Day 16 | February 27, 2023

Mark 4: 1-20
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,
“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
    and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

REFLECTION

This passage of Scripture contains a well-known parable of Jesus, often called the Parable of the Sower. In this story, a sower went out to sow seed, and as he scattered the seed, some fell along the path, some fell on rocky ground, some fell among thorns, and some fell on good soil. The seeds that fell on the path were eaten by birds, the seeds on rocky ground withered because they had no root, the seeds among thorns were choked by weeds, but the seeds that fell on good soil produced a crop.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached on this passage and emphasized the importance of the condition of the soil in receiving the Word of God. Wesley argued that the Word of God is like a seed that needs good soil to grow and bear fruit. The path, the rocky ground, and the thorns represent different obstacles that prevent the seed from taking root and growing.

Wesley also pointed out that the parable highlights the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. The seed that fell on rocky ground initially sprouted quickly, but it withered away because it had no root. Similarly, some people may respond enthusiastically to the gospel at first but later fall away because they do not have deep roots in their faith.

Overall, Wesley’s commentary on this passage encourages us to cultivate the soil of our hearts to receive the Word of God and to persevere in our faith even when we face obstacles. It reminds us that a shallow faith that lacks depth will not be able to sustain us through the challenges of life. Instead, we need to cultivate a deep and lasting faith that can withstand the trials of life and bear fruit for the kingdom of God.

DAY 14 - FEBRUARY 25, 2023

Mark 3: 20-30
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

REFLECTION

In Mark 3:20-30, Jesus is confronted by the scribes who accused him of being possessed by Beelzebub. This encounter highlights the importance of discernment in our daily lives.

Discernment is the ability to distinguish between what is good and what is evil, between what comes from God and what comes from the enemy. It requires us to have a deep understanding of God's character and his word so that we can recognize his truth and his will for our lives.

In this passage, Jesus demonstrates discernment by recognizing the true motives of the scribes and refuting their accusations with the truth. He explains that a house divided against itself cannot stand and that Satan cannot cast out Satan. He also warns them of the unforgivable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we are called to exercise discernment in all areas of our lives. We must be careful not to be deceived by false teachings or misled by our own desires and impulses. We must also be aware of the enemy's tactics and be equipped with the truth to resist his lies.

Let us pray for the gift of discernment and seek to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God's word so that we may be able to distinguish between good and evil and follow the path that leads to life.

DAY THIRTEEN | FEBRUARY 25, 2023

Mark 3: 13-19
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

REFLECTION

Let us reflect for a moment on our previous passages when Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, when he saw a group of fishermen who were working hard to catch fish. He knew that these men were not just ordinary people, but they had a special purpose in their lives. They were going to be the ones who would carry on his mission after he was gone. So, he chose twelve of them and called them to be his disciples.

Jesus intentionally selected these twelve men to be his closest companions and followers. He didn't choose them because of their status, education, or wealth. In many ways they were just ordinary. Over and over in Scripture we see that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. The disciples were not famous or influential people, but they were willing to follow Jesus and do whatever he asked of them. God can use anyone who is willing to submit themselves to his will and follow his commands.

Similarly, God has a unique purpose and plan for each one of us. He has called us to a specific task, and he wants us to fulfill that task with all our heart. Just like the disciples, we may not know what God has in store for us, but we can trust that he has a plan for our lives.

But, being a disciple of Jesus requires sacrifice. The disciples left everything behind to follow Jesus. They left their homes, families, and careers to be with him. Following Jesus requires us to let go of the things that hold us back and fully commit ourselves to him.

God has a plan for our lives, and he wants us to follow him with all our heart. May we be willing to sacrifice everything to follow him and become his disciples.

DAY TWELVE | FEBRUARY 24, 2023

 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

REFLECTION

In our reading today we read that Jesus withdrew with his disciples to a solitary place near the Sea of Galilee. When the people heard where Jesus was, they came from far and wide to see him, and the crowd became so large that Jesus had to retreat onto a boat to avoid being crushed. Even in this solitary place, Jesus could not find solitude.

