A perfect fit

Re: Verse reading–Mark 10: 32-45 (day one)

“To sit on my right or my left. . . is for those for whom it has been prepared.”– v 40.

In ancient Greek, heteos referred to “a perfect fit” or “exact match”.  In Mark 10, Jesus used it in a verbal form.  He said that the seats of honor in Heaven have been made with specific people in mind.  They are not “one size fits all” chairs.  They are prepared by God (hetoimazo) for people that He desires to honor.

Jesus uses the same word in John 14.  “I go to prepare a place for you“.  Your new home in Heaven will also be a perfect match for your life and heart.  No cookie cutters.  Heaven will be a clear, fair reflection your faith.

“The Lord (when He comes) will bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”–1 Corinthians 4:5

Slammed

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day seven)

“Whenever it (the demon) seizes him, it slams him to the ground.”–v 18

For a moment will you think about the boy in this story?  Demon-possessed.  Vulnerable.  Unable to talk.  Regularly slammed to the ground by forces that he did not control or understand.

Doubly slammed, I think, because He lived in a generation that had lost faith in God.  (See v 19)  People around him were powerless to help him (physically or spiritually) because they had forgotten the fountain of help or how to find it.  For faithless folks, life shrinks  down to human solutions which, in the case of this boy, were obviously useless.

It doesn’t have to be this way!  “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray. . .I will heal their land”. . .and their children and their cities and their families.

Maybe you feel slammed to the ground by violent forces in your life.

Lift

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day six)

“Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.” Mark 9:27

Amidst the arguing scribes, the father who struggled with unbelief, the disciples who lacked faith was a boy, a young man. As far as he could remember he had no control over his own life, but only knew slavery to an evil spiritual force. For all practical purposes he was dead, numb; it was how it had always been…until Jesus. The moment Jesus was near a battle had begun in his body and mind. The evil one tugged and pulled inside his body in a different way then he was used to, as if to back away, to turn around; it had never felt like this before. And then Jesus’ words came like hammer blows against the internal shackles, and he was free. He had never known freedom; not that he could remember. He lay still, at peace, so still he heard whispers, “He is dead.” In that very moment Jesus’ hand wrapped around his own, strong, not like stone, but like a father’s embrace. In Jesus’ strength he rose to his feet, as new found strength returned to sinew and bone. And he believed.

You don’t work for great faith, you receive it, as from a strong and mighty hand that lifts you up.

Prayer was Missing

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day five) 

Why were the disciples unable to drive out the demon? It was a question that was haunting them. They posed the question in private. Jesus’ response, prayer was missing.

Perhaps the questioning and arguing of the scribes distracted and/or discouraged the disciples. Both can lead to doubt and uncertainty.   Often times the criticism and cynicism around us have the same effects. (Jesus’ frustration could have been aimed at the scribes) Maybe the disciples were self-confident and self-reliant when dealing with the possessed boy. “We got this!” “Been there, done that!” could have been their perspective. We can get complacent and “cocky” in our relationship and in our faith with God. (Jesus frustration could have been aimed at His disciples)

Faith/belief must be constantly cultivated. Jesus modeled and taught that spiritual disciplines such as prayer are means by which our faith and belief are strengthened. Prayer places our focus and dependence on God. Both needed for the disciples and for us.

 

Do You Believe?

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day four) 

Jesus had given the disciples authority over the demons.  It should have worked…they should have been able to cast out the demon from the boy!  What was the difference?  Why couldn’t they do it?  This was embarrassing.  Jesus said it was their lack of faith.  “These only come out by prayer.”

Before, Jesus was always there or had empowered them and sent them out.  This time He was meeting with Elijah and Moses on the mountain.  The disciples thought they could do it on their own.

Each of us faces one or several times in our life that we realize that our faith must be our own.  We can’t work on the faith of our parents, or our spouse, or our Sunday School teacher, or our friend.  Our faith must be our own.  To face the tough challenges of our spiritual walk, our faith must be based on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  To receive salvation, it must be our repentance…our belief…our faith.  Do you believe?

Mastering

Re: Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day three)

“How long shall I put up with you?”  When Jesus made a whip of cords and overturned the money-changers tables, when he glared at the Pharisees in the presence of the man with the shriveled hand, when he called out the hypocrites who ignored the plight of the crippled woman, he was angry.  It was no less the case here.  Jesus understood the power of anger—power to intoxicate or to animate.  He channeled anger in the latter direction, leveraging it to move toward revelation, healing, recognition of dignity, and, in this instance, the vanquishing of an unclean spirit and patience with unbelief.  Anger did not rule Jesus; it was his servant.  Part of our work in learning his kind of life is learning how he used anger.

Not Without Prayer

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day two) And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” vs. 29

Take time to be holy, Let Him be thy guide, And run not before Him whatever betide

This verse from the much loved hymn speaks volumes to each of us who are seeking after God’s will. Whatever your assignment, whether vocational or avocational, Jesus has called each of us to play some part of kingdom building. With so many gifts and resources it can be very exciting to stand on the precipice of a program or a calling and dive right in, only to realize in our excitement we somehow forgot to pray. We got ahead of God. Likely this was not our intent, but even with our best intentions we can never run ahead of his plan and timing. Take time, set yourself apart, and do nothing without prayer.

Are you so dull?

Re: Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day one)

One of the men in my circle said this week that the verse that spoke to him the most was Mark 7:18, “Are you so dull?”

We don’t usually imagine Jesus being frustrated with His disciples (or with us).  But, there it was, a comment from Christ that suggests the opposite.

In Mark 9, Jesus says something similar.  “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long will I put up with you?”–v 19.

Probably we don’t see our lives with the same urgency that Christ does.  We assume we have a long time.  He doesn’t!  He knows the time is short.   To be honest, we probably are much slower in our responses and progress than He desires.  Could I learn faster/better if I paid better attention?  Yes.

It’s a sad image.  Motivating.  A facepalm in heaven–the faithful (and frustrated)  Lord saying to his slow children, “Why are you so dull?”

Satan says

Re:Verse reading–Mark 8:27-38 (day seven)

“Get thee behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”–v 33.

Most moderns (materialists, we are) don’t believe in Satan, anymore.  Jesus did.

He knew the voice of His enemy.  The well-worn strategies.  The proposal of an “alternative wisdom” that over the years has proven so effective with foolish and unfaithful men.  “Hath God said?” he whispers constantly in our ears.

Jesus recognized this malignant source even in the voice of His friends.  It doesn’t matter who says foolishness, it is still foolishness.  Jesus didn’t believe that truth was relative, that all opinions are legitimate.  He believed that some truth came directly from Satan and was to be confronted.  Wisely.  Firmly. Without apology.

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction.”–2 Timothy 4:2

Easy work?  No.  Necessary work?  Yes.  Lord, please make us like you!

Seeing

Re:Verse reading–Mark 8:27-38 (day six)

Jesus wanted Peter to see, not in part but the whole of things. That’s why this moment between Jesus and Peter is one of grace; it was spittle gently applied to his eyes (much like he did with the blind man). All he could see was blurred images, but soon he would see clearly.

What was true for Peter is true for us. Jesus desires that we not only see Him for who He is, but also see clearly the nature of God’s Kingdom. It is nothing like the Kingdom of men that fight for self-preservation at the expense of their own souls. No, we lose our life to Jesus because it is in Him that our eternal lives and joy rest most secure. Do you see?