# 685 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
5 "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.
The King James version says, “and there were some that had indignation within themselves.” Have you ever had indignation within yourself? You observe someone else's behavior and your first thought is “Well I never!” It happens all the time! It doesn't take much in this world to get our “self-righteousness” aroused. How many times have you seen extravagant spending and thought “Oh what a waste!.”
Well, here, some of the disciples were just churning on the inside. Why pour this expensive perfume on Jesus when the money spent on Him could've been given to the poor? But wait a minute.
Do you know that there was provision in the Old Testament for extravagant spending? It was found in what is called the second tithe. The first tithe went to support the church, but this second tithe was a little different, and you can read about it in Dt 14:22-29.
This second 10% was divided like this, one third went to the poor and 2/3 went to feasting before the Lord! Extravagant celebrations of His blessings. I wonder what that would look like today. 10% of your income to your church, then 1/3 of the next 10% to the poor, and then 2/3 of the second 10% for celebrating the goodness of God! Nice concept!
And what a great way to celebrate His forgiveness!
Father, You loved us extravagantly, let us learn to love extravagantly in return.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
If Jesus Is Our God, Shouldn't We Want More of Him?
# 684 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
This is one of those places in Scripture where it is very helpful to use cross-references. The most complete account of this event is found in John 12:1-8. It seems odd to us that Mark had just written that the religious rulers were plotting how to arrest Jesus on Tuesday of Holy week, but NOW Mark takes us back to the Friday BEFORE Palm Sunday.
This is strange to us. We want everything in chronological order. So why does the Holy Spirit do this? What does He want us to see?
Well, He wants us to see that the plot for arresting Jesus was underway, and this event at Simon the lepers house plays into it, and so we need to backtrack.
Who was complaining about wasting the money on perfume? John tells us it was Judas, and in John 12:6 we read, that Judas didn't say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.”
A thief wants money and will do anything to get it. The motive is now established for the betrayal of the Son of God. Beware of covetousness my friend, it is a ruinous road.
And think about this: Money was Judas's God and he would do anything to have more of it. Is Jesus our God? Should we then not desire to have more of Him? No need to plot how to get more of Jesus, just seek to submit to Him and His Word.
Father, give me a heart that seeks more of Jesus.
This is one of those places in Scripture where it is very helpful to use cross-references. The most complete account of this event is found in John 12:1-8. It seems odd to us that Mark had just written that the religious rulers were plotting how to arrest Jesus on Tuesday of Holy week, but NOW Mark takes us back to the Friday BEFORE Palm Sunday.
This is strange to us. We want everything in chronological order. So why does the Holy Spirit do this? What does He want us to see?
Well, He wants us to see that the plot for arresting Jesus was underway, and this event at Simon the lepers house plays into it, and so we need to backtrack.
Who was complaining about wasting the money on perfume? John tells us it was Judas, and in John 12:6 we read, that Judas didn't say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.”
A thief wants money and will do anything to get it. The motive is now established for the betrayal of the Son of God. Beware of covetousness my friend, it is a ruinous road.
And think about this: Money was Judas's God and he would do anything to have more of it. Is Jesus our God? Should we then not desire to have more of Him? No need to plot how to get more of Jesus, just seek to submit to Him and His Word.
Father, give me a heart that seeks more of Jesus.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
God Is In Charge
# 682 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people."
Beginning in this chapter, Mark begins to record for us the actual history of the Passion. It's Tuesday, just two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and scribes have stopped bothering Jesus with their trick questions, because He just made them look like fools and they got down to the nitty gritty planning of how they could arrest Him and put Him to death.
So while Jesus was giving more last minute teaching to His disciples, the leaders were secretly meeting and plotting their dastardly deed. Notice their fear of the people. They had to do this in a way that would not create a “Rome” awakening riot.
Their initial plan here was to wait until after the feast, fewer people in town. But you know what, that would not do in God's plan. The timing for this event would be God's not theirs, and the Real Lamb of God would die during Passover as God intended.
Wait till we read on, and see how God altered their plans! God is in charge! Something we all need to remember when our own plans fall through.
Pr 19:21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD'S counsel-that will stand.
Just imagine the freedom, one can live in when they fully embrace this truth!
Father, let me never forget Your Sovereignty, knowing that “all things work together for Your ultimate good!
