SCRIPTURE
"When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land." (Mark 6:47)
OBSERVATION
Jesus had a busy day of ministry. So many people were coming to him, and his disciples, they did not even have a chance to eat. They moved to another location. People saw them leaving and ran on foot from all the towns to get there ahead of them. Jesus arrived and began teaching. It was getting late and the people had not yet eaten, so he fed them (5,000 men).
Whew. What a day. Traveling, feeding, teaching. But then Jesus does something vital to his relationship with his Father. He sent the disciples, by boat, on ahead to Bethsaida while he remained on land. He dismissed the crowd and went up on the mountainside to pray. Throughout Mark 6, he took charge of his schedule. He ministered when he needed to but also withdrew when he need to. He was busy but not hurried. Earlier in the day, he invited his disciples to, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (6:31)
APPLICATION
If Jesus found it important to withdraw in prayer how much more should I?. I can be very hurried but hurriedness does not allow for great communication with God. I need to find time, "alone on land", dismiss the crowds, and pray. Jesus invites me to come with him by myself to a quiet place.
PRAYER
Lord, help me find the quiet places where I can spend time with you.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
God Rubs Off
SCRIPTURE
"When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord." (Exodus 34:29)
OBSERVATION
God rubs off. This is the second time Moses spent time with God on Mount Sinai (40 days and nights). He had to climb the mountain again because he broke the first set of Ten Commandments after he saw the people worshipping the golden calf. The first set was written with the finger of God. This time Moses had to write them. The Bible says, "He wrote down the words God gave him." His face became radiant because he had spoken with God. He was not aware that his face was radiant it just happened because he spent time in God's presence. He didn't do it for a show. When we spend time communicating with God we can't help but be changed. His glory will rub off on us and we will start to reflect more of who he is. His word will change us.
APPLICATION
My time with God pays off. I become more like him and reflect more of him in my life. There are times when I don't feel like it. I'm too busy or don't want to take the time. I don't know if Moses wanted to climb the mountain again either but he did. When I spend time with God he changes me. This needs to happen frequently, daily. Like Moses the glory eventually fades. It's not meant to last forever because a relationship with God is not a one time event. I can't get a supercharged dose to last the rest of my life. I must continually renew that contact with God so that he can continue his work of transformation in my life.
PRAYER
Lord, I thank you that you allow me to come into your presence so that I can be changed and reflect a little more of who you are.
"When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord." (Exodus 34:29)
OBSERVATION
God rubs off. This is the second time Moses spent time with God on Mount Sinai (40 days and nights). He had to climb the mountain again because he broke the first set of Ten Commandments after he saw the people worshipping the golden calf. The first set was written with the finger of God. This time Moses had to write them. The Bible says, "He wrote down the words God gave him." His face became radiant because he had spoken with God. He was not aware that his face was radiant it just happened because he spent time in God's presence. He didn't do it for a show. When we spend time communicating with God we can't help but be changed. His glory will rub off on us and we will start to reflect more of who he is. His word will change us.
APPLICATION
My time with God pays off. I become more like him and reflect more of him in my life. There are times when I don't feel like it. I'm too busy or don't want to take the time. I don't know if Moses wanted to climb the mountain again either but he did. When I spend time with God he changes me. This needs to happen frequently, daily. Like Moses the glory eventually fades. It's not meant to last forever because a relationship with God is not a one time event. I can't get a supercharged dose to last the rest of my life. I must continually renew that contact with God so that he can continue his work of transformation in my life.
PRAYER
Lord, I thank you that you allow me to come into your presence so that I can be changed and reflect a little more of who you are.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Drinks Included
SCRIPTURE
"He [Jesus] went a second time and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.'" (Matthew 26:42)
OBSERVATION
Jesus prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane. This was the place where he was arrested and led away to be tried and crucified. The first time he prayed to his Father to take the cup (a metaphor for suffering and anguish) away from him. In this passage he prays a second time. Matthew writes he prayed the same thing a third time. Each time he prayed, he resigned himself to his Father's will. "May your will be done."
However, there is a difference between his first and second prayer. In this prayer he adds, "unless I drink it." This is huge. The cup would be taken away but only after he drank it. The way he found relief from the suffering was by going through the suffering and coming out on the other side. It's the way of Jesus. To go through the suffering, drinking the cup, is to have it taken away. God has much more to accomplish in the lives of those who are obedient to him than making sure life is pain free and comfortable.
APPLICATION
I'm all for the first prayer, "Take it away." Avoid pain at any cost. Don't let me touch the cup, smell or savor its contents. The second prayer is a whole different story. "Lord take this suffering from my life, but only after I go through it." It goes against the natural (you might say it's supernatural). To be like Jesus means to submit to God's will. All of it. Even the parts that I don't like or are very uncomfortable. God is more concerned about the growth of my character than that I have a cushy life. So, I reluctantly pray, "Your will be done." But I confidently pray, "Your will be done" because I can always trust in God's goodness and faithfulness to me.
PRAYER
Lord, if I truly believe your will is perfect that means drinks are included.
