John 13:2-11 - The Cleansing We Need

John 13:2-11

2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Message: The Cleansing We Need

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: As I learned in the previous lesson and verse, the text is leading us up to the Passover. But first, feet washing by Jesus of the disciples. 

There are bookends of similar ideas for this text - Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. In verse 2 it says it is the devil that places that into the heart of Judas. But that placement had already occurred. Judas was on the scene here at the Passover already with the notion that he was not all in...and yet he was still in the room, still walking with the disciples, but still not all in. For Judas he had a love of money and so his heart was inclined in that direction and Satan then takes him all the way down the path to betrayal. What starts the betrayal - desire. Desires are not bad, but the problem here with Judas is his desire for money got him sidetracked from what matters most. Like the Rich Young Ruler who wanted eternal life, but could not give up his desire for money. 

I have wondered why Judas in betraying Jesus was necessary. But Judas is part of the process of Jesus being handed over to authorities to then be crucified (Mark 14:44-46). Despite Judas choosing that path, the path was necessary for what Jesus would accomplish. So there is seemingly free will, a choice by Judas, yet led by Satan and yet this choice is in the plan of Jesus going to the cross. There remains a tension, a question it would seem between free will and God's sovereignty. It remains a perplexing piece of life - whether we have in fact have free will. Remains hard for me to reconcile. Proverbs 16:33 - "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." Every moment gives the appearance we do, but then in outcomes I just don't know. Somehow there seems to be a connection between the two otherwise are we not all robots? I mean, why would we have so many commands in our Bible which give the suggestion we have a choice? [There are scientists and philosophers throughout history that don't believe we have free will; there are atheists identify with this as well calling it determinism. And yet throughout life we are held accountable to our choices, and this is agreed despite how one holds to this notion of will.]

Well, in continuing on in this passage Jesus is washing the disciples feet. Jesus has been showing His love - mostly in communicating to people that He and the Father are one, that the Father gives the Son a mission and salvation is found in God, found in Jesus. God is one. Jesus and God are one. And along the way He heals people and saves them from physical death and storms to exemplify His power to all. And yet He remains a servant. While King He is also servant. And so in washing their feet, He goes to the level of the common servant, washing people's feet before entering a home. Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He reminds me of the importance of serving others. 

And Jesus connects himself to these disciples through the washing. 

But also here is a lesson of the need for regularly cleaning. "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Jesus is surrendering Himself to the disciple, becoming low, becoming a servant. And then man (the disciples) yield to the will of the servant. This was the problem of Judas as he did not want to submit himself to the Lord. Peter initially did not want to either, but in hearing Jesus' words he was compelled and agreed. Judas had his feet washed, but his whole self had not been cleansed. Jesus points out that not all are clean before Him, completely clean, completely forgiven. The act of being forgiven is accepting the sacrifice of Jesus. 

This here is an example of faith. Jesus is showing his cards and showing his desire to cleanse people from their sin, but we must yield and surrender to Jesus and allow our feet to be washed. And so there is faith. There is trust. And it is through that act of surrendering that I become whole. 

And so there are two surrenders. Jesus sacrifices Himself and His position, but the disciple surrenders and allows himself to be washed, to be cleansed, realizing that the cleansing by Jesus is the best cleansing. The only cleansing we really need.

Summary: Most of the disciples surrendered themselves to the Servant King, Jesus, but one was unwilling to surrender himself and remained firm in his desire. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, I like this reminder -- When we are converted, we are decisively cleansed (our whole body) from sin such that we enjoy salvation permanently. Yet, Christians continue to sin and need cleansing of that sin (our feet).

Prayer: Lord, these words that I travel through continually are a joy to travel through and you continue to teach and illuminate me and challenge my thinking. I am forever trying to understand this world that you have placed me in and how I fit here and how you have designed things. I surrender to You and pray that I would continually do this each day. Thank you for making me clean and stain free before You. But don't let me get ahead of myself and not see that I need that forgiveness each day as I continue to sin and go in selfish directions. Cleanse people. And give us understanding continually of the work that You are doing in making people clean. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 11:54-57 - Before the Final Passover

John 11:54-57

54 Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 So they were seeking for Jesus, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him.

Message: Before the Final Passover

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: So with the plot now on for those to kill Jesus, which is what the disciples concern was earlier when he went to Bethany near Jerusalem (verse 8), John mentions in verse 54 that Jesus will no longer continue to walk with the Jews. He will get away from walking with the Jews as Has more to accomplish, though He knows His death is inevitable. But this lets us know that He will decide the time and not let others decide it for him. 

Verse 55 mentions the Passover was near. I remember in John 2 the Passover was near, so time is passing along, at least a year between those two passages. Based upon what I have read Jesus is probably about 31 if he began his ministry at age 30, but that is just my guess. Later, when Jesus was crucified, that would be during the feast of the Passover. 

In verse 55 it mentions the Jews left Jerusalem "to purify themselves." I looked this up in commentaries and Charles, a theologian in the 1800s states, "The Law ordained no special purifications before the Passover, but on the general principle of ceremonial cleanness, a large number of pilgrims would necessarily go up before the feast to observe the legal rites and offer the required sacrifices." Numbers 9:6 remarks that some are unclean, but Lord to Moses says those individuals (unclean because of a dead person) can still observe the Passover. And yet there is also mention in Leviticus 22:3 about approaching the holy (whatever that is at the time) unclean that person is cut off. As such, possibly there is an approach to 'better be safe than sorry.' 

And people wonder, possibly Jews whether Jesus will be present at the Passover. He is not with them. He was at the last one it seems in John 2, but for this one, at this time, possibly it is not known. It is clear that some Jews want to seize Him. 

Summary: Jesus goes to the wilderness, but back in Jerusalem, many are preparing for the Passover, wondering if Jesus will be present at it. 