Beginning in this chapter, Mark begins to record for us the actual history of the Passion. It's Tuesday, just two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and scribes have stopped bothering Jesus with their trick questions, because He just made them look like fools and they got down to the nitty gritty planning of how they could arrest Him and put Him to death.
So while Jesus was giving more last minute teaching to His disciples, the leaders were secretly meeting and plotting their dastardly deed. Notice their fear of the people. They had to do this in a way that would not create a “Rome” awakening riot.
Their initial plan here was to wait until after the feast, fewer people in town. But you know what, that would not do in God's plan. The timing for this event would be God's not theirs, and the Real Lamb of God would die during Passover as God intended.
Wait till we read on, and see how God altered their plans! God is in charge! Something we all need to remember when our own plans fall through.
Pr 19:21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the LORD'S counsel-that will stand.
Just imagine the freedom, one can live in when they fully embrace this truth!
Father, let me never forget Your Sovereignty, knowing that “all things work together for Your ultimate good!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Snoring Doorkeeper
# 681 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 13:34-37 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- 36 "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
Jesus has given His church authority. He has gifted all members for service, and His final admonition here is to the doorkeeper. The doorkeeper is the one who decides what will be allowed into the church.
Who is the doorkeeper? He is all of us. “I say to all, Watch!”
Don't get lackadaisical here. Jesus could return at any moment, and when He returns He does not want to find false teaching in His church. It WILL be there, just don't let it happen in your church.
2Ti 4:3 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
This is what happens when doorkeepers fall asleep. Anybody got some earplugs?...the sound of the snoring doorkeeper is killing me.
Pr 24:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; 34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
Right now, here in America, the church is experiencing spiritual poverty and need, because we have fallen asleep.
Father, “according to our own desires” we have sidestepped many truths we consider “inconvenient.” Raise up refreshed and alert doorkeepers in Your church. Give us people who once again fear You more than men.
Jesus has given His church authority. He has gifted all members for service, and His final admonition here is to the doorkeeper. The doorkeeper is the one who decides what will be allowed into the church.
Who is the doorkeeper? He is all of us. “I say to all, Watch!”
Don't get lackadaisical here. Jesus could return at any moment, and when He returns He does not want to find false teaching in His church. It WILL be there, just don't let it happen in your church.
2Ti 4:3 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
This is what happens when doorkeepers fall asleep. Anybody got some earplugs?...the sound of the snoring doorkeeper is killing me.
Pr 24:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; 34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
Right now, here in America, the church is experiencing spiritual poverty and need, because we have fallen asleep.
Father, “according to our own desires” we have sidestepped many truths we consider “inconvenient.” Raise up refreshed and alert doorkeepers in Your church. Give us people who once again fear You more than men.
Friday, February 3, 2012
There Is Work For You
# 681 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 13:34 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
Jesus seeks to explain to His disciples what's going to happen when He ascends into heaven. Today, let's look at this business of assigning work to His servants.
Eph 4:8 says, “Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."” These gifts are mentioned in several places in Scripture:
Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
In Ro 12:6-8 we see other gifts listed such as, prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy, and in 1Co 12:28, we read, “ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
All of these gifts given to individuals in His church for the purpose of taking care of His household, His church until He returns. We were all saved to be a part of building up His Church! Friend, there is work for you in your local congregation. Stop standing around! Get involved. Pew sitting and apathy are not an option!
Pray with me now. Father, I don't know where I fit in, but I know I need to be a part of what Your church is doing. Help me to see my role and don't let me miss my opportunities to fulfill it.
Jesus seeks to explain to His disciples what's going to happen when He ascends into heaven. Today, let's look at this business of assigning work to His servants.
Eph 4:8 says, “Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."” These gifts are mentioned in several places in Scripture:
Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
In Ro 12:6-8 we see other gifts listed such as, prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy, and in 1Co 12:28, we read, “ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
All of these gifts given to individuals in His church for the purpose of taking care of His household, His church until He returns. We were all saved to be a part of building up His Church! Friend, there is work for you in your local congregation. Stop standing around! Get involved. Pew sitting and apathy are not an option!
Pray with me now. Father, I don't know where I fit in, but I know I need to be a part of what Your church is doing. Help me to see my role and don't let me miss my opportunities to fulfill it.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Christian Bouncers
# 680 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 13:34 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
Jesus seeks to explain to His disciples what's going to happen when He ascends into heaven. First of all, before He leaves He is going to give full authority to His servants to run His household, (the church) while he's gone.
