 12:11, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:21-35 (day six)

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. -Jesus, John 8:32

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.-Jesus, John 10:10

Jesus’ miracles and exorcisms most clearly depict his purpose: freedom and wholeness. That’s the invitation. Of our own choosing, we are spiritually and physically broken people. In our rejection of God, we sold ourselves to spiritual darkness, which in turn led to our own depravity and decay. Jesus, came to right that wrong, to recreate us in his image; turning us from children of wrath to children of God.

With every miracle, every exorcism, Jesus was declaring “look, I am making all things new. That’s the promise Jesus died and rose again to secure.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:21-35 (day five)“In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” Mark‬ ‭1:35‬ ‭

It is an amazing picture. Jesus retreating from the crowds, the noise, the busyness in order to pray.  Jesus again, is modeling what obedience to God looks like- prioritizing time alone with His Heavenly Father. Just like in Mark 1, He would often leave those times in prayer with clarity and courage (reminds me of His time praying in the Garden of Gethsemane).  What Jesus knew, was that carving out or protecting time alone with God was invaluable. The disciples saw the  practice and the results. In fact, they asked Him to teach them how to pray.
Maybe that would be the best Christmas present we could discover- the desire and discipline to spend time alone with God in prayer. Anyone need clarity or courage?  “Lord, teach us to pray!!”

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:21-35 (day four)

The demons recognized Jesus…they knew exactly who He was.  They recognized His identity and His authority.  Contrast that recognition with the religious leaders.  They had been looking for the Messiah for generations.  They had built up a picture in their minds of who the Savior would be and how He would relate to the people.  Their incorrect expectations caused them to completely miss the coming of Jesus.

We often do the same thing.  We develop expectations of how God will act in a given situation.  We plan ‘how He should do it’, to the extent that we completely miss how God will act according to His plan.  We have devised an idol in our lives that looks nothing like God.  We believe God fails to answer our prayers or just refuses to act.  In fact, we just don’t recognize His hand at work.  Thank goodness for repentance and forgiveness.  Ask God to open your eyes to His handiwork…ask Him to allow you to see through His eyes.  We miss so much when we depend on our own spiritual eyes!