Promise: We are not to seek suffering or harm, but as it occurs, we are to faithful and endure it. 

Prayer: Lord, you are holy and as I even come before you at various times to celebrate communion or a baptism or even an event like Christmas or Easter, I am not sure if I have taken the time consistently to prepare myself. You want me to observe these events, to remember, and in that be thankful the Your gift to me, but I think it can be important to first confess sin and see if there is any wicked in me and to think about how my life at that moment can be defiled by other things, by other priorities, by other thoughts. Help me to focus on You. Even as I attend church and walk into a fellowship, too many things are often on my mind. Even as take a moment to study Your word each day and pray, often there are thoughts at war within me of other responsibilities. So help me God to be serious about those times of service and worship and study, as I approach You - to cleanse me. I don't even pray God prior to getting into your Word and yet this pattern is done at Church. I know I'm not requited, but help me make those times more focused so that I am hearing You when You speak. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 2:13-17 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple

John 2:13-17

13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”

Message: Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus has just done a miracle by turning water into wine but in the process revealed things possibly about Himself - basically that the best has come. The past was good but now pales in comparison to what He is doing now. 

The Passover is a time of remembrance of God rescuing His people. What excused the people of Israel from judgment was blood on their doorposts. God struck the Egyptians at this time but he saved the Israelites. Previously the Israelites had been slaves but no more. It is a celebration to remind us that God remembers His people but what sets them apart is the blood. John records that "The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." This is the time of Jesus' arrival. 

When Jesus approaches the temple, what He sees is people using the temple not for its purposes but for their own selfish purpose. They have taken the temple and used it as a place to sell and earn money. They have missed the point of it. So he commands them to take the things out. Stop making the Father's house a place of business. 

This is a familiar passage to me but it is not present at the beginning of Gospels but rather at the end, like in Mark 11:15-17. In that passage the circumstances are slightly different, but the idea is the same - people are not using the temple for its intended purpose. 

And in this, the disciples remember a text from Psalm 69:9, "For zeal for Your house has consumed me,

And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me." They quote this directly. But why? That Psalm starts with "Save Me O God." The Psalmist is experiencing opposition. The desire for true worship is being opposed. And so there is a parallel here of Jesus being opposed. 

And yet at that moment, John could be using this passage to emphasize again that Jesus is coming to rock the boat. What was in the past is the past and who He is now will be different. But also in Jesus' words is authority. The people of that day do not have the authority that He has. He will tell them what is the Father's business. 

Summary: Here, Jesus alerts people and provides his authority about ensuring the Father's business is carried out, true worship occurs in the temple and nothing else. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "We should be grieved to see the church polluted by false worship and bad theology. And when we see such things, let us work to improve them, insofar as we are able."

Prayer: Lord, I praise You for this lesson that You have shared with me this day and helping me recognize that Jesus is in charge of the Father's business and making sure people are conformed to this. Lord, are there things that I need to be doing that I am not doing? Am I living my life for You in any way that is not proper? Cleanse me Lord. Help me to not be proud or diminish Your real purpose for me. I get on my kicks of getting things done but I do not want to forget you or make it out that I have it all figured out. Thank you for saving Your people and using blood to save them. It reminds me of your purposes and that they are consistent and your message is whole and complete and the same from beginning to end. Thank you for the joy of reading Your word and studying it. 

John 3:5 - Baptism and Regeneration

John 3:5 - Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Message: Baptism and Regeneration

Time: Throughout church history, Christians have consistently attributed this gospel to Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee. John was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing he was to confirm the belief that Jesus was both the Christ and the Son of God

What the Lord is Saying: Chapter 3 of the Gospel of John is the "born again" chapter as Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, a Pharisee, about the works that He has been performing and Nicodemus has heard about. Nicodemus wants more information and so Jesus provides it mentioning His central message that every person must be born again and on the heels of making this statement, emphasizing the importance of being born of water and the Spirit. This is a must to enter the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the dominion of being among the Called Ones of Christ for all eternity, on earth among the Body of Christ, and in heaven, as sealed ones for eternity with God. 

Thus, we need to emphasize always the importance of baptism. Recently, I had a conversation with a Muslim man and in the conversation as we started to examine scripture he mentioned that Muslims only recognize the Gospel of Matthew and do not recognize Luke, John, or Mark. It makes sense because as I read these words from John and how they clarify further the Gospel of Jesus Christ it seems that people would want to figure out a way to get around this type of thinking so that it would not be applicable to them. It is language that speaks of complete devotion to Jesus and Jesus alone and this is not a doctrine of Muslim teaching. 

This particular mentioning of being affected by water and the Spirit may not at the time have meant the same baptism that we see today. It is hard to say. Jesus had previously been baptized. John could be simply connecting some sort of change in a person in which water, as well as the Spirit of God, is involved. The key point is this water produces a change or regeneration. This concept of regeneration is a significant one in scripture as we see elsewhere how we are encouraged to in many ways be renewed from our birth into Adam and then into a new way of being. I studied this idea of regeneration a little over 3 years ago from Ephesians 2 and talking of being dead and then becoming alive. So it is significant here that water is spoken of by Jesus as connecting these two. 

Titus 3:5 states, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." Here also is this connecting of renewal through washing (water) and the Holy Spirit. We are cleansed and made new. 

There is prophecy concerning this from Ezekiel 36:25-27 -- "25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances." -- I realize now that verse 26 is a verse I have prayed for my youngest son Derek very often and I never noticed before that verse that water cleansing precedes it and really speaks of the newness that happens in a person. That newness is shown in water. The context here also refers to the metaphorical death of the Babylonian exile which again speaks of being rescued or renewed or born again. 

This concept of God created something new also occurs in Scripture to speak of a new heaven and new earth as in Isaiah 65:17, "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind" and also Revelation 21:1, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea."

