Never forget

"Never forget" is a theme we heard a lot after the Trade Centers were attacked on September 11, 2001.  What I didn't know however was the story of the cross found at the Trade Centers.

 

This set of beams is so named because it resembles the proportions of a Christian cross.  Following the terrorist attacks, a massive operation was launched to clear the site and attempt to find any survivors amongst the rubble. On September 13, 2001, a worker at the site named Frank Silecchia discovered a 20-foot (6.1 m) cross of two steel beams amongst the debris of 6 World Trade Center.  Many saw the crossed metal as a Christian cross and felt its survival was symbolic. Fr. Jordan spoke over it and declared it to be a "symbol of hope... [a] symbol of faith... [a] symbol of healing".  In 2013, "U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts concluded...that the 17-foot-high cross, which became a spiritual symbol for workers at ground zero.  This cross also became highly controversial among many different religious and non-religious supporters.  (From Wikipedia)

 

 

 

It is good to remember all the ways, both of God's providence and grace, by which he has led us through this wilderness, that we may cheerfully serve him and trust in him.- Matthew Henry

 

Whatever the ways that remind us, be it a cross at Ground Zero or a sunrise or a sunset, we must never forget and always remember what He has done for us!

 

 

 

Scripture:  ² Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  ⁸ a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; ⁹ a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing … ¹⁷ You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability … Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 8-9, 17-18

 

Today’s reading came from Deuteronomy 8 and Mark 15:16-41

 

Observation:  It is good to remember … When I read those words and the scripture passages today we remember several things.  In the New Testament passage we remember the crucifixion and the brutal ways Jesus was tortured and beaten and ridiculed so that we might be given salvation.  They are not easy words to read.  But we must remember.  Why?  We read in Deuteronomy that God provided everything they needed in the wilderness and some of what they experienced caused them to be humbled.  In like manner God provided for everything we need for life and godliness through Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach.

 

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  II Peter 1:3

 

Application:  I want to remember!  I want to remember how He has led me in the past and where He is taking me in the future.  I want to remember to stay humble and to not rely on my own works or strength.  Do I need to “do the work” He gives me to do?  Did the children of Israel have to walk into the Promised Land or did He pick them up and carry them?  No they walked, they had to participate in the work.  So while I may work and even work hard, I have to remember to give honor and glory to the One Who gives me breathe and ability.  Lastly I want to remember who gives me good things – whether it is good things to eat or wealth or power – it all comes from the Father of Lights!

 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

 

Prayer:  Abba, Father, Thank You for every good and perfect gift!  Thank You for leading me in every way.  Thank You for being with me each day.  Thank You most of all for Your Son, Jesus, Yeshua the Messiah, who willingly laid down His life in my place and who humbled Himself to the cruelty of others for me, a sinner.  How often my pride and rebellion must have felt and looked like I was spitting in His face, trampling on the beautiful gift of salvation.  While salvation is beautiful and it is a gift, it did not come lightly or without a high price.  May I remember that.  May I not treat it lightly, but put it in high regard in the way I chose to live out the life You have given me.  May we never forget!  Through the saving work of Christ I come, Amen & Amen.

 

None of us live a single week without giving proofs of our weakness, folly, and depravity. To broken-hearted souls alone the Savior is precious indeed. – Matthew Henry

NEVER FORGET!

 

 

 

 

Taking Possession

 

“… we are condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy …” – Matthew Henry

 

Read:  Deuteronomy 1 and Mark 12:28-44

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  Mark 12:30

 

O:  Deuteronomy repeats much of the history and of the laws contained in the three previous books and we see that as the book opens up in chapter 1 with a recounting of other things we have read so far this year.  Moses points out how advantageous obedience is and that disobedience causes us to wander and it takes longer to get where God wants us to get; and continued disobedience may result in forfeiting the blessings He has for us.  We learn it is better then to go forward; onward and upward to the blessings He has for us!

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew Henry points out that all true obedience springs from faith whereas disobedience comes from a place of distrust of God’s power and goodness.  Too often we focus on disobedience and the consequences.  I have been guilty of this in my own parenting.  I’m not saying that God never tells us the consequences of disobedience because He does, but when God asks us to obey it is coming from a place of total goodness with our very best in mind.  God is perfect in all of His ways.  As a human parent, I’m not, and sometimes my request for obedience is not because of the best interest of the child, but for the sake of my own sanity and for my benefit.  We cannot compare God’s “parenting” to ours.  He asks us to obey because it is what is best for us.  This is our model and perfect example that we can follow as parents as well.

 

“Our own plans seldom avail to good purpose; while courage in the exercise of faith, [will allow us] to take firm hold upon the promised blessings.” – Matthew Henry

 

A:  Today I want to think about God’s goodness and where obedience can take me as I surrender everything to Him knowing in fact that He is a good, good God and has only my best in mind.

