Wednesday Wake Up #35

Jesus Eats with Sinners

In my many travels (read this article) I came across an image with some text that seemed to be saying that Jesus would endorse/support sin because he ate with sinners. I may have gotten the message a bit mixed up (I doubt it though), but I do think and know that there are people who believe that because Jesus ate with sinners, that it must mean that he accepted their sinful ways as okay to live in and would encourage these sins to continue. I beg to differ and scripture would disagree with that too (that is what is most important). Jesus does not endorse sin. Many look at Jesus and forget why he came to earth and what his purpose was while he was here. I hope I can remind people today that Jesus would not encourage or endorse sinful behavior.

In Mark 2:13-17, Jesus had called Levi to follow him. Levi was a tax collector and they were known to take more taxes and save some for themselves. While eating with Levi and other tax collectors, the Pharisees got upset with Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus told them that it is not the well, but the sick that needed doctors just as the sinners (the sick) are the ones who needed Jesus. Why would a sinner need Jesus? So that they can follow him. If you love Jesus and what he stood for then understand he was not just a good person, but a servant of God doing the Lord's will while loving the unloving and the sinners.

And remember that Jesus did not want you to sin. Remember the adulteress woman who the Pharisees brought to him to have her stoned according to the law (John 8:1-11)? After he made some markings in the sand, Jesus told the Pharisees whomever had not sinned could cast the first stone. The Pharisees one by one dropped their stones and walked away and could no longer condemn her. When there was no one left to condemn her, Jesus said he didn't condemn her either and that she should "go and sin no more." Jesus wants us to be united with God in Heaven and if we are accepting of God's grace and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior then we get who Jesus is. For those that think that Jesus just accepted everyone and was okay with everything, they still have some reading to do.
 

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Friday Focus #31

One Another-ing

It is very easy to get caught up in thinking about ourselves and our wants and even perceive those wants as needs. When we truly focus on what God wants from us we can see how important it is for us to honor Him and be loving to one another. During this times of the year there is much discussion regarding politics and a number of divisive things are being said. While not everyone engaged in these discussions are Christ followers, some of these people are or at least believe themselves to be overlooking that in favor of personal wants that are outside of the glory of God. Doing a Google search of "how many one another bible verses" I found a document that counts 59 uses of one another in the New Testament. Here are a few that I would like to highlight.

In Mark 9:50 Jesus is talking about having salt in ourselves. Salt here can be used as a reference to sacrifices that were covered with salt and/or salt being a metaphor for the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, " Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." This does not mean do it on your own accord but have the Holy Spirit in you as that also relates to a sacrifice of self. By that sacrifice of self and having the Holy Spirit in us, we can "be at peace with one another." It is hard to say or do divisive things when you have submitted your will to God. If you stay focused on being served then you are part of the problem.

We have probably covered John 13:34-35 numerous times about loving one another (Jesus's command) and that is how people will know we are Christ followers. But, let's take it a step further. What task is so beneath you that you would never do it? Cleaning toilets? Taking out the trash? Well, Jesus was so humble in his living that something as low as washing someone's feet was not beneath him. How would you sacrifice for your brother or sister in Christ if they needed you to? Would you allow yourself to be degraded in a sense to meet a need for them? Jesus says in John 13:14-15 that since he has done this that we should do the same type of activity as he has shown us an example of how to be. 

Finally, I leave you with one more. Being a Christ follower does not equate to perfection from the eyes of others. It means being dedicated to God's will. It means accepting the Holy Spirit as your guide and God's grace through Christ. In Romans 15:7, Paul says something very important that often gets overlooked. He says, "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." This does not mean that we accept sin and just say it is okay, but remember where you were when first became a Christ follower. Remember the grace you needed or had. Now apply that to others. We are all works in progress. Love them enough to let them grow.

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Wednesday Wake Up #31

Keeping the Word of God

There is a time when we can lose focus as believers. We do things and say things with great intentions, but it completely overshoots the depth of the meaning of Christ's life. A woman, who it can be understood saw Christ's significance, once said to Jesus in Luke 11:27, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!" While trying to be respectful to Jesus and his mother, he corrects her. In verse 28 Jesus responds with "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" Are you keeping the word of God?

First, are you reading the Bible? Are you understanding what you are reading? I have heard people say that the love Jesus and are Christians, but then they follow that up with the Bible is misinterpreted and wrong and blah blah blah. But if the Bible is wrong then how do you know about Jesus? What is it that you know about him? Where did you learn that? If the source that educates you is flawed in your mind then your beliefs may be flawed as well. Read about Jesus in the gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Read about why he did what he did. Understand him. But in order to do that, you have to read.