In our modern, fast-paced world, solitude can be hard to come by. We are constantly bombarded with noise, distractions, and demands on our time and attention. The idea of being alone with our thoughts and with God can be scary or even seem impossible. But we need to make time for solitude if we want to grow in our relationship with God.

The story of Jesus in the solitary place shows us that even when we seek solitude, it may not come easily. The demands of the world may follow us, and we may still find ourselves struggling to quiet our minds and be still. However, just as Jesus continued to minister to the people despite the chaos, we too can find God in the midst of the noise and distractions of our lives.

One way to cultivate solitude is to intentionally set aside time each day for prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection. We can turn off our phones, step away from our screens, and intentionally create space for silence and stillness. It may be hard at first, but with practice, we can learn to quiet our minds and be present with God.

This story of Jesus in the solitary place challenges us all to seek out solitude in our own lives, even when it seems difficult or impossible. God can even meet us in the midst of the chaos of our lives if we intentionally create space for silence and stillness. Let us make time for solitude and allow God to speak to us in the quiet places of our hearts.

DAY ELEVEN - FEBRUARY 23, 2023

Mark 3: 1-6
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

REFLECTION

Today we read the story of Jesus healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day. We see that Jesus was not afraid to do the hard thing, even if it meant going against the established religious leaders of his time. The Pharisees were strict in their interpretation of the law and they believed that it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath day. However, Jesus knew that the man with the withered hand needed his help and so he went ahead and healed him, even though it was a controversial move.

This story reminds us that sometimes, doing the hard thing is the right thing. We may be faced with difficult decisions in our lives, but we should always be willing to do what is right, even if it means going against popular opinion or established norms. We should be willing to stand up for what is right, even when it is not the easiest thing to do.

You've probably heard the story about a man who was walking through a park and saw a butterfly struggling to break free from its cocoon. He watched the butterfly for a while, hoping that it would break free on its own, but it was clear that it was struggling. The man then decided to help the butterfly and carefully began to cut away the cocoon. The butterfly emerged, but its wings were small and weak. The man soon realized that by cutting away the cocoon, he had prevented the butterfly from building up the strength it needed to fly. Sometimes, doing the hard thing is necessary for growth and strength. We may be tempted to take shortcuts or make things easier for ourselves or for others, but in doing so, we may prevent growth and strength from developing.

Let us be willing to do what is right, even when it is not the easiest thing to do. It might be exactly what we need to take our next step in following Jesus' way, which he never promised would be easy.

DAY TEN - FEBRUARY 22, 2023

Mark 2: 23-28
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

REFLECTION

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a time of reflection and repentance in preparation for Easter. In this passage from Mark we see Jesus and His disciples walking through a field on the Sabbath, picking and eating grain. This action was against the Jewish law, and the Pharisees called them out for it.

Jesus responds by telling the Pharisees a story from the Old Testament about David and his men eating consecrated bread, which was also against the law. Jesus uses this story to point out that the law was made for man, not man for the law. In other words, the law should serve to benefit and protect us, not bind us.

As we begin this Lenten season, we can take a lesson from this passage. It's easy to get caught up in rules and traditions, but we must remember that the heart of the law is love. Jesus came to fulfill the law and show us what true love looks like. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and forgave the sinners. He showed us that love is greater than the law.

This story can help us each reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves if we are following the law out of love or obligation. Are we truly living a life of love and service, or are we just going through the motions?

Today as we receive the ashes on our foreheads, we are reminded of our mortality and our need for a Savior. Let us turn to Jesus, who came to fulfill the law and offer us new life. May this Lenten season be a time of transformation and renewal as we seek to live a life of love and service in the name of Jesus.

DAY NINE - FEBRUARY 21, 2023

Mark 2: 19-22
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

REFLECTION

In Mark 2:19-22, Jesus uses the metaphor of a wedding feast to teach about the newness and transformative power of his message. The Pharisees had questioned Jesus about why his disciples did not fast, as was customary, but Jesus responds by saying that they cannot fast while he, the bridegroom, is still with them. He then explains that new wine cannot be poured into old wineskins because the skins will burst, but new wine must be put into new wineskins.

