The Everyday Prayer

RE Verse reading–Mark 6:1-6 (day one)
God is amazing.  No argument.  His grace.  His faithfulness.  His mercy.  We sing about it.  “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.”  But people are amazing too, sometimes, and for all the wrong reasons.  Vs 6 of Mark 6 says, “He (Jesus) was amazed at their unbelief”  The greek word is thaumazo–“to marvel, or wonder”  It means that Jesus had questions re. human behavior that didn’t have answers.  Illogical stuff.  Irrational choices.  We often think of the “questions” we have for God.  Think of the “questions” He will have for us!  “Why didn’t you trust me?”  “Why, when it came between the Spirit’s voice and your own fears/logic did you always choose the latter?”  With all the clues packed into the universe and all the proof of His faithfulness, it just doesn’t make sense.  Not to Jesus.  Our unbelief causes Him to shake His head in wonder.  He is amazed, but for the wrong reason.

RE Verse reading–Mark 5:22-43 (day seven)
“Your daughter is dead, why bother the teacher any more?”  “Dont’ be afraid; just believe.” (vs 35-36)  The argument is simple.  The girl was dead.  I was a waste of time to press further.  Death trumps everything.  Right?  There are moments when to continue believing is both futile and foolish.  Right?  Wrong!  Jesus knew there is never a time when faith is powerless to save.  Especially at the point of death.  Believe! He said to the young father.  Don’t let fear take ahold of your heart.  Trust!  Are you ever discouraged?  Defeated?  Tempted to think that (whatever the present disaster) the situation is hopeless?  If so, I hope you take great courage in the words of Christ.  There is NEVER a time when nothing can be done!  NEVER a time when faith is not the victory.  A God of infinite power and love is near.  Crisis and defeat are moments when faith matters most.

RE Verse reading–Mark 5:22-43 (day six)
“But Jesus kept looking to see who had done it”  (vs 32)  The Bible speaks of real salvation as more rare than we normally think. “The way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  (Matthew 7:14)  Appreciating this, Jesus was not one to ignore real faith when he saw it.  Even in a great crowd with people pressing in on Him; even with the pressure of the anxious Father who wanted Him to hurry, the Lord refused to walk past the opportunity to recognize faith.  I am certain that He still has this priority.  In every crowd, there may be thousands of motives in thousands of hearts.  What Jesus notices, what Jesus values is faith–the person who has accurately and positively connected the person and power and promises of Christ to his/her own situations.  When we believe and act He still notices and says  “Your faith has healed you.”  (vs 34)

RE Verse reading–Mark 5:22-43 (day five)
31 And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” The God of the universe is acutely aware of you and your needs/concerns/struggles/pressures/joys. There is a strong inclination among my friends that I have ADD. While I would never admit it, I am often easily distracted, disrupted, and chase rabbits frequently (they may be right). When I am in crowds, it becomes even more difficult to stay engaged and on task. But, not Jesus. He is among the hectic crowds of people but manages to track every action and activity. Even now, He continues to pursue an intimate and engaging relationship with all of His followers and each one of His followers. All that is required is an honest, sincere approach on our part. He stays faithful and promises to listen and answer. Have you had that kind of interaction with Him lately? Why not share what’s on your heart with Him today?

RE Verse reading–Mark 5:22-43 (day four)
Jesus was in the midst of His public ministry…He was busy about the work of His Father!  Jairus came seeking Him for healing for his daughter.  Those who sought out Jesus were never disappointed.  Even as Jesus went with Jairus, there was an encounter along the way with a woman also seeking Jesus for healing.  She was healed, as was Jairus’ daughter.  What about all the other people who were sick?  Some have asked why Jesus didn’t just heal everyone.  These people sought Jesus for healing.  They recognized the power to heal in Him and came to Him.  What about salvation?  Jesus could save everyone on the earth from the wages of sin, but it is those who seek Him for salvation that find it.  In God’s economy, it is the one who puts self aside and comes to Him that receives salvation and healing from the ravages of sin.  Have you sought Jesus for healing?

RE Verse reading–Mark 5:22-43 (day three)
High school students commonly receive assignments to work out given scenarios that involve two life-threatening events competing for attention: Saving one person’s life seemingly means not saving another person’s life. These exercises are meant to highlight questions of ethics and promote critical thinking. Jesus faced a real situation that bore similarities to the high school scenarios: Saving the life of a widow seemingly meant leaving no time to save the life of a young girl. But Jesus, though living within the realities of time, did not surrender to the common perceptions of time. For him, the question was not, “How can I get as much done as I can in the time allotted?” Rather, it was “How can I do all the work God desires me to do?” So he saved the lives of both people, even when time ran out.

RE Verse reading–Mark 5:22-43 (day two)
“If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed” (28). Are you still reaching out to “touch” Him? You do still see how sick you are, don’t you? Selfishness, falsehood, insecurity…sin, habitual and hidden, still seeps out. Justification is complete in Christ, but sanctification is an ongoing work of Christ, clothed in righteousness. If I would know the healing power of Christ, then I must resolve to reach out to Him, not once but always. Not Sunday but every day. So be it resolved, I will not…”get used” to sin in my life, be satisfied with partial sanctification, compare my growth to others and celebrate that “I am not like them,” and occupy myself with radio, TV, Facebook, movies, working out, and hanging out so that I don’t have to face how fragile, inconsistent, weak, broken, small-minded, unforgiving, prayerless and faithless I really am. No. I will reach for Christ. If I just touch His clothes…

RE Verse reading–Mark 5:22-43 (day one)
“A large crowd followed and pressed around him.  A woman. . .came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. . .at once Jesus realized that power had gone out of him.”  (vs 24,27, 30)  It is THE most impressive characteristic of Jesus.  Ok, one of the most.  He was never in a hurry.  Never stressed by outward pressure or deadlines or urgent needs stacking up around him.  Modern folks talk about being “present in the moment”.  Jesus knew how to do it, even before it was cool.  A calm heart comes from inward concentration on God, inward confidence in God.   “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee”  (Isaiah 26:3)  As the New Year comes, with all of its demands, may we learn this lesson from the Savior–we can be calm in pressure-filled situations when our mind is stayed on God.  Be still, dear friends, be still.