And second, are you keeping his commands. Yes there are the 10 commandments, but also the spirit of the 10 are condensed in Matthew 22:36-40. Love God first and then because you love God, you love people. This is not just love like a fluffy Valentine's Day love, but like I will sacrifice for someone I do not know kind of love the way you sacrifice for someone you do know. That kind of love is how you know if you have Christ working through you. Keep the word of God by reading it, understanding and accepting Christ and follow the spirit of the commands.

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Friday Focus #5

Sharing the Word

I used to be afraid to talk to people about Jesus. I wouldn't even talk to other Christians about Jesus. I just didn't know a whole lot. I only knew that he died for my sins (and yours), was the Son of God and was a carpenter. I didn't know much more. I only had some basic information and facts. I had no in depth understanding about Jesus and his life.

The more I understood (through reading and studying) the more likely I was to share my story and how God was working through me and guiding me. The more I saw how God was using me for His purposes the more I was falling in line with wanting to and executing His will to the best of my abilities. The pressure to have every answer to every question decreased.

I know we have covered one of Christ's commands to go and make disciple of all nations, but I haven't covered the fear that can prohibit the sharing. But we must know that just like in 2 Timothy 1:7, God did not give us a "spirit of fear..." Paul is telling Timothy not to be fearful about the gift God entrusted to him. So, why would Jesus give us a command and then not equip us with what we need to carry out that command? 

Max Lucado has a great quote on faith and fear.

Just hitting share on Google+ and twitter and texting weekly does a lot for sharing the word. This site allows me to look at the stats of each post and see how many (not who) people look at each post each day. I noticed that the views were down for yesterday's post when usually by the time I looked (around 5pm) they would have reach their maximum for the day. Then I realized that I never "shared" the post. Ha!! Here I am sharing The Word and I didn't even "share" The Word. After a few hours after sharing the post on two Gmail accounts and Twitter, the views went up 41%. I don't do this for the stats, I do this to aid in teaching scripture to those who need reminders, to water an already planted seed and to share with those that do not know Jesus yet.

Isn't time you told someone about Jesus? Here is an article I read with more support in your sharing- http://www.unlockingthebible.org/afraid-to-share-your-faith/

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Mark 16:14- Rebuking Unbelief and Spreading the Word

Rebuking Unbelief and Spreading the Word

We know that after Christ died on the cross and was resurrected. We know that an angel told Mary Magdalene and Mary (mother of James) that Jesus had risen from the dead. But, did you know that as the disciples were told that he had risen, they did not believe it? It wasn't shock, it was disbelief. They did not believe that Jesus did what he said he would do (see Mark 8:31-38).

In verses 9-11, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and tells her to go and tell the disciples that he has risen. They did not believe her. I understand that Jesus would have chosen her because in this time women were not respected. But, when God uses a women to deliver a message and you don't believe the message due to your prejudices, then you have missed the point on following Christ and loving your neighbor as yourself. The disciples messed up again as Jesus appeared to two of them in verses 12-13, but not in the form of Jesus. There is more detail of this encounter in Luke 24:13-35.

In verses 14-16, when Jesus appears the the eleven disciples (used to be 12 but Judas hung himself) he rebukes them for their unbelief. Jesus sent the message of his resurrection by Mary Magdalene and again in another form, yet the disciples did not believe. Jesus said what he would do and who he was, yet when the going got tough, the disciple's faith got going, in the wrong direction.

Then he commanded them to go into the world and make disciple of all nations. This was not specific to only people in one land or another, but in all lands. Jesus did not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color and nation of origin. Jesus explains "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." As we must remember, we cannot just sit on the history of Jesus. We must tell others about him.

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Wednesday Wake Up #4

Is Being A Good Person Good Enough?

I have heard that far too many people who refer to themselves as Christians think that in order to get to Heaven they just need to be a "good person." That thinking makes me question what a good person really is. I know "good people"  but there are times that they have done bad things. Then again, I have known "bad" people who have done good things.

Is a good person someone who always volunteers at shelters for the homeless and visits sick people in hospitals? Are bad people only the ones who break major laws? What about people who lie; are they bad? What about white lies? Aren't those okay?

There are so many questions and ways to try to figure out who is good and who is bad, but God is not concerned with who is good or bad, He wants you to put Him first in all things (see Matthew 6:33). Everything? Yes! Everything!