The metaphor of the wedding feast highlights the joy and celebration that comes with a wedding, as well as the newness and transformation that comes with a new marriage. Jesus is the bridegroom, and his message is the new wine that cannot be contained by the old traditions and practices of the Pharisees. He brings a new way of living, a new way of relating to God, and a new way of understanding the Scriptures.

The idea of new wine needing new wineskins is also significant. In Jesus' time, wine was stored in animal skins that were often reused. However, new wine would continue to ferment and expand, and would burst an old wineskin that had already been stretched to its limit. Jesus is saying that his message cannot be contained by the old ways of thinking and understanding the Scriptures. It requires new hearts and minds, ready to receive and be transformed by the newness of his message.

As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded that Jesus brings a message of newness and transformation. He calls us to a new way of living, a new way of seeing the world, and a new way of relating to God. This message cannot be contained by old traditions or legalistic practices. Instead, we must be willing to let go of old ways of thinking and open ourselves up to the transformative power of Jesus' message. May we be like new wineskins, ready and willing to be filled with the new wine that Jesus brings.

DAY EIGHT | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Mark 2:13-17
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Reflection

One of the things I have noticed growing up is how hard it is to find a happy middle ground. It seems that as soon as our society or culture swings too far in one direction, it is just a matter of time before it swings in the opposite direction. You can imagine a grandfather clock’s pendulum swinging a little in one direction, and then a little in the opposite. Now imagine a little boy picking it up and watching the pendulum swing wildly in both directions, so erratic, it feels like the clock will tip over.

In the story of God, we see God’s people swinging wildly from one extreme to the other. Throughout the story of God’s people, we see their disposition toward turning away from God. We see the prophets repeatedly crying out for God’s people to obey the laws of God. Now it seems we have an equal and opposite reaction. The pharisees make sure they practice and uphold every single law. They have even created laws to protect the other laws. The problem is the laws were only there to guide people’s heart back to God and the Pharisees have lost heart.

Jesus’ kingdom does not dismiss the laws of God, but it is also gracious enough to invite those outside the law into relationship with God. Jesus is the perfect balance of truth and grace. Gracious enough to call Levi and his fellow tax collectors to spend time with Jesus and in truth provokes them to examine their way of life.

Where do we so easily swing wildly from one extreme to correct from another extreme? How has our zealousness prevented us from seeking out those that need the gospel the most? Jesus be the center of it all.

DAY SIX | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Mark 2:1-12
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

REFLECTION

On one hand this is a story about friendship. Four friends carrying their friend to see Jesus, in hopes that he might heal him, only to find out that the crowds were so massive, that they didn’t stand a chance to see Jesus. But, these were no ordinary friends, instead of turning back and giving up, they went above and beyond (pardon the pun) and brought him onto the roof, cut a hole in it, and then devised a way of lowering their friend down in front of Jesus. I mean talk about good friends.

But, what happens next has less to do about friendship, and more to do with the other “f” word, forgiveness. First of all, one scholar suggests that this wasn’t just anybody’s house, but this might have been Jesus’ own house. He had just gotten back from a trip and they sought him out and overwhelmed him. So in a real sense, Jesus forgave the man and his friends for putting a hole in his own roof. Then again, there was something about the way he said, “your forgiven.” He didn’t just forgive them for the roof, he forgave the man of his sins.

Once again Jesus is accumulating his list of things he has authority over. So far the list includes Scripture, demons, sickness and now he has authority over sin? Only priests could offer forgiveness, and then only in the name of God. Who does he think he is?

Jesus did come to offer forgiveness. But it comes at a high price as we will see later. But forgiveness also comes at a high price for us too. Some think forgiveness is a sign of weakness. I’m reminded of the Fred Rogers story when he asked his professor Dr. Orr what was the meaning in the line “One little word shall fell him." in the hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God?” Curious what the one word that shall hurt the enemy was, Dr Orr replied, “The one word that the enemy cannot stand is forgiveness.”

If you have ever tried to forgive on your own, you can often feel like the man on the stretcher, helpless and alone. Keep digging until you get into the presence of Jesus. He truly is the only one who can help forgive.