Again, the idea is being made new and that is a consistent idea in scripture. And this idea here hinges on water being involved in this regeneration. 

I am impressed with these words and it makes me wonder if we really do emphasize baptism enough and its importance in speaking of this new life in Christ, before God and by the work of the Holy Spirit in our life. That is the message today, of the importance of baptism and how it needs to be a part of our process of witnessing to people and giving them the Good News of Jesus. That visible act needs to occur for the person to see in themselves and for others to see. 

Summary: Baptism has regenerated all who believe in Christ alone for salvation. 

Promise: Jesus connects the Water and the Spirit for newness of life that God produces by His Spirit. Baptism will regenerate His people and we can look to our baptism to be reminded of God's faithfulness to cleanse us from our sin. 

Prayer: O Father God, thank you for bringing home to me this message of regeneration and renewal. Life is about starting anew and afresh with you. I pray that people would recognize this, like the people we spoke to last night at the mall, Hamet, Brian, and also Carlos. I pray Lord these males would have lives that are born again and new again. May your gospel penetrate their lives. Lord, keep me on this path of regeneration continually where I am always examining me and how I need to be renewed in You. 

Hebrews 2:17 - Christ Our Priest

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 

Message: Christ Our Priest

Time: The authorship of this book is shrouded in mystery, though its Jewish composition can still nail down its authorship to AD 64-69, as the book does not mention the destruction of the temple in AD 70. It has references to Jewish customs and the Old Testament, so most likely was sent to a Jewish community.  

What the Lord is Saying: 

Charles Swindoll states that "Hebrews clearly lays out the present priestly ministry of Christ in the life of the believer. Jesus is both the divine Son of God and completely human, and in His priestly role He clears the way for human beings to approach the Father in heaven through prayer."

Only chapter 1, 10, 11, and 13 do not mention this role of priest of Jesus in Hebrews. 

My study so far has been of Christ Alone as the one who saves us. I've looked at His attributes, His work or obedience, and now have shifted to His titles - as our Prophet and now our Priest. The priest is a title that meant a great deal to the Jewish community for a high priest acted as a representative on earth of God. They brought sacrifices to cover sin and it is interesting the Catholic Church carried on this role in similar ways. The Day of Atonement was one of the most significant days as annually it represented the cleansing of people - to maintain the covenant relationship between the Israelites and the Lord. 

Even up to the time of the Reformation this office of Priest was one of the stark identifiers in what Martin Luther saw as a problem with the Roman Catholic church - that man needed a go-between to get to God or be absolved of sin. What is a mystery is how the priests role continues to institute or give the idea that the priest must receive penance and be the intercessor between God and Man. For me, God remains a mystery in many people's lives so they are looking for any type of authority to help them understand God and so the Priest becomes that authority and what we do then is listen to whatever the person has to say. 

The Westminster Shorter Catechism written in 1646 and 1647 states, "Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us (WSC 25)." In today's text, Jesus is made like his brothers in all things, so God becomes a man and lives as a man. So that he might become a merciful and high priest - the problem with the continuous role of priest is the priest offers something temporary. Old covenant priests repeated their sacrifices annually, by replacing the penalty of sin with the blood of an animal. The practice was to retrieve an unblemished animal, so to find an animal that is as perfect as possible and this blood atoned for sin. The Messiah is one that releases people from captivity. Man is captive to his flesh and because of this will always be imperfect. Jesus as Messiah releases man by offering Himself and offers a perfect version of man - one without sin. Thus, Jesus is our High Priest. I'm not sure people think that the priest today is meant to replace Jesus, but it gives that impression. Why would we continue to use someone like a priest that is not all sufficient?  

Promise: Jesus cannot fail to save the elect. He offers true atonement for sin. Jesus through His sacrifice regained for men and women a relationship with God. 

Prayer: Lord, it saddens me to see how you are misunderstood in our world, but I suppose this is what happens when eyes are blinded to the truth and it is apparent. It is hard to be part of a remnant at times for the majority is what we often want to be about. But the reality is, as we work and live in our world, we as Christians are a minority and what we think and believe about life and living and salvation is somewhat unique. I pray that the message of the Gospel would penetrate people's lives and for those you place in my place, you would help me be a conduit of information for the truth of who You are. Thank you for using me in the way you have, for even using this blog to help communicate to others. Help me to continue to be a light to those in need. Be glorified always. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- The Divine Nature of Christ, The Human Nature of Christ, Jesus the Last Adam, Jesus the True Israel, Jesus the Messiah, Obedience in Childhood, Obedience in Baptism, Obedience in Temptation, Obedience under the Law, Obedience in Suffering, Christ Our Prophet, Christ the Priest

Hebrews 9:13-14 - The Trinity and Atonement

Hebrews 9:13-14
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Message: The Trinity and Atonement

Time: Hebrews was written to a group of Christians who had suffered in the past and were now threatened with even more suffering. They'd done well years ago, but the author of Hebrews feared that they might now turn away from Christ to avoid further persecution.The opinions on the author of Hebrews has varied.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I have been learning, the co-working of the three persons of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Spirit) is known as the doctrine of inseparable operations. All are identical in their attributes, yet each has distinguishable manifestations. As we study scripture, we must agree it is all God-breathed so it reveals to us things of God.

Romans 8:32 - He (God) who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Hebrews 9:14 - the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God

Both of these texts share parallel ideas. God and God the Son offer up the Son for redemption and they do so in the Spirit (Acts 10:38 - Jesus of Nazareth, God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit). Atonement is from the Father through the Son offering in the Spirit for our salvation. But, only the Son suffered. The Father and the Spirit did not suffer on the cross. Christ suffered as a man but not according to His deity. Christ was able to offer himself because of the spirit in Him while the animals did it according to flesh. The Spirit here is not conclusively the Holy Spirit but could also mention a divine presence as some manuscripts translate this as eternal spirit.