If we go back to the 10 Commandments, we see that the first commands are all about God and us honoring Him by having no other gods before Him, have no false idols (worship nothing other than God), do not take the Lord's name in vain and last, we are to keep the Sabbath (take a day off from working as God did when making the universe). Those are not the last four commandments, but the first four. God told Moses to relay that message and keep his commands about our relationship to Him FIRST. The second set are all about our relationships with people.

Jesus had an encounter with a young rich man in Matthew 19:16-26. The young rich man wanted to know how to get to Heaven. He thought that since he kept all the commandments then he would be able to spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven. Jesus in the end told the man to sell all of his possessions. The man couldn't do it and went away sad because he had great possessions. We learn from this, that no matter how great of a person you have been in your own eyes, God knows more. God wants you to dedicate yourself to Him and His will. When confronted with that many of us will just walk away.

More on that on Friday....


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Mark 15:16-20- Mocking Jesus

Mocking Jesus

While reading I thought to myself, "Is Jesus still mocked today?" The answer is yes and it is done often. But this is not something that is new. People who do not follow Christ and insult him and mock him have been around for over 2000 years.

In Mark 15:16-20 as Jesus was arrested it was customary for Pilate (the Roman governor of Judea) to release one prisoner back into the population. The choices were Barrabas and the was Jesus. Pilate had a feeling that the chief priests had Jesus arrested out of their envy. Instead the crowd chose "The King of the Jews." This was the name people used to mock Jesus as many did not believe in Jesus and hated him as he went against man's religious traditions in favor of God's will.

The crowd was adamant to have Jesus crucified (see verses 13-14). Kings during that day wore purple robes and a gilded wreath of leaves. Jesus was draped in a purple cloth rag and was given a crown of thorns in order to mock royalty of the time. The people shouted "Hail, King of the Jews" in mocking efforts of praising Caesar. They gave him reed in place of scepter and instead of kissing him out of respect as they would do a king, the bowed on their knees and spat on him.

Today, there are parades and contests that are held where people dress up as Jesus and wear the same garb that he was dressed on when he was mocked before he was hung on the cross. There was a parade held to compare the struggle for rights of gay people to what Christ physically went through. The contest is called "Hunky Jesus" and judges which person is the best looking and actually dressed like Jesus. These are not done out of respect for Christ and him dying for our sins, but in order to make fun and have fun at the expense of our Lord and Savior. Galations 6:7 says "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." People need to remember that.

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Mark 14:6- Anointing of Jesus

Anointing of Jesus

In Mark 14:6, we get to see Jesus stand up for a woman who, in a sense, was being bullied by people. A woman used expensive oil and poured it over Jesus's head. It was used to anoint him, which symbolizes empowering, blessing and protection in religious ceremonies. Many were upset that she "wasted" the oil on Jesus when it could have been sold for 300 denarii (which would be worth today $30,000 USD).

What these men overlooked was their own selfishness. They overlooked what was being done for Jesus and thought of what they could have done with the money. I equate that to skipping on tithing because you would rather use the money for your own personal gain.

Jesus stood up for her and asked the men why they troubled/bothered her understanding that she did a beautiful thing for him. She did what she could to anoint his body for burial. Jesus is saying that he is going to die.

 Jesus knew he was fulfilling prophecies. He knew the role Judas would have and what part Peter would play. He knew that they would "not always have" him. He foretells his betrayal and his death on the cross.

Jesus knew what his purpose was and went through with it anyway. The more I read about Jesus the more my heart breaks for what our sin did to him. The more my heart breaks for how he was treated when he dedicated his life for us.

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Mark 13:37- Stay Awake

Stay Awake

In Mark 13:32-37, Jesus is speaking about being ready and "awake" in a spiritual sense. He is talking about his return (after crucifixion and after ascension). Jesus is saying that no one knows, not even the angels and not even he knows when that return will be. Earlier in the chapter in verses 24-27, he speaks on signs that will indicate the time is near or has come. He compares it to knowing summer is near when a fig tree sprouts leaves and branches become tender. He is reminding us that when the moon will not give its light and the stars are falling from heaven, they will see the son of man (Jesus) coming in clouds with great power and glory.

In the last few verses of the chapter Jesus tells us to stay awake and ready. But he uses the word "awake" several times, four times to be exact (other translations use watch). There must be a reasons for that. Have you ever spiritually fallen asleep? You were on fire for God and passionate about serving and learning and in fellowship with believers, but then "life" happens and passion is lost from those parts of life? You spiritually fell asleep. We put off spiritual growth for other priorities. Time to wake up!