DAY FIVE | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Mark 1:35-45
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead, he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

REFLECTION

In my house we have a rule that we don’t keep secrets. The truth is that when a lot of abuse happens to children, the perpetrator will often say, “Let’s keep this a secret,” to hide their abuse. Even when I want to stop on the way home for ice cream with the kids knowing their mother would not approve, my kids will say, “We don’t keep secrets Dad.”

It is probably for the best, because my son can’t keep a secret. You tell him something and he blurts it to everyone he meets that day. I found most of us are like that. The saying is “some people can keep anything but a secret.”

So why did Jesus tell people to not tell anybody when he healed a leper? I mean, did Jesus not understand the family rule, “we don’t keep secrets?” And even if he did, he of all people should know we’re really bad at it.

I’ve heard many scholars say that he told him this to not attract more attention to his ministry. Once word got out, Jesus wouldn’t be allowed to move freely. Let’s keep it hush, hush to protect Jesus’ mobility. (That is what happened after all)

N.T. Wright offers another alternative. He suggests that this was directed to this man because of his condition of leprosy. Unlike other diseases where others could see the healing immediately, leprosy involved a ritual to present oneself to the priests to be made clean and restored back into the community. Jesus was saying, I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Make sure and go through the proper channels. What Jesus didn’t want spread around was that he was challenging the authority of the Temple itself. That he was dangerous. Unfortunately, that would come in time, but for now, there is still work to be done.

DAY FOUR | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Mark 1: 29-34
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

REFLECTION

I remember a time when my sister got very ill and began losing a lot of blood. It happened on weekend visit to my parents when she suddenly passed out. I remember my mom panicking, saying “I just don’t know what to do,” while my dad was casually searching WebMD for what to do when someone passes out from blood loss. Thankfully, my wife took authority and calmly and directly gave directions to get my sister to the car and to the hospital immediately. It was her direction that I believe saved my sister’s life.

We have already seen Jesus’ authority in the synagogue. He has shown authority with his teachings and shown his authority over the demons, but now we see him with authority as he speaks words of healing. In this case it was to Peter’s mother-in-law. And quickly we begin to see that part of the “Good News” Jesus brings is a stop to the nightmare. He came to rescue people from the effects of a fallen world, whether it be shrieking demons or the fever of a woman. Jesus dealt with them, with the gentle but deeply effective authority.

I’m reminded how often we can give away Jesus’ authority. We can be succumbed under the panic of being overwhelmed or controlled by the casualty of apathy. Either is denouncing Jesus’ authority. Peter’s mother-in-law shows us that when we live under the authority of Christ, our role is to get up and serve, working under Christ’s authority to continue the work of rescuing people from the effects of a fallen world in whatever ways we can.

DAY THREE | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15
 
Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

REFLECTION

I was never a fan of the adult cartoon “South Park,” but that doesn’t mean all of my friends growing up were not. One of the phrases they would walk around saying from the show was “Respect my authority” but with authority pronounced (auth-or-i-tie). I don’t think you can read this passage without getting the overwhelming idea that the writer wants you to respect Jesus’ authority.

Capernaum was a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee and became the headquarters for Jesus’ ministry. We know that Peter and his family and James and his family lived in the village and was probably a regular in their homes. He was probably well known in the area for his amazing teachings in the Synagogue. You can still visit the remains of the synagogue in Capernaum as well as Peter’s home.

It was in this unlikely of places that the people of this village began to be in awe of Jesus’ authority. His authority of the Scripture and his authority over demons. First Scripture. Jesus had no training or study as the Scribes did. His authority over the Scriptures was all from God. Like when God spoke directly through the prophets, Jesus was speaking prophetically. But his authority was also over the supernatural. We begin to see that while Jesus’ good news is indeed good news to us, it is a threat to the demons. The demons seem to suggest that Jesus’ very presence is an invasion of their territory. “Have you come to destroy us?” A battle has begun. Jesus is not just threatening an isolated demon, but on “us,” all of evil. We begin to understand the contrast of Jesus’ authority, the people see his authority and are in awe, but Jesus isn’t just a wise man, we understand Jesus’ authority is much greater. Jesus has come to destroy evil for good.