Hebrews 9 is about the regulations imposed by the tabernacle. 9:7 says - the high priest once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The writer talks about this practice but then offers that Christ appeared as a high priest...through the greater and more perfect tabernacle... through His own blood...once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. If the act of the animals was great, how much greater is this act of Jesus (v. 13-14). Jesus obtained for us eternal redemption.

It is not simply that this act by Jesus has a longer reaching permanency, but the sins offered include the conscience as verse 14 says - you conscience cleansed from dead works. The blood of Christ purifies not only outwardly, but inwardly. His sacrifice was without blemish to God. There was no spot or blemish, but it was a perfect offering.

We can only truly serve the Lord if all of our dead works have been paid for by the blood of Christ. Under the law there was no service possible until cleansing was performed, but in Christ the cleansing is eternal and complete.

Promise: Christ suffered as man, but because of the work of the Spirit, cleansed us perfectly and completely from all of our past, present, and future sins. He completely satisfied the wrath of God.

Prayer: Thank you for dying for me Jesus and providing the way for me to have eternal union with God. My eternal home is now secure for all time. I thank you God for your great love for me in delivering Jesus up for me. Thank  you for the work of your spirit in raising Jesus from the dead. Help me to pass this onto others in my life and not be silent.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Mark 7:14-19 - The Source of Defilement

Mark 7:14-19
14 After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16 [If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”]
17 When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. 18 And He *said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

Message: The Source of Defilement

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface: Jesus is confronting the Pharisees. While they are concerned Jesus is neglecting their traditions, Jesus is concerned with their heart and why they are doing what they are doing. Is it really motivated toward God and the things of faith or do we get sidetracked on doing things for God that we neglect the people God has placed in our lives? Do we get obsessed with ensuring that are right with God that we then neglect people?

After He called the crowd to Him again...Jesus shifts from only speaking to the Pharisees and resumes his talk to the crowd.  The people may have retreated a little as Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees. He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand:" The words Jesus is about to speak are of utmost importance and apply to everyone present.

there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him - Here he seems to be saying that food or drink that may come into a man, these cannot defile a man. In a way, he is further emphasizing the words he said previously that eating food with unclean hands is not the serious issue here. Conversely, but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. Matthew Henry comments - "Our wicked thoughts and affections, words and actions, defile us, and these only." Paul speaks of this more clearly as well in Romans 2:29 saying, "But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God." Proverbs 4:23 says, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." 

Jesus has been speaking to the scribes, but he turns his attention to all the people to emphasize these words, very clearly. He wants us all to understand these words that what comes from within, from the heart is what defines who we are. 

How often in life do we judge people harshly because of addictions they have fallen into, like taking in large amounts of alcohol or smoking substances. The drink or drug has possessed them, but these do not define the person. I too quickly judge people but I think Jesus is even saying here that what is strongest in people's lives is what comes out of them, not what they take in.  In these passages here in Mark 7, Jesus is offering a rather radical alternative to the obedience of keeping the laws of God and keeping the traditions of man and the obsession we get in our lives to being obedient to those things. He really wants us to look within and see that how we have trained our heart and it is our compassion toward others that mean the most in life. 

My atheist friend yesterday sent me a video of an atheist talk show, broadcast from Austin Texas. The host is a former baptist. He grew up in a religious family, even stated he received Jesus into his heart multiple times, contemplated full-time ministry, but in a quest to understand the atheistic way he became one and suddenly got thrust into the limelight of having his own talk show to defend atheism. The video my friend sent had excerpts, one after another, of the way in which this guy had sort of dethroned Christians calling into his show. It was appealing to my friend as it has this sense of conquering or putting people into their place. Often these call-in shows are a little staged so that the person calling in is sort of shamed. Whether that is the intent or not, it happens. And it happens on the Christian side as well. I've seen them before and even laughed at them when a Christian puts a non-Christian in their place and corrects their thinking, sort of shaming them in submission. 

There were a couple of calls that were very damning to the people calling in, showing that this atheist host's knowledge of scripture was somehow greater than the Christian calling in. One I remembered was the way Christians can often seemingly pick and choose the laws of God, extolling those that other Christians support like saying no to abortion, gay marriage, while ignoring other dietary laws and stoning laws. And the heathen or the non-Christian sits on the outside and wonders how Christians can do this, how can they saw they believe the Bible is inerrant and then pick and choose. The Christians responding on the call got flustered and the Atheist host clearly had the upper hand and knew what to say, confirming that the defense that "oh, those laws just don't apply anymore" was the answer he expected and helped to confirm that even Christians don't follow the Bible as it is set up. But, even as I think about this and I think about this particular passage of scripture here from Mark 7 and Jesus helping people see that while laws do serve a purpose we must be careful that they don't alienate people. It is the heart of each person we are concerned about. In this scenario, to me, we Christians do at times get too focused on rules and the non-Christians get too focused on following rules, but what Jesus is pointing out here is what matters most is what is within a person.

It's possible that the Mosaic law's dietary laws were given to Israel because God wanted them to live in a way that was distinct and separate from the surrounding nations. And having a different diet served as a clear reminder of this. Leviticus 11 speaks clearly about these rules, but at the end of the chapter clarifies that the uncleanness is focused on a time period, a day or so, until evening. Thus, infractions and the penalties associated with them lasted for a time period, a day or less. Thus a person was not unclean forever. 

