The Everyday Prayer

RE Verse reading–Mark 14:1-9 (day five)
What are the opportunities of today? Chances for generosity? Potential for encouragement? Moments for reflection? Circumstances to bring stress? Climates to distract and discourage? Actions to bring criticism and judgment? All of the above?

One amazing insight in this passage is the capacity of some to see an opportunity and others to completely miss it. Mary “sees” the opportunity for worship and service to the Lord. The “others in the room” (probably the disciples) completely miss it. So much so, that they begin to criticize her. Wow, how quickly they got off track. Was it the criticism of the religious leaders? Was it the stress of constant tension? Was it fatigue? The bottom line is they missed the opportunity.

I’m feeling very vulnerable. Today, I will pause this morning to pray and read the scripture. I will pray in between meetings, conversations, and activities asking God to speak to me and help me “see” my opportunities. I don’t want to miss any today.

RE Verse reading–Mark 14:1-9 (day four)
It was a touching act of kindness…a very costly vial of perfume!  It was not the cost of the gift that was important though, it was the heart motivation behind the act.  This woman wanted to honor the Lord…verse 8 says, “She has done what she could”.  Could it be said of you…”They have done what they could”?  Have you done all you could to bring glory to God?  Integrity is doing right before God.  We don’t have to receive the approval of men for what we do…others may not even understand the motivation behind an act.  God sees the heart…He knows the motivation…He recognizes the righteousness of our actions.  It is His approval we seek, not the approval of man.  When we are righteous before God, He looks with favor upon us.  For this woman, Jesus said, Wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

RE Verse reading–Mark 12:28-34 (day three)
“And they rebuked her harshly.”  Suddenly, they championed the poor.  Well, welcome to the entire Old Testament.  God had been the poor’s champion all along, but these folks just now got religion, apparently.  Except they hadn’t.  While they were busy co-opting the poor to cover for their own love of money, Jesus saw a moment of beauty.  While they found the poor temporarily useful, Jesus exulted in a display of extravagance that had no utilitarian purpose whatsoever.  Beauty is rare in this broken world, and its presence always—always—signals that God has not abandoned us.  And beauty is rarely “useful” in the sense of getting done what we want done.  To find people useful, then, is the height of selfishness.  To find people—and their extravagance born of love—beautiful is to worship God.

Mark 14:1-11 (day two)
“She broke the jar…” (Mark 14:3). A broken jar is a useless jar. What once symbolized wealth, beauty, opportunity and hope now depicts emptiness, uselessness, future-lessness and lifelessness. The moment that jar broke there was no turning back. The bridges were burned. She made the leap. She stepped out in faith. She went all in. The woman was not merely turning to honor Jesus. She was turning from a former source of hope, security and happiness. She gave it all up for a new hope, a new refuge and a new contentment. That’s the way it must be with Jesus. He cannot ever be one of many hopes any more than you can drive two cars at the same time. To follow Jesus requires “breaking the jar” of your past life, past security, past hope and pouring it out to honor Jesus, trust in Jesus, rest in Jesus, count on Jesus, be like Jesus, hope in Jesus. Following Jesus requires going all in. Are you in?

RE Verse reading–Mark 14:1-9 (day one)
“And they rebuked her harshly.”  (vs 5)  Sad.  People are often critical of others on religious grounds.  We second guess the songs they sing, the emotions they express, the liturgy they use.  The irony (often) is that the critic is more deserving of rebuke than the one being criticized.  Mark 14 tells the story of a simple (extravagant, yes, but still simple) act of worship by Mary toward Christ.  She opens an expensive jar of perfume and pours it out on His head and feet.  She is harshly criticized for it.  How typical.  How sad.  “Do not judge lest you be judged. . .why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly (and compassionately–ed. note) to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”  (Matthew 7:1,3,5)

RE Verse reading–Mark 12:28-34 (day seven)
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied.  “You are right in saying that God is one . . .To love Him. . .and to love your neighbor. . .is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”  (vs 32-33)  I am impressed with this scribe.  Jesus was too.  He was more open and honest than his culture and colleagues.  Not controlled by the prejudice of the crowd or tradition.  How does this happen?  The work of God.  “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”  (John 6:44)  Christ notices this man’s spiritual appetite. He spots “one in the crowd”.  All of us should be so sensitive.  Even on stressful days, we are likely to encounter people in whom God has been at work.  Our task is to watch and be ready.  He gives openness to people not yet in the Kingdom.   He gives opportunity to us to help them get all the way in.

RE Verse reading–Mark 12: 28-34 (day six)
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied.  “You are right.”  (vs 32)  Jesus is brilliant.  Morally.  Spiritually.  “O how I love Thy law.  It is my meditation all the day.  Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies.”  (Psalm 119:97-98)  His answer to the scribe’s question was breathtaking in balance.  It perfectly diagrammed the duty of man.  First we are to look upward to God.  Worship.  As we perceive His character we are to emulate.  “You be Holy, because I am Holy”.  Second we are to look outward.  If God is love then we must love.  Him and others.  The opposite of self-centeredness.  Third we are to look inward.  Our obedience must be in the heart rather than an outward conformity to rules.  What perfect perspective the Lord has on true life!  What practical wisdom He has for all who declare Him Lord!  May we all say with the scribe, “Well said, teacher, you are right!”

RE Verse reading–Mark 12:28-34 (day five)
As a child I asked this question a million times. As a parent I’ve answered this question a billion times. Jesus’ words to this religious leader in verse 34 of this passage are both encouraging (maybe the kindest words He ever spoke to any Pharisee- “You are not far from the Kingdom of God”) and haunting (He basically tells this man “You are not there yet”). My kids raise their version of this question often in reference to time. The follow up question is frequently “How much longer?” Entry into the Kingdom of God is not marked by time or location. Rather entry is indicated by a changed heart that demonstrates evidence of the Work of the Holy Spirit in reshaping our thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, motives, desires, passions, and so much more. (Galatians 5:22-23) Arrival and residence in God’s Kingdom will result in a new perspective and passion that seeks to trust, honor, and serve The King.

RE Verse reading–Mark 12:28-34 (day four)
Jesus was in dialogue with the religious leaders.  They knew the law…they knew the source of Jesus’ authority, but they refused to accept it.  When asked if John the Baptist’s message was from God or from man, they knew the correct answer but would not believe it…so they said they didn’t know.  They were so disoriented to God that their hearts and minds were hardened to the truth.  Now in verse 28, one of the Scribes came to Jesus and recognized that He was answering correctly.  The Scribe’s heart was open to truth.  Jesus said, “you are not far from the kingdom of God”.  How far are we?  We spend day after day in the world…assaulted by its attacks on truth…becoming completely disoriented in our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  That is why God gave us one day a week to pull aside and refocus on Him.  Do you acknowledge the authority of Jesus?  How have you responded to that authority?

RE Verse reading–Mark 12:28-34 (day three)
“And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”  Songwriters often fear performing their songs for an audience.  Painters often dread exhibitions.  Actors languish in profound anxiety waiting on the critical reviews after opening night.  Their music or their canvas or their character are extensions of themselves, and it’s not uncommon for them to view critique of their art as a critique of who they are or who they’re becoming.  So it is with belief.  If we really believe something, that belief is part of who we are.  To understand that we have believed something that turns out to be false is a prospect of which we are very much afraid.  So if we never seek truth from the Lord, we don’t have to fear that we’ve been wrong all along, do we?