DAY TWO | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
 
Mark 1:16-20
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

REFLECTION

Jesus enters into Capernaum along the coast of the Sea of Galilee. This is where Jesus will call his new home city and where he initially seeks out his first disciples. All four of them are fishermen. Interestingly, Jesus’ call to them was not the call of John, to repent and face a new future. Instead, Jesus’ call to them was to “Come and follow.” Now they did have to make a sacrifice. They did have to leave their nets to follow him. We think of the fishermen as poor, but perhaps they had more wealth than we think. After all, they did have a boat and they did have hired men. Perhaps their sacrifice to give it all up would be high. Leaving a successful family business. Leaving their way of life. Leaving their father. They are called to break ties with their past and take up a new trade. This was a call toward total dedication to the mission.

And what was that mission? Fishing for people. There is a deep fear of the water among Israelite people. The water throughout Scripture represents, chaos in the creation story, the dead sea swallowing the Egyptian army, Jonah being cast overboard into the waters. The water was seen as a symbol of evil or loss. To fish for people is rescue them from the chaos, bondage, rebellion. Because Jesus had come, now was the time to do as the old hymn says, “rescue the perishing.” The disciples have given up everything and demonstrate through their actions how to respond to the peril that humans find themselves in. To follow Jesus is to understand this reality and requires a radical and total response.

DAY ONE | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Mark 1: 1-15
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
 who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
 make straight paths for him.’”

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

REFLECTION

Can you imagine the harshest way to wake up? Perhaps it would be with a glass of cold water poured on your face. Perhaps it is the sound of someone screaming at you. Maybe you can imagine a time when you were woken from a dead sleep suddenly. This is how the book of Mark begins. Not with the story of Mary or Joseph or a sweet baby being born, but the story of John the Baptist screaming for people to turn around, repent, make a change. He is sounding the alarm in dramatic fashion that Jesus is coming.

If you look at the first and last words from this selection, it begins and ends with the words “Good News.” The wakeup call at the beginning of Mark really is that Jesus is the beginning of the “Good News.” Not only was Jesus’ arrival good news, but so was the message and work that he is about to embark on. God has arrived on the scene in the person of Jesus and has come to bring world-changing and lasting good news and hope.

John the Baptist plays a prominent role preaching and baptizing. There was a large movement of people following John, including some of Jesus’ own disciples who transferred over. But the ultimate act of John was the baptism of Jesus himself. It is at Jesus’ baptism that we see the Bible lay out the Trinity – “the Father bore witness, the Son receives the witness, and the Spirit gave confirmation.” But, no sooner had the Spirit come upon Jesus than it drove him into the wilderness.

Jesus is thrust into the wilderness. Like the Israelites wandering toward the Promise Land, Jesus also experiences the powerful adversary (Satan). The wilderness is not merely a place of testing, but a place of demons. The difference of course is that Jesus passes the test and indeed enters the Promise Land and begins his ministry.

We conclude with what is probably a summary statement, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Ephesians 5:14 says “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead!” In order to understand this good news of Christ, you have to first wake up and pay attention; next you must turn around, repent, make a change; and finally, you must now face the future in a new way. How are you going to respond to this coming of Jesus?

The Great Commission Matthew 28:19-20

Following His resurrection from the dead, Jesus remained on earth for 40 days, appearing to and meeting with His followers on various occasions. Before returning to heaven, Jesus gathered His disciples and issued the greatest mandate of all mandates called the Great Commission. They, and all of His followers from that point, would need to take the message of the gospel to all nations, baptizing and discipling them.

However, as recorded in Acts 1, Jesus instructed them first to remain in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father—the empowerment of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. They would need His power to fulfill His commission to them.

Just prior to delivering the Great Commission, Jesus told His followers in Matthew 24:14, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” From that day till now, Jesus’ followers have been working to fulfill the Great Commission; yet much more remains to be done. So many people have not yet received a viable witness of the gospel. There is a great harvest field still before us. May this be the generation that will see the fulfillment of our Lord’s mandate!