Granted, it is sad that Christians sometimes do more harm than good in being a witness. There is a hard balance in life. It is complicated. It isn't as cut and dry as everyone wants to make it to be. We are in this world of us against them, dueling political parties, dueling agenda's, sports teams competing, everywhere is this idea of opposite ways. Granted, good and evil is another way of expressing this. But in this debate culture in which we live in now, sometimes the heart of the matter gets lost. My atheist friend that I've been speaking with for years is so focused on exposing the fallacy of faith that he misses the message, preferring to think that morality is self-defined. And Jesus clearly wants to share a different way of thinking with people. It's tragic that people miss it. They are so focused on what is wrong and right that they miss the message.  Jesus, here in the gospel of Mark is showing his power and authority and while he does this he shares a message that is indeed radical: inside/out, from the heart, our motivations. Jesus is asking us to get off the to-do lists of our faith and get focused on the relationship we have, one with another.  

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. In a way, this is saying, listen up. What Jesus has said is so important here. [I'd like to see a study on all those passages that have that phrase attached to them.]

Jesus is finished. He has said what he wanted to say, but the disciples are confused and rightly so, for Jesus' message is indeed radical. When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. This is our response when we don't understand something, we are to ask God. How often do we run instead to Christian authors, other people, counselors, friends - there is nothing wrong with that, but why don't we first start with God. James 1:5 says, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God." Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:6, "in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." What Jesus says is intense, so when we don't understand, ask Him. 

Here is Jesus' response: And He *said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” Here is the key understanding: the heart. Food from outside, dirty hands, wine, drink, drugs, food -- this is not what defiles us or makes us unclean or not pure. All of these things go into the stomach and then are eliminated (Granted, drugs can effect the mind as well). But the key here is the heart. 

Albert Barnes (1798-1870) states: "This agrees with all that has since been discovered of the process of digestion and of the support of life. The food taken into the stomach is by the gastric juice converted into a thick pulp called chyme. The nutritious part of this is conveyed into small vessels, and changed into a milky substance called "chyle." This is poured by the thoracic duct into the left subclavian vein and mingles with the blood, and conveys nutriment and support to all parts of the system. The useless parts of the food are thrown off."

Summary - Jesus speaks to all the people, going beyond just the scribes, and declares clearly that when speaking of being clean, the key is what comes out of a person, not what is taken in. What is unneeded to the human body are thrown off and eliminated through waste. If the people want to know what defiles, it is what comes out of a person that matters most. Jesus is declaring this radical message over and over - the heart. We need to focus on the heart. 

Promise: God is not primarily concerned about external matters; He is most concerned about our hearts. Yes, we need to be focused on doing the right things, but making sure we do them for the right reason - for the Glory of God.  

Prayer: O God, thank you for emphasizing to me the importance of this message, adding the words, if anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. This is indeed a message that I need to hear and be reminded of. It is very clear. I need to focus on my heart and writing on it your Word so that out of my heart will come the things of your Holy Spirit. I want to emit you. Thank you for eliminating the waste in my life. Help me to not judge people because of what I see them drinking or taking in or eating but instead help me to focus on people and their motives and helping them see that from within is what matters most. Lord, I want to focus on what matters most. Remove the blindness present in so many. I so desire your people to exemplify you and live in a way that honors you. 

Mark 5:24b-29 - A Healing in the Crowd

Mark 5:24b-29
24 and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.
25 A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— 27 after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28 For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” 29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Message: A Healing in the Crowd

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Jairus has just presented himself before Jesus amidst a huge crowd and asked Jesus to come as his daughter is dying. Jesus is becoming much more popular. After having been in Gederanes with the demon possessed man, he returns to Capernaum where he will reside with the people. Capernaum was a fishing village with a population of 1500, much larger than Nazareth that probably had 400 people.

As Jesus goes to see the daughter of Jairus, a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. Again, we see Jesus' popularity as the crowd goes with Jesus. A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years was present. She was in continual menstruation. Under the old covenant, women were unclean during menstruation. In an unclean state, people are not able to assemble with the community or be in the sanctuary with people. Thus, this woman is alone most of the time or only able to be with others that are also unclean.

She had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse. It was her desire to be well. She was suffering much. She was wanting out of her situation and had spent all of her money getting relief, but in the end it just got worse. Not being well takes a toll on you. My wife has spent the last 45 days in a state of not being well. From flu-like symptoms to having MRSA appear and continue and then to also have an infection near her uterus, she has been suffering and weak and in a state of discomfort. Now, as she is getting better a new germ appears, a cold with sneezing and stuffy nose. It is back and she is miserable again. She is tired of the discomfort and misery that envelopes her. She just wants to see it end. She has gone to many doctors and yet she still has no relief. Sickness takes a toll on you. It is hard to be upbeat and not just linger in a state of misery. This woman was probably feeling this and this is something we all feel at certain times. Some spend much of their lives in this state.

But, after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Is this not one of the most remarkable testimonies of the confidence and faith that this woman has in Jesus? I think it is incredible. Just a touch of His garment is all that she is looking for. It is not to see him or speak to him, but just to touch his cloak. Wow. That is incredible faith. I feel like too often I'm waiting for Jesus to do something radical in my life before I have that kind of faith in Him. Isn't this what many people do? They want Jesus to something amazing first and then they will say they believe in Him. But, this woman instead knows with confidence that He is who He said and so all that she wants is to touch his outer garment.

Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Her faith made her well. She was healed.

Promise: This is amazing faith and faith that I want to have in Jesus. Jesus cleaned this unclean woman. The law could not do it, only Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, you are the great and wonderful One. Deepen my faith and confidence in You. Lord, I want to have the kind of faith as this woman in the crowd of you. Too often, I am not this way, waiting for you first to show up some way in my life before I say I believe. Lord, too often I feel like I have textbook knowledge of you and not active faith in the day to day of who You are and what you can do in my life. Change me God.

Mark 1:40-45 - The Disobedient Leper

Mark 1:40-45
40 And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.