His church has the authority to forgive sins or to retain them. Joh 20:23 says "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." This is the business of the church. And it is accomplished through the proclamation of the Gospel and the assertion that faith in Jesus is the only way to have sins removed. Anything less than faith in Jesus (or even more when we seek to add our own works or the works of others to the salvation formula) causes individuals to retain their sins.
Only those who have received the gift of “Jesus only faith” and continue to walk in that faith will have the clean slate that allows them into heaven. (whoever believes and is baptized will be saved- Mr 16:16) Anyone with retained sins will be left out in the cold.
In this sense the church is the doorkeeper, forever making sure that the proper credentials for entering the church are upheld and proclaimed. We must not doze off in this matter. It is to be faithfully proclaimed until the Lord returns. Joh 14:6 says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Father, help us to get on track and stay on track in this matter of doorkeeping. Sometimes we are too lenient and sometimes we are too strict when we proclaim the proper credentials. Let us not add to or takeaway from Your clear requirements.
Jesus seeks to explain to His disciples what's going to happen when He ascends into heaven. First of all, before He leaves He is going to give full authority to His servants to run His household, (the church) while he's gone.
His church has the authority to forgive sins or to retain them. Joh 20:23 says "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." This is the business of the church. And it is accomplished through the proclamation of the Gospel and the assertion that faith in Jesus is the only way to have sins removed. Anything less than faith in Jesus (or even more when we seek to add our own works or the works of others to the salvation formula) causes individuals to retain their sins.
Only those who have received the gift of “Jesus only faith” and continue to walk in that faith will have the clean slate that allows them into heaven. (whoever believes and is baptized will be saved- Mr 16:16) Anyone with retained sins will be left out in the cold.
In this sense the church is the doorkeeper, forever making sure that the proper credentials for entering the church are upheld and proclaimed. We must not doze off in this matter. It is to be faithfully proclaimed until the Lord returns. Joh 14:6 says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Father, help us to get on track and stay on track in this matter of doorkeeping. Sometimes we are too lenient and sometimes we are too strict when we proclaim the proper credentials. Let us not add to or takeaway from Your clear requirements.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Parable of the Great Commission
# 679 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 13:34 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
For those who don't understand His discussion about the end times, Jesus uses an illustration that all are able to comprehend. He says, “it's like this.”
A man (Jesus) is going away to a far country. (Jesus is going to ascend to heaven) Before He leaves, He arranges His household (His church) in such a way that they will be able to carry on His work while He is gone. He gives them full authority in His absence.
Authority to do what? To continue His work in His absence. What was His work? His work while He was here was to make Himself known as the Son of God, and to give a clear picture of what it means to be in the kingdom of God.
In essence, this is the great “authorization.” the great commission of His church . He said in Mt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
Lesson # 1 here, is that while He is gone, we are to be about this work.
So, how are we doing? Are we making it known to others by declaration, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? And are we painting a clear picture of what Kingdom living is all about? Can the world look at our lives and see a stark contrast to the way they are living?
They will only see it, when we stop picking and choosing what we will obey from Scripture, and start submitting to all of God's Word. And they will only see it, when we openly and honestly bring our failings to the cross.
Father, Holy Spirit, teach me Your ways, that sinners may be converted to You (Ps 51:13)
For those who don't understand His discussion about the end times, Jesus uses an illustration that all are able to comprehend. He says, “it's like this.”
A man (Jesus) is going away to a far country. (Jesus is going to ascend to heaven) Before He leaves, He arranges His household (His church) in such a way that they will be able to carry on His work while He is gone. He gives them full authority in His absence.
Authority to do what? To continue His work in His absence. What was His work? His work while He was here was to make Himself known as the Son of God, and to give a clear picture of what it means to be in the kingdom of God.
In essence, this is the great “authorization.” the great commission of His church . He said in Mt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
Lesson # 1 here, is that while He is gone, we are to be about this work.
So, how are we doing? Are we making it known to others by declaration, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? And are we painting a clear picture of what Kingdom living is all about? Can the world look at our lives and see a stark contrast to the way they are living?
They will only see it, when we stop picking and choosing what we will obey from Scripture, and start submitting to all of God's Word. And they will only see it, when we openly and honestly bring our failings to the cross.
Father, Holy Spirit, teach me Your ways, that sinners may be converted to You (Ps 51:13)
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