PRAYER 

• God is raising up leaders ready to go boldly into the world to share the Gospel. Let’s pray that all generations would have a deep passion for our Great Commission. 
• Let’s pray that they would have the courage to go out into the world, make disciples, and baptize in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 
• Let’s pray that we would have a passion to take care of the least of these and grow in love for God and for their neighbors. And more specifically, let’s pray that a passion for God’s mission would be birthed in us.

Riding the Wave (Read Ezekiel 47:1-12)

Ezekiel pictures for us the life-giving power of God as a flow of water that begins with a trickle and grows into a mighty river. Surfers need to have an eye for waves that start with gentle rolls but climax in pounding curls. I know I’m stretching things a bit to get a surfing image from Ezek. 47, but stick with me.

Surfers need to develop a carefully trained eye, and finely honed skills for balancing and maneuvering, but none of these skills amount to anything without a wave. The wave makes it all happen.

But the surfer of course, must ride the wave. There’s some risk involved. The wave can curl unexpectedly. You might lose your balance, even if just for a second. And surely getting back up on the board can be a little intimidating.

Surfing is a careful dance between the surfer and the wave.

The life giving Spirit of God, says Jesus (John 7:38), wells up within us and overflows. Indeed Ezekiel’s river runs right through the hearts and lives of God’s people and into the world.

PRAYER

• May this faith community of Christ daily depend on the wave of the Holy Spirit.
• May this “season of prayerful discernment” become an unending habit for us as a congregation. A habit that strives to move in the power of the Spirit so that together in our time and place we may be about God’s Mission to declare with word and deed that our world belongs to God.

Prayer for Wisdom James 1:5-6

“O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.” - Psalm 86:5

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. - Proverbs 3:7

For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Proverbs 2:10

I’ll admit that there are times when I do feel desperately confused and unsure of what I should do. I lay awake at night tossing and turning as I weigh all my choices against the possible consequences and outcomes of my decision. Yet, still, I can’t decide.

Praying for the spirit of discernment can prove to be a brave and bold request. When we humbly ask God to reveal His will to us for specific situations, even when others may not see what we perceive, God may ask us to perform courageous acts that could be lifesaving or forever life-changing. We can become the brave spiritual warriors that our world needs so desperately. Spiritual discernment and godly wisdom let God guide.

PRAYER

• Pray that God would help you remember to seek His wise counsel and trust in where he wants  us to go. 
• There are many voices in my head of those who think they know what's best for me. Please guide me to those who will provide your biblical perspective and not the world’s persuasion.
• Like Solomon, my desire is for wisdom to make decisions that are pleasing to you Lord. Even when I don’t completely understand, help me to trust and believe in you.

Light Onto Our Path Psalm 119:105

Have you ever been in a truly dark place. Psychologists have even found that isolation in complete darkness can drive people insane. They have also found that darkness causes people to become more selfish and increases negative behavior.

We live in a spiritually dark world where our souls are often in peril. In this section of Psalm 119 the psalmist declares that God’s Word is a light for our path for living in this dark world.

The psalmist vows to use God’s Word to shine a light on his path. He’s not suggesting that God’s Word shines a light on the future, as if he could sneak a peek into events that would take place tomorrow or next year. He is saying that God’s Word helps him to understand right from wrong as he faces choices today. He is saying God’s Word teaches the meaning of obedience so that he can live confidently for God in his world each day.

Like the psalmist, we too need God’s Word to guide our steps. Only God’s Word can correctly inform us about the meaning of right and wrong. And the truth is, the more deeply steeped we are in God’s Word, the more clearly we can discern right from wrong and choose the right path.

In some places you walk today, you may need a flashlight. But in every place you go, you will need God’s Word as a lamp for your feet and a light for your path.

PRAYER

• Pray that God will be a light onto our path as we move into the future he has for us.
• Pray that God's word would be our light for the future instead of our own desires.