Message: The Disobedient Leper

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

At first glance, when I look at this passage, I see that on the heels of Mark mentioning that Jesus' purpose in ministry is to preach the gospel, the next scene Mark gives us is of a man being healed. The man comes to Jesus basically begging to be healed, believing that Jesus can heal. He doesn't give Jesus his sob story, but simply states that If you are willing (or I believe you have the power), you can make me clean. Jesus obliges I am willing; be cleansed, and the man is healed. And then in response Jesus gives him a command. Now, isn't this similar to what Jesus asks of each of us. Each person comes to Jesus and believes in him and then Jesus blesses them. Jesus doesn't ask each person to do something first and then he blessed, but Jesus simply blesses. But, afterwards he does ask something of this man and asks something of us, his followers.

He tells him to: (1) say nothing to anyone, (2) go to the priest, (3) make an offering. But instead the man goes and spreads the news. And Jesus has to retreat to smaller villages to continue his mission. Jesus loves people. He has a compassion to heal them, but he also has a mission and he understands that many will not approve of him.

Old Testament Law had very specific rules about lepers. Lepers had to take precautions to prevent the spread of their disease. They had live outside the camp, away from God's special presence. The leper could only re-enter the camp once healed - but this re-entry was preceded by the priest conducting a close investigation of the leprous man or woman and offer sacrifices to restore the person to ritual purity. In Old Testament law, purity was obtained through sacrifices. It is interesting that this is the command that Jesus gives. The priests could not heal, but their intent was to confirm the healing and restore them to purity. So while Jesus healed this man, he intended the man to go the priest ready to be restored, not mentioning how he had been cleaned, but to take the proper procedures to re-enter the city. He wanted the man to follow the correct procedures and keep his healing a secret, in a way.

Thus, Mark does communicate here that Jesus does continue to have a mission, but he also brings to the attention that people are enthralled and amazed and see the potential of saving their ailments at the hands of the healing master Jesus. But, Jesus is still about his purpose and thus, everything he continues to do is to preserve that purpose.

Promise: Jesus hates what sin has done to his creation, and He is full of compassion for those who suffer the effects of the fall. Despite knowing what this man will do, the Lord heals him anyway, which is a remarkable display of His patience, compassion, and grace to undeserving sinners.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being about compassion. Thank you for loving your people. And thank you for having a purpose. Lord, there will be different times that I am sidetracked throughout my day, but keep me focused on You and Your purposes and Your plans in my life. I am on mission to proclaim You, but I also have responsibilities in life. Keep me focused. Thank you for your example and showing me the way.

Psalm 51:10-19 - David's Plea for a Clean Heart

Psalm 51:10-19

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.

¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
¹⁶ For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

¹⁸ By Your favor do good to Zion;

Build the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Message: David's Plea for a Clean Heart

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

This chapter continues to sound off the sinner's prayer for forgiveness and cleansing. And yet, it seems to be a prayer from a saved person, seeking to turn from his sinful ways. He is saved, but sin continues to take place in his life.

God, create in me a clean heart...and bring me back to where I was before, with a consistent, non-stop mind focused on You...do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Bring back the joy of my salvation and sustain me with a mind that is turning towards you. With me, in your Presence, transgressors will come to know your ways and sinners will be converted for I won't be a stumbling block to them and I can encourage them. Deliver me O God from the guilt i have over my sin...you are my God, my salvation; may my tongue sing of your righteousness. Open my lips Lord. My mouth is to declare your praise. You desire a changed heart, not simply right religious duty like a sacrifice or offering. Change me from the inside-out. Do good God to the people of God. Be our fortress. With a heart directed to you, then sacrifices made to you will take on their full meaning.

Spirit
There were a few verses in this passage that really stood out to me. In verse 10, create in me a clean heart is an easy to understand outcry, but the 2nd phrase, and renew a steadfast spirit within me doesn't ring out as clear. Spirit conveys the idea of the bent and bias of the mind; the vigour and activity of it. The word here would naturally convey the idea that there had been formerly a right and proper spirit in him, which he prayed might now be restored. The language is that of one who had done right formerly, but who had fallen into sin, and who desired that he might be brought back into his former condition.

Verse 12 talks about bringing back the joy of my salvation which continues the idea from verse 10 that my life would return to the salvation experience I had. Take me back God to that joy.

Inner Change
The other verse that stood out to me, with a little confusion was verse 16 -  For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. Mere outward sacrifices - in bloody offerings themselves, unaccompanied with the expression of genuine penitence, God could have no pleasure. This is one of the numerous passages in the Old Testament which show that the external offerings of the law were valueless unless accompanied by the religion of the heart.

This is the change that is needed, an inward change, not simply what is seen on the outside. 

Promise: Having changed me from the inside out, bring opportunities in my life to share of you with others.

Psalm 51:1-9 - David's Plea for Forgiveness

Psalm 51:1-9
¹ Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
³ For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.

⁵ Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
⁶ Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
⁷ Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
⁹ Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

Message: David's Plea for Forgiveness

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

I've heard that this Psalm is a great prayer for a sinner, pleading for God for His forgiveness. These words here so clearly convey our need for the Lord's love and forgiveness.

Blot out my transgression...wash me thoroughly from my iniquity...cleanse me from my sin...you know...i know...i have sinned, against you God...against you I have done evil. You have every right to judge me for you are blameless. In sin, I came into the world, but what you desire me if truth and wisdom. Purify me then. Make me clean. Wash me so I will be whiter than snow. As a clean vessel, i then will hear joy and gladness from you and I will rejoice. Hide your face from my sins that continue to be committed and see my sins no more. 

It is clear throughout scripture that God's message to people is "Believe." But that belief is predicated on one idea and that is that I am a sinner or I have sinned. It is true, that over time, and even as we age, most of us rid much sin in our lives, but the reality is we are still sinners, whether the quantity is 1 sin or 100. God has always said in scripture that their must be atoning sacrifice for sin. Sin separates us from God and to restore that relationship their must be atonement. Throughout history, he has provided that atonement. For many years it was blood sacrifice in the form of an animal on an altar, a temporary fix, but at all times, people looked forward to a permanent fix- Messiah.