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Mark 12:44- The Widow's Offering

The Widow's Offering

At first read of Mark 12:41-44, I was thinking that the message was pretty simple, but upon reading it again and thinking about it, I see something else. Capital F type of Faith and Capital O type of Obedience.

I see her full dependence on God. Obviously, being a widow, she was not married, so she could not be depending on a husband to bring in more money. But, when you give your last as an offering that is full obedience and dedication. You are not saying "God you can't have this because I need this" you are saying "God take this as I give you my full trust."

I also see capital H, Humility. All the other people who were giving out of their abundance, meaning they could have given more. She gave her last.

It makes me think of the things that we hang on to  and do not want to let God be in charge of. Is it our money or our relationships? Maybe it is a job that we know we is not spiritually healthy for us and we let it  affect us because the money is good or good enough.

When will we stop hanging on to what we want and start giving it to God and seeking what He wants from us? The time is now.

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Mark 11:23-24- Faith to Move Mountains

Faith to Move Mountains

Sometimes I don't pray and I just complain. I gripe. I moan. I grumble. I tell friends the issue, but I "forget" to pray. I put forget with quotations because I did not actually forget. I have become accustomed to doing things that way. I try to figure it out. There is nothing wrong with using your God given problem solving ability to figure out some of your issues. But, what about using that ability to speak to God and pray?

In Mark 11:12-14, Jesus curses a fig tree that was no longer producing any fig (fruit). It wasn't doing what it was supposed to do. It wasn't doing it's job. It was useless. Just sitting there looking pretty with leaves. After he cleansed the temple from the "thieves" in verses 15-19, he and the disciples walked by the fig tree that he had cursed and they saw that it had withered to its roots. He uses this moment to teach them to have faith in God. He says that you can tell a mountain to to be thrown into the sea and it will if you do not have a a doubt in your heart. Bam! Right there, he said a "doubt in his heart."

When we pray about our mountains (money, relationship issues, living situations, jobs, health) do we really pray with that kind of faith? Do we have doubts? Then when the prayer is not answered we think God is ignoring us. But, if we read and seek to understand and have faith that God is not only listening but truthful in fulfilling his promises.

He follows up this command by also saying that when we pray we are also to forgive any trespasses (wrong doing) against us by other people. In school, we are not encouraged to get F's, but here Jesus wants us to have F's with Faith and Forgiveness (see what I did there?) How can God here our prayer and come through to move the mountain if we do not believe that He will and when we have bitterness and an unforgiving heart toward others.

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Wednesday Wake Up #3

Unequally Yoked

Being unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14) is deeper than we think. We think it just applies to friend and marriage or dating. Those are ways to associate the meaning, but there is more. Unequally yoked refers to Deuteronomy 22:9 & 10. These verses are just two that outline not meshing together what is not meant to be together. The verses in Deuteronomy were were about planting two seeds in the same vineyard and also not plowing a field with an ox and a donkey. The seeds example can be better explained in Matthew 13:24-30. An enemy comes along and plants weeds in a wheat field to try to ruin the wheat. The weeds represent evil and the wheat represents good. You would not want to grow weeds and you would want to grow wheat. The way a farmer (God) could tell if weeds (evil) were planted among his wheat (Christ followers) was to wait until the harvest (the second coming) and separate the two from one another. 

The example of the ox and the donkey can be explained by simply knowing that an ox (Christ followers) is much stronger than a donkey (unbelievers) and the donkey is also regarding as an unclean animal (it cannot reproduce). The strength of an ox could be held back by the donkey who is not as strong (unbelief).

When we break down "do not be yoked" it really is at its core a warning to stay away from the world's way of thinking, living and being. The world is not joined with God, but we as Christ followers are. I can speak for myself and say that before I really came to know Christ, my words and actions and networks did not match up with my supposed beliefs. Now that I am focused on following Christ, my associations have changed and it is to help me grow with other like minded men and women.

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Mark 10:45- Life as a Ransom

Life as a Ransom

James and John (two disciples) are asking Jesus if they can sit at his right and left hand. Didn't he just finish telling them and the other disciples (Mark 9) that it was not about earthly glory and accolades? It is about serving.

In verse 45 Jesus breaks down what his life means. He says that he came to serve not to be served. Now, right there can end the discussion. He focuses on meeting others needs over trying to fulfill our wants. Our wants can be very selfish, while attending to the needs of others if far more selfless.

The second half of verse 45 is where it gets even more real. Jesus tells them that even he came "to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus dying on the cross for our sins freed us from the guilt and shame and eternal damnation of our sin. If you want to be free from sin's power over you, follow Christ and serve others. Recognize what his death on the cross meant for you and others and let that be your example.