Nothing.. No Nothing! Romans 8:31-39

This is probably one of my favorite Scriptures. It is no wonder that it is used so often at funerals. There is something about Paul's words that sound like a battle cry. I can picture Mel Gibson with his face painted, rallying his men with these words before battle,

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Christ’s faithfulness—and ours, by God’s grace—overcomes the worst that life can do to us. If career, vacations, status, comparison, or perfection is our standard, we will always come up short. But if salvation—that is, reconciliation with God and people, faithfulness, and justice—is our chief hope, then we will find it amid both the good and bad.

Paul’s affirmations mean that no matter what the difficulties we encounter, or the complexities and challenges we face in life, the love of God in Christ always abides with us. The love of God in Christ is the steadying force in the midst of adversity now, as well as our hope for bodily redemption in the future.

PRAYER

• Pray that we continue to keep our focus on growing in our faithfulness as our focus in life rather than focusing on materialism and success.
• Pray that Christ's love provides the courage we need to face the past, present and future unafraid.

 

Acting Decisively (Part 2)
by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

Making one's own decisions develops healthy mental muscles. But there will always be a few who crave to be told what to do. A major reason some prefer to be indecisive is laziness. Decision making is hard work. Peter Drucker was correct when he said:

A decision is a judgment. It is a choice between alternatives. It is rarely a choice between right and wrong. It is at best a choice between "almost right" and "probably wrong"—but much more often a choice between two courses of action, neither of which is probably more nearly right than the other.

That may sound like a tongue-twister, but in reality it's a mind-boggler, requiring a painful, exacting process rare to many . . . a process called thinking.

How much easier it is to adopt a list, to click off the answers one, two, three, four, five. You don't have to think. All you need to do is follow instructions. Don't weigh the consequences. Don't sweat the details. Just do as you are told and leave the driving to "us," namely a few guys at the top. Don't think it through and decide . . . just submit.

If that is the approach you prefer, let me remind you of two words, just two words—Watergate and Jonestown.

Decisiveness in both of those tragedies was replaced with blind obedience, unquestioned authority, and absolute loyalty. Somebody, somehow, at some time in each of those outfits convinced the troops that Alfred, Lord Tennyson's battle cry in Charge of the Light Brigade was the standard operating procedure for them:

Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.

There is a place for that philosophy in the military where there isn't time to stop and think. Discussion groups aren't too popular in combat when the objective is survival.

But in day-to-day living, when issues are not clearly spelled out in Scripture, when there is a lot of gray instead of black and white, we need to learn a lesson from Moses's mature successor, Joshua.
Think wisely. Weigh the alternatives. Choose for yourself. Decide now whom you will serve.

Excerpt taken from Come before Winter and Share My Hope by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1985, 1988, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Acting Decisively Joshua 24:14-25
(by Chuck Swindoll)

I like Joshua's style. Like a good leader, he laid out the facts. He exhorted those about him to get off the fence and get their spiritual act together. He encouraged personal authenticity and strong commitment . . . but not once did he pull rank and fall back on intimidation to get his way. He risked being ignored and rejected when he left the final decision up to them. He respected their right to follow his advice or walk away when he told them, in so many words, "Make up your mind!" But there was never any question where he stood. He had weighed the evidence, considered the alternatives, and come to a settled conviction—he and his family were going to serve the Lord God, no question about it. But what others would do was strictly up to them. They would have to decide for themselves.

Unusual combination. A strong leader who knew where he was going, but gave others the space they needed to choose for themselves. No threats. No name-calling. No public put-downs. No exploitation or manipulation or humiliation. He didn't play on their emotions or attack their alleged ignorance or use some gimmick to gain strokes in defense of his position. He knew what God would have him do, and he realized the consequences of their choosing differently . . . but they needed to weigh those issues for themselves. It needed to be their decision, not his. At that point, he backed off and said, "Now you decide."

That's not only smart, it's an evidence of two admirable virtues: security in himself and respect for others. Today, it is clear to all of us that Joshua made the right decision back then. From our objective perspective, he chose the correct alternative . . . as they also did later on. But note again that he didn't hurry his people to opt for his position. Joshua knew that if they didn't wrestle with the issues on their own, the resulting decision might be superficial . . . fragile . . . a commitment that might very well melt under the inevitable heat of difficulty and trial.