"He [Jesus] went a second time and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.'" (Matthew 26:42)
OBSERVATION
Jesus prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane. This was the place where he was arrested and led away to be tried and crucified. The first time he prayed to his Father to take the cup (a metaphor for suffering and anguish) away from him. In this passage he prays a second time. Matthew writes he prayed the same thing a third time. Each time he prayed, he resigned himself to his Father's will. "May your will be done."
However, there is a difference between his first and second prayer. In this prayer he adds, "unless I drink it." This is huge. The cup would be taken away but only after he drank it. The way he found relief from the suffering was by going through the suffering and coming out on the other side. It's the way of Jesus. To go through the suffering, drinking the cup, is to have it taken away. God has much more to accomplish in the lives of those who are obedient to him than making sure life is pain free and comfortable.
APPLICATION
I'm all for the first prayer, "Take it away." Avoid pain at any cost. Don't let me touch the cup, smell or savor its contents. The second prayer is a whole different story. "Lord take this suffering from my life, but only after I go through it." It goes against the natural (you might say it's supernatural). To be like Jesus means to submit to God's will. All of it. Even the parts that I don't like or are very uncomfortable. God is more concerned about the growth of my character than that I have a cushy life. So, I reluctantly pray, "Your will be done." But I confidently pray, "Your will be done" because I can always trust in God's goodness and faithfulness to me.
PRAYER
Lord, if I truly believe your will is perfect that means drinks are included.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Living With the Frogs
SCRIPTURE
Moses said to Pharaoh, "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile." "Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. (Exodus 8:9-10)
OBSERVATION
The land was teeming with frogs. This was second plague God brought on the Egyptians because Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go. The frogs covered the land. They were found in beds, in ovens, and in kneading troughs. Moses went to Pharaoh and said, "You can decide when you want me to pray to get rid of the frogs." Pharaoh's response, "Tomorrow."
Incredible. He could get rid of the frogs in that moment, yet he waits until tomorrow. He's just a hard guy to figure out. Why did he say "tomorrow?" There could be a lot of reasons, the same reasons we would use. Pride comes to mind. His magicians could do the same frog tricks, so he wasn't going to give Moses the satisfaction of yielding to his God. Maybe he got comfortable. Live with a problem long enough and you get used to it. The croaking can almost become a symphony. Maybe he wanted to avoid the hard work of facing the clean up. The frogs did not hop away, they died and were piled into stinking, reeking, heaps. Sometimes its easier to accommodate a problem than have it croak and smell up the place.
APPLICATION
In a way, I get "tomorrow." Sometimes I don't want to deal the the situation today. It's easier to live with the frogs in my life than take them to God and have him clean them up. It's too hard, too smelly, or for a variety of other excuses I could give. After awhile, the frogs can become pets, a fixture in my life. But they are not what God intends for my life. He wants me to be rid of the plagues, the consequences of disobeying him (that's in essence what the frogs were, a response to Pharaoh's hard heart). That is the problem, I become too attached to the frogs and don't want them dead. But that's what God offers today, exodus, deliverance. Dealing with the problem only smells for awhile. Eventually it turns to fertilizer that causes great spiritual growth. I should not wait for tomorrow but need to hop to it today.
PRAYER
Lord, it's easy to live with the frogs. Help me see the great deliverance that only you can offer.
Moses said to Pharaoh, "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile." "Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. (Exodus 8:9-10)
OBSERVATION
The land was teeming with frogs. This was second plague God brought on the Egyptians because Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go. The frogs covered the land. They were found in beds, in ovens, and in kneading troughs. Moses went to Pharaoh and said, "You can decide when you want me to pray to get rid of the frogs." Pharaoh's response, "Tomorrow."
Incredible. He could get rid of the frogs in that moment, yet he waits until tomorrow. He's just a hard guy to figure out. Why did he say "tomorrow?" There could be a lot of reasons, the same reasons we would use. Pride comes to mind. His magicians could do the same frog tricks, so he wasn't going to give Moses the satisfaction of yielding to his God. Maybe he got comfortable. Live with a problem long enough and you get used to it. The croaking can almost become a symphony. Maybe he wanted to avoid the hard work of facing the clean up. The frogs did not hop away, they died and were piled into stinking, reeking, heaps. Sometimes its easier to accommodate a problem than have it croak and smell up the place.
APPLICATION
In a way, I get "tomorrow." Sometimes I don't want to deal the the situation today. It's easier to live with the frogs in my life than take them to God and have him clean them up. It's too hard, too smelly, or for a variety of other excuses I could give. After awhile, the frogs can become pets, a fixture in my life. But they are not what God intends for my life. He wants me to be rid of the plagues, the consequences of disobeying him (that's in essence what the frogs were, a response to Pharaoh's hard heart). That is the problem, I become too attached to the frogs and don't want them dead. But that's what God offers today, exodus, deliverance. Dealing with the problem only smells for awhile. Eventually it turns to fertilizer that causes great spiritual growth. I should not wait for tomorrow but need to hop to it today.
PRAYER
Lord, it's easy to live with the frogs. Help me see the great deliverance that only you can offer.
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