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Mark 9:35- Last of All, Servant of All

Last of All, Servant of All

I just finished reading through Mark 9 and then I decided to look up a couple of polls to see who people ranked as the greatest or most significant person in history (New Republic and Daily Mail UK). The answer may surprise you and then again, maybe it won't. I was thinking maybe someone who is super rich and wealthy like hip hop mogul a Jay-Z or a former president like George Washington. Well, I was wrong. In both of those polls and studies conducted, Jesus won. Jesus is seen as the greatest and most significant person of all time.

Jesus and the disciples were on their way to Capernum and when they had reached their location, Jesus asked them what they had been discussing on the way to Capernum. No one wanted to answer because they were discussing which of them were the greatest. Really?!?! That was on your mind? Well, that is my response, but that isn't the right response. Jesus informs them in verse 35 that if anyone is to be the greatest, he must be the least of all and the servant of all.

Think about that...the greatest must be the least of all and the servant of all. So, these words that were spoken over 2,000 years ago are still holding true. But, it isn't about doping things in order to get recognition, it is serving God by serving people, selflessly. Jesus did not die for our sins so that we could rank him #1 on the internet more than 2000 years later. He did that out of love. Now, I challenge you to show love to someone this week (aside from those you already are friends with).

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Mark 8:34-38- Deny Yourself

Deny Yourself

In reading through Mark 8, a few verses jumped out to me. But, there is one section that really strikes a chord with me. Jesus said many things through his time on earth, but we misconstrue, twist and manipulate what he said. Maybe we do it for personal gain or we do it because we are just confused.

In verses 31-32, Jesus foretells his death and resurrection, and then in verse 34, Jesus goes on to tell people that they must "deny themselves" and "take up their cross and follow" him. If you are to deny yourself, as Christ meant it, it means you are concerned with what God wants from you, not what man wants from you. Man's ways are flawed as they seek personal gain and self promotion (take a look at selfies and social media). If you are to deny yourself, you are not looking to fulfill your motives, you are looking to fulfill God's desires.

Taking up the cross was not an act that was applauded, it was a death sentence. You had to carry the very thing that was going to be used to kill you for your crimes. Jesus carried his cross but was not guilty of any crime. Are you willing to be mocked and ridiculed and falsely accused and persecuted and bullied for following Christ?

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Mark 7:21-23- From Within

The old way of thinking was that if a person did not wash their hands before eating, then what ever they touched and then ate would defile their soul. Jesus said that this is not true. It was not about how you washed your hand or what you ate that would defile you, it was about what was in your heart, mind and soul and what came out of your mouth.

Your soul cannot be ruined by the food you eat. That belief was not from God, that belief came from man (see Mark 7:2-5). Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees were holding on man's laws more than God's. We do need to obey laws that are on earth, but ultimately God's law is more important. God's law gets overtaken for the beliefs that elders put in place.

Jesus made it very clear that the evil thoughts we have come from within. The sexual immorality we have comes from within. The theft, murder and adultery we commit comes from within. All things wicked that man expresses outwardly, starts inwardly. Remember that God's will and ways are far more important than man's.

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Mark 6:7-13- Shake off the Dust

Shake off the Dust

In Mark 6:7-13, we read about Jesus sending out the twelve apostles/disciples. In verse 8, Jesus charged/commanded them to only take one tunic (garment of clothing) and and sandals. They were not to take any bags or bread or any money in their belts. In my reading from Dave Guzik, he states that the rule/law was that Jewish rabbis were not to have the appearance of doing any other business in the temple. So, when Jesus sent out the twelve (2 by 2) they also were not have the appearance that they are doing any other business than spreading the word of Christ. Not having those items also put them in position to have more faith in God that He would provide for them while He did their work. If a preacher/pastor doesn't have have faith in God, then how can they teach others to have that faith?

A second point that I found interesting was the command in verse 11 to "shake off the dust" if any place would not have them or receive their message. The practice of this comes from Jewish people shaking off dust as they would travel through Gentile/non-jewish cities. it was seen as a way to not want to take anything from a city that was not Jewish. Do you see the connection? If a person or place does not receive the word of Christ then do not take that mentality or way of thinking with you in any way shape or form. That includes anything as small as dust. It is not your job as a pastor/preacher or follower of Christ to convince people to receive Jesus. You can share the faith, but you do not have to argue with them until you are blue in the face or until they accept Jesus. You deliver the message. They choose to receive it or reject it. Jesus did not need to argue and neither do you.

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