This is what we are asked to believe. Believe God and believe that he has our best interest in mind and that he has provided us with the answer. And at its core there is the recognition that I have sinned and my transgression needs to be removed by a Savior. This is the message then of these verses from Psalm 51. It is the recognition that I have sinned and God is the one that cleans me. Thus, I believe.

But, within acknowledgement of sin and believing that God provides the atonement for my sin, is also then the desire to not sin. But, this desire, I believe, comes about after believing and putting the trust in God's provision, for God then gives us a new heart, with the ability to see our sin for what it is, know that it displeases God and then the desire to go and sin no more. This is an about face that now occurs in the life a believer. It doesn't mean that I will always no longer hate sin for their will be moments that I don't trust God's provision and seek out my own solutions, which often result in sin; but it means that my overarching focus is to live for Christ and deny self, walking by faith, not by sight.

Promise: Christians are new creations in Christ.

Jesus Calling: December 25

As you wait attentively in My Presence, the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines upon you. This radiant knowledge transcends all understanding. It transforms every fiber of your being: renewing your mind, cleansing your heart, invigorating your body. Open yourself fully to My Presence, be awed by My glorious Being.
     Try to imagine what I gave up when I came into your world as a baby, I set aside My Glory, so that I could identify with mankind. I accepted the limitations of infancy under the most appalling conditions--a filthy stable.That was a dark night for Me, even though angels lit up the sky proclaiming "Glory!" to awe-struck shepherds.
     When you sit quietly with Me, the process I went through is reversed in your experience. As you identify with Me, heaven's vistas open up before you--granting you glimpses of My Glory. I became poor so that you might become rich. Sing hallelujahs to My Holy Name!

2 Corinthians 4:6
English Standard Version
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
 
Philippians 2:6-7
English Standard Version
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
 
Luke 2:13-14
English Standard Version
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

2 Corinthians 8:9
English Standard Version
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Ephesians 1:3-14 - The Inevitable Question

Ephesians 1:3-14
³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him ¹⁰ with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him ¹¹ also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
 
Message: The Inevitable Question

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying:

My Prayer based upon the passage
Lord, I have been blessed by You God, my Father and blessed with every spiritual blessing, in the heavens, in Christ. I am blessed because of being in Christ. God, you chose me to be in Christ before you laid the foundation of this world and you destined me to be holy (set apart) and blameless (without sin) before God. You destined me before hand to be your children through the work and life of Jesus Christ, because of your kindness, the kindness of Your will. Your grace or your gift despite my condition as a sinner, which is a gift from Christ to me. In Christ I have been redeemed through his cleansing blood. You have cleaned me, you have forgiven my sins, simply because of the riches of Your grace which you poor on us. It cost so much and yet you shower that costly gift on us. And even after giving us this gift, in your wise way and in the special knowledge that you have, you have made known to us the mystery of your eternal plan and will, once again according to your kind plan purposed in Christ. This purpose saw the future and saw that all things in Christ, seeing all things in the heavens and on the earth. In Christ, I have an inheritance in my life because of the pre-determined purpose of God. You will work all things after the counsel of His will. In Christ, I am the first to have hope and this praises Him and lifts up His glory. And being in Christ, I, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of being set free, and after listening, believed, I have been sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit promised to me. The Holy Spirit is given to me as a pledge of a future inheritance, giving me a view to being completely redeemed or saved of being God's own possession. I praise Him and His glory is to be praised for all of this.

My summary of this passage
This is a great prayer and a great passage. There is so much meat to this prayer. God has blessed us. That is a done deal. We have received every spiritual blessing possible. That is a done deal. My position in Christ will never be better or worse than it is now. I have been pardoned, my sins simple excused. I have been redeemed; I've been made right with God. I've been adopted; I am not simply called, but I have been grafted in to be with God. I am a branch, not merely a stick; I am connected with God. I have peace in Christ. There is nothing better than peace.

All of these blessings have been conferred upon me because of one thing: being in Christ. Being in Christ was the result of God choosing me before God laid the foundation of this world. Before the foundation of the world it was determined I would be holy or set apart; I would be blameless or without sin, before God. But, never does this happen because of my works or effort, but because of the work and life of Jesus Christ. My condition of being a sinner is completely irrelevant to my position before Christ. My worth and acceptance before God is based upon Christ, not me. In Christ I have been redeemed through his cleansing blood. Because of Christ I am forgiven. Because of Christ I am clean.

But I am not finished. My work is not done on this earth nor is Christ's work in me done on this earth. In Christ, my purpose is to be for the praise of His Glory. God works all things, in my life, after the counsel of His will. I am never alone here. I have the Holy Spirit in me, working through me, living in me, and still that work points to His Glory. 

TableTalk's assessment
This passage mentions predestination and they want to argue that the doctrine of predestination is central to the Bible. It is not simply a Pauline doctrine, but it is a Bible doctrine. Whether Calvinist, Arminian, Presbyterian, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, there is a teaching on predestination. "The difference has to do with the basis of predestination (God's simple foreknowledge or His eternal decree), whether predestination extends to the salvation of individuals, and so forth."

Promise: My position in Christ is because of Christ.

Psalms 51 - Psalms

Psalms 51

Message: Psalms

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

To be wise, one needs to have a strong prayer life.  I have said earlier, that wisdom comes about by the fear of the Lord. It is honor and love for the Lord. It is to have reverence and awe. It is to resolve to apply what God has revealed in order to live a life that pleases Him in thankfulness for the salvation that He has provided.

Part of learning is also deepening oneself through the act of prayer. It is leaning on the Lord and trusting Him and His ways. It is talking to Him in an open and honest manner. It is being transparent and allowing Him to be transparent with us. What we want is wisdom. What we want is learning to see life from His perspective.  