It takes the restraining power of the Holy Spirit to withstand such tempting invitations to take control. It is helpful to remember that every time we yield to that destructive desire for power we retard others' growth toward maturity. Making one's own decisions develops healthy mental muscles.

Excerpt taken from Come before Winter and Share My Hope by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1985, 1988, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

PRAYER

• Pray that we will not be tempted to simply listen to other people's advice, but wrestle with choices on our own.
• Pray that as we come to our own decisions on important issues, we might be bold in our stance, but not intimidate others who do not agree.

Prayers for the Renewing Effects of God

Again today, we are invited to pray the very words of Scripture. Words of renewal, of commitment, of refreshing. The Bible is our very best prayer-book.

Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Purify my mind and my heart; For Your lovingkindness is ever before me, And I have walked in Your truth. (Psalm 26:2–3)

May I sow righteousness, Reap the fruit of unfailing love, And break up my fallow ground; For it is time to seek the Lord, Until He comes and rains righteousness on me. (Hosea 10:12)

With regard to my former way of life, may I put off my old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of my mind; and may I put on the new self, which was created according to God in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:22–24)

May I be diligent to add to my faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are mine in increasing measure, they will keep me from being barren and unfruitful in the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5–8)

Prayers for the Renewing Effects of God

 Again today, we are invited to pray the very words of Scripture. Words of renewal, of commitment, of refreshing. The Bible is our very best prayer-book.

I am the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. I am the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. In the same way, I must let my light shine before men, that they may see my good deeds and praise my Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13–16)

I want to walk in a way that is worthy of the calling with which I was called, with all humility and meekness and patience. (Ephesians 4:1–2)

May I fear God and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Give me understanding, and I will keep Your law and observe it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things, and revive me in Your way. (Psalm 119:34–37)

I will not let sin reign in my mortal body that I should obey its lusts. Nor will I present the members of my body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but I will present myself to God as one who is alive from the dead and my members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:12–13)

Prayers for the Renewing Effects of God

For the next few days we are invited to pray the very words of Scripture. Words of renewal, of commitment, of refreshing. The Bible is our very best prayer-book.

If I abide in You, and Your words abide in me, I can ask whatever I wish, and it will be done for me. As I ask in Your name, I will receive, that my joy may be full. (John 15:7, 16:24)

As I walk in the Spirit, I will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh; for they oppose each other, so that I may not do the things that I wish. But if I am led by the Spirit, I am not under the law. (Galatians 5:16–18)

May I not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove that the will of God is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

May the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give me a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the full knowledge of Him, and may the eyes of my heart be enlightened, in order that I may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of His power toward us who believe. (Ephesians 1:17–19)

Like Job, may I be blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. (Job 1:1)

May I be careful to lead a blameless life. May I walk in the integrity of my heart in the midst of my house. May I set no wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; May it not cling to me. (Psalm 101:2–3)

New Creation Community (Read Romans 6:1-13)

Pastor Goheen has written, “The death of Jesus brings an ‘end’ to the old age and the resurrection of Jesus inaugurates the age to come, the new creation, the kingdom. As the people of God participate in Jesus’ death and resurrection through faith and baptism they begin to enjoy the powers of the coming age. They are dead to the old age and its sin, and alive to the age to come in Christ.”

This is the reality that we find ourselves in as believers. A new age opens up, a new creation expands, and the Kingdom comes.

In this age the power of God for salvation has been made known. Jesus came to set the captives free, he came to heal, to deliver, to renew, to strengthen, to raise up. There is real hope and power for the drug addict, for the alcoholic, for the broken heart, for the wounded spirit, for the fracturing marriage, for the depressed, the impoverished, the oppressed, the demonized, the despairing. Real hope. Real power. It’s the power of the resurrected Christ given to all who have been made alive to God.

The psalmist writes, “When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." (Psalm 126:1-3) The new creation hope and power of God is not a dream. It is the reality that we find ourselves in as believers.

PRAYER

• Pray that together with one heart and one voice we will declare among the nations “The Lord has done great things for them! For us! And we are filled with joy!”
• May the joy of the Lord be our strength!