 

 

 

 

P:  Heavenly Father, Thank You that You are a good, good Father, perfect in all of Your ways!  Thank You for being an example to me of a loving parent who keeps the best interest of the child in mind.  I know I am human and will make mistakes as I parent and continue to learn how to parent, but I pray You would teach me the best ways – Your ways.  I also pray today that as Your child I would grow more and more in my faith and trust You more and more as I learn to follow and trust and love You wholeheartedly.  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

Discussion and Reflection:  Spend some time right now reflecting about your life just like Moses reflected in Duet. 1.  Write down some highlights of your life story or recent events in your life.  Recount God’s goodness.  Ask yourself have I been wandering spiritually because I haven’t fully surrendered to His leadership or am I in the Promised Land taking possession and experiencing His blessings?   Are you loving Him with everything that you are?  Is there any pretense in your walk (see Mark 12:38-40) that you want to get rid of?  The enemy of our soul wants us to hide behind facades; and to pretend everything is okay.  Are you giving out your abundance and holding some of yourself back or are you giving all you have to Jesus in complete surrender?  Let’s make sure we are set on course for His blessings.  Sit for a moment and pray about these things that He has shown you today.

Pressing In

 

“Our fears are soon satisfied, if our mistakes are set right, especially our mistakes as to Christ. Let the disciples have their Master with them, and all is well.” – Matthew Henry

 

Read:  Mark 6

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

 

S:  And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.  Mark 6:56

 

O:  In the beginning of the chapter it said the people had unbelief.  Why?  Commentator Chuck Smith points out two reasons, 1) They were very mistaken when they thought they knew Him. They only possessed a head knowledge of Him and 2) There was much about Him they did not know. Their unbelief was based upon insufficient knowledge of Him.  But more importantly to note is the result of their unbelief – He could not do any works there.  Chuck Smith points out these two facts, 1) The reluctance or unwillingness was not on His part and 2) Your unbelief can keep you from coming to Him, and thus miss all of the blessings and benefits that He desires to bestow upon your life.

 

This is why studying daily is so important.  We do not want to miss out on seeking His face and knowing Him more and more.  Why?  Because as we reach out to touch Him as the last verse of the passage suggests He will make us whole.  Whole in a lot of ways, but I believe also whole in our understanding of Him.  He can remove any unbelief or wrong beliefs we have, if we are willing.  He will feed us both spiritually and physically and give us rest and meet our needs as verses 31-44 describe. 

 

The Master invites us to “Come away into a desert place, and rest a while” (verse 31).  And I love verse 34, “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”  I love that Jesus was moved with compassion.  What moved Him?  He saw A LOT of people.  What was going on with them?  They were shepherdless.  They needed to be taught and so Jesus began to teach them many things.  Again they had insufficient knowledge.

 

I will say being in school and studying the subjects I have been studying I can relate to this!!  I thought I knew a fair amount about Jesus and the Bible before attending classes, but I quickly found out how much I didn’t know!  Perhaps Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw me and is now beginning to teach me many things! J

 

Where was Jesus prior to “coming out” to the desert?  He had been in the mountains praying.  Just before this scene we read about John the Baptist and what happened to him.  This was Jesus’ cousin and no doubt the news disturbed Him.  He went away by Himself to seek the Father and to no doubt be comforted in this time of loss.

 

The other gospels tell us during this time that Passover was near.  Many people were flocking to Jerusalem.  Jesus however had to stay away from Jerusalem at this time because there were a lot of people that wanted to kill him as well and it was not time for Him to lay down His life yet.  Passover was another reason there were so many people around when Jesus came to the desert especially men because it was only required of the men to come up to Jerusalem for the feast, but no doubt there were women and children there also, but perhaps not as many as the men which is why the feeding of the crowds focused on numbering the men.

 

A:  You could apply this passage in a lot of ways, but for me I have found that seeking Jesus and knowing Him is a life long journey I think.  We must constantly press in to know more, but not to have a head full of knowledge only, but to experience Him; to be called away to times of rest and times of teaching and times of being filled.  Where do you find yourself today?  Are you pressing in?  Do you need rest?  Do you need healing?  Where are you today?

 

P:  Father in Heaven, I pray LORD to reach out and touch You today.  So often we pray for a touch from You and certainly there are times You reach out to us, but today I come seeking You – just to reach out that I might touch You if possible, even just the corner of Your garment, Your tzit-tzit.  It says in this passage that many came, but not all got to touch You, but as many as did they were healed.  I pray we would press in and be persistent enough for as long as it takes to get close enough to reach You.  It’s not that You are far away or even that You require some huge effort on our part because Your Word is clear that You give to us freely, but my prayer is that we would not walk away too soon that we miss out on all that You would have for us, but that we would stay and rest and be taught by You.  Through Christ I pray.  Amen & Amen.

 

 

 

 

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

 

 

Local friends:  I will be speaking further on this topic today at the Nazarene Church on Bagdad at 11:15 a.m. this morning 2/27/16.  All are welcome J