Psalm 51 was read recently in church during the confession of sin part of the service. It was very good. Ryan does this and does this so well. I love his perspectives. 

Have mercy on me, O God, (I have sinned, but look past it)
    according to your steadfast love; (You can, because you Love)
according to your abundant mercy (Your mercy is great)
    blot out my transgressions. (Erase my sin)
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, (Your washing yields no more sin on me)
    and cleanse me from my sin! (I am clean)

For I know my transgressions, (I confess and I see my sin)
    and my sin is ever before me. (It is clear)
Against you, you only, have I sinned (My sin is a sin against you)
    and done what is evil in your sight, (It is evil in your sight, not simply bad)
so that you may be justified in your words (Sin does not belong in front of you)
    and blameless in your judgment. (You are free from sin and its result)
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, (Sin marks my beginning)
    and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Sin marks my beginning)
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, (But instead truth is your delight)
    and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. (You teach me wisdom)


Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; (Make me clean)
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (You make me white)
Let me hear joy and gladness; (You make me glad)
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice. (You take the broken and make it joy)
Hide your face from my sins, (My sins will be far from you)
    and blot out all my iniquities. (My sins will not even be seen)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, (May my heart be clean)
    and renew a right spirit within me. (Make my spirit right)
Cast me not away from your presence, (Though I deserve to be far, bring me close)
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me. (Keep  your Holy Spirit near me)
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, (Bring back the joy of my salvation)
    and uphold me with a willing spirit. (Bring willingness to me)

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, (I will show sinners what your ways mean)
    and sinners will return to you. (Many will know you)
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, (Deliver me)
    O God of my salvation, (God of my salvation)
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. (You are the righteous one)
O Lord, open my lips, (Give me speech)
    and my mouth will declare your praise. (I will praise your Name)
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; (You do not need a sacrifice)
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. (Or an offering)
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; (What you want is a broken me)
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (I want to be contrite before You)

Promise: Come to the Lord when I sin. Do not run away. Hide myself in Him.

Romans 14:13-14 - Clean and Unclean

Romans 14:13-14 - ¹³ Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. ¹⁴ I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

Message: Clean and Unclean; understand our fellow Christian

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying:

It seems that there are 2 main ideas in chapter 14. I need to be careful to be sensitive to those that have different interpretations or convictions on matters not explicitly mentioned in the scripture. And I need to not judge others or belittle them for their opinions. The reason I act this way is found in the "Therefore" that begins this passage. God is sovereign over all. The Lord receives every Christian, whether they are weak or strong. From John MacArthur, "The weak are not to judge the strong because they think they are abusing their freedom, nor are the strong to condemn the weak for their lack of faith and small‑ mindedness."

The clean and unclean issue is said to be about eating meat as some believers thought it wrong to eat meat altogether because they could not be sure that it was free from any association with pagan sacrifices. But strong Christians ate meat because they understood that meat in itself is not unclean. Paul believes that kosher laws were but temporary measures instituted to point Israel to the Messiah (Mark 7:14-22). 

One thing of note here is that it is important to understand what the weaker Christian or person does believe so as to understand their perspective. It is important to help people understand these truths, while at the same time not making people feel like their differences make them a lessor of a Christian.  

Any longer
It is interesting that Paul knows that this judging is going on, but he calls these people to not do it any longer. "Let us no longer have the habit of criticizing one another." I don't know all people's circumstances or motives, so I should not abruptly criticize them. 

Stumbling block
When I criticize a brother I make them feel less of a person and in so doing I put a stumbling block into their life or a hindrance. 

Unclean
In Christ Jesus there is nothing in this world that is ceremonially unclean. This is not to say there is nothing in life that is unclean, like pornography, drunkenness, obesity, filthy joke, blasphemy -- but he is saying that everything is the world can be consecrated to God in Christ Jesus. He makes all things new. Paul, having been a Pharisee, had no doubt been extremely careful about what he ate or did not eat. But, the Lord declared to Peter in Acts 10:15, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." So, the strong Christian has liberty to enjoy those things the Lord does not command as sinful. Again, this doesn't mean that we can or should eat anything, but that food does not make us unclean.  

Thinks it is unclean
However, in contrast, if a person has a conviction that someone is wrong to them, then that person should by all means stay clear of it. There may not be anything wrong with going into a bar, but for people that struggle with alcohol or getting drunk, then they may feel like going to the bar puts them in a very bad situation. So, while nothing is unclean, if someone believes that something is unclean, then they should abstain from it and hold onto their conviction.


Promise: Convictions are important to oneself, but that doesn't mean we thrust our convictions at others nor do we state the convictions of others is wrong.




 

Jesus Calling: May 28

     Let Me anoint you with My Presence. I am King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in unapproachable Light. When you draw near to Me, I respond by coming closer to you. As My Presence envelops you, you may feel overwhelmed by My Power and Glory. This is a form of worship; sensing your smallness to comparison to My Greatness.
     Man has tended to make himself the measure of all things. But man's measure is too tiny to comprehend My majestic vastness. That is why most people do not see Me at all, even though they live and move and have their being in Me. 
     Enjoy the radiant beauty of My Presence. Declare My glorious Being to the world!

I Timothy 6:15-16
English Standard Version
¹⁵ which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

James 4:8
English Standard Version
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
 
Acts 17:28
English Standard Version
for

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said,

“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Psalm 145:3-6
English Standard Version

³ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
⁵ On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
⁶ They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.

My Prayer (2018)
In your presence, I am. Lord, we need your power and glory. We need to see You and enjoy the radiance of Your glory. In America Lord, we are a hurting people right now. There are atrocities that continue to happen at our public schools as people assault and kill those innocent ones. Natural disasters are prevalent. Everywhere Lord we need more of You. People need more of You. Help us Lord to proclaim your name and value you as number one.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.