Proverbs 11:20 - Train the heart

Proverbs 11:20 

The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,

But the blameless in [their] walk are His delight. 

Message: Train the heart

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: These contrasts are always interesting to me. The contrast here is the perverse and the blameless; the result is an abomination or a delight and how it relates to the Lord. Matthew Henry comments here, "Nothing is more hateful to God, than hypocrisy and double dealing, which are here signified. God delights in such as aim and act with uprightness." It is interesting and amazing to me that this book is written, that we have this collection in Proverbs. It reminds me of Rob's lessons and the numerous ways to say the same thing. Like there is this constant need for more information, in the hopes that people will live their lives in the correct manner. Like, how many different ways can it be said. 

The Lord wants our upright behavior. The Lord wants us to walk in ways of blameless. At my PT appointment there seems to be a recognition by the people of the hospital to be attentive to people's needs. We get these feedback ratings and the good feedback is wanted, the good ratings of customer service. The cable guy knows he needs the good rating even though his demeanor wasn't necessarily great, but he asked for all 10's and I guess you want to give that to him, even though there was something about him that wasn't helpful. But it is wanted is the point. People see that what people want is good customer service. We see this in life. To be respectful. And in many ways that is what these passages are saying over and over. 

It amazes me and makes me wonder how did we get all of these sayings and why did Solomon write them all. I think of Grandmother Payton and Wiley and even my mom and the various sayings around the house, the phrases and the notebooks Wiley had of all the sayings and the clippings my Grandmother had - little motivating words, little reminders. All of these little reminders. 

Maybe this is what we need continually, to be reminded more and more of these truths. 

Source of following statements: 

• In biblical context, the heart is often seen as the center of one's being, encompassing thoughts, intentions, and will.
• The emphasis on the heart suggests that God is concerned not just with outward actions but with the inner motivations and attitudes of individuals.
• The term "blameless" does not imply sinlessness but rather integrity and uprightness in one's conduct.
• The "walk" refers to one's way of life or conduct, suggesting a consistent pattern of living that aligns with God's commandments.

It isn't only the outward God is focused on, but what is on the inside. And living that sort of life that encompasses thoughts, intentions and will. But it isn't about being perfect. And yet in Scripture whatever the failure rate there is - 10% or 15% or more that Jesus covers it. And yet that 10% makes us completely unworthy. LDS thought is do your best and Jesus covers the rest, but this misses the boat. We are stamped not acceptable the moment we sin. Yes, we want to live good lives, but for our own well being, not for God's acceptance. 

Prayer: God, these verses and the meaning of these verses is what I need though at times I don't understand the repetition but I suppose we need these reminders continually. We need the constant reinforcement of the behavior we are all trying to live by. I need these good sources of information and need to be trained in this manner that reminds me that life is about glorifying you. That it is about pleasing you and making you number one. But God I thank you for covering my sin. That you cover it all. That you make it so I can know you. You have given me the right understanding of who you are and who I am in Christ. Keep working on my heart and not only mine but all those I am in contact with, in my life. I thank you for the friends you have given me and the course of life we are all on. Thank you for my grandmothers and the reminders in life that we need to live rightly. I need that reinforcement. Lord, you want my good behavior. Help me to make the right choices in life, to honor you. And I need this good behavior in my life. I live by peace when I live in this manner. 

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

I Samuel 16:1-13 - The Anointing of David

I Samuel 16:1-13

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his outward appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (verse 7)

Message: The Anointing of David

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: Now that the Lord has regretted Saul as King (15:35), he tells Samuel to not grieve (v.1) over something God has done. I think that's an important idea that sometimes we dwell on something that is over and complete. God has made a decision so we simply need to move on. 

Samuel fears his life. But The Lord plans a ceremony to show Saul who will choose - a sacrifice. God has "selected a king for Himself among his (Jesse the Bethlehemite) sons (verse 1)." 

No more playing the game of letting Israel select their king that ended up not being a man that will follow God. Israel had selected someone that looked good, was tall. He had the right appearance. The Lord confirms that He chooses people based upon their heart (verse 7). I think this is the first time I have read verse 7 and realized the first part of the verse was speaking about Saul. 

Samuel arrives in Bethlehem (verse 4) and invited Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice (v.5). It says in verse 5 in the NASB he consecrated those present. KJV says sanctified. To sanctify is "By the usual ceremonial purifications, such as washing the body and clothes, the outward symbols of spiritual preparation" (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges). 

As the sons come in and come before Samuel, each son is presented - Abinadab, Shammah - in total "7 of his sons passed before Samuel (verse 10)."

Then it is discovered that the youngest is not even present. The youngest wasn't even thought to be included. And yet the youngest is who the Lord has his eye on. But he showed up and received the anointing by Samuel "in the midst of his brothers. (verse 13)" 

A lot went in to set David apart as king. All of the initial work, consecrating the gathering didn't even include the one person God set aside to be his king. But it was done. So far there isn't any mention of what David thought of this. But God has chosen him.

Summary: After Saul, the Lord shows Samuel perhaps an unlikely successor for king in David, as someone chosen by God and seen by God in His way, 

Promise: The Lord looks on the heart when He evaluates a person.

Prayer: O God, you are Holy and True. Thank you for reminding me the way you look at people and value them - looking at the heart. I want to have a good heart that honors You. Thank you for choosing me and calling Me to be Yours. Be glorified in me. Thank you for the people you have placed in my path. 

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

Proverbs 10:20 - Everyday Use

Proverbs 10:20

The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver. 

The heart of the wicked is worth little. 

Message: Everyday Use

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God. 

What the Lord is Saying: The contrast in this verse once again involves the tongue, but at least today it reflects on something good about the tongue, but only for the person that is righteous. In looking at the various translations, there are not many variations to this verse or different words. 

Righteous is an interesting word in our Bible. Here it is the Hebrew word saddiq. There are 206 occurrences of this word in the Old Testament. 133 of those are in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes with 66 of those in Proverbs. It and Psalms comprise most of the occurrences. It is translated as 'righteous' (162x), 'just' (42x), 'righteous man' (1x), 'lawful' (1x). 

The usage in the Bible is defined as:

• just, lawful, righteous
• just, righteous (in government)
• just, right (in one's cause)
• just, righteous (in conduct and character)
• righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
• right, correct, lawful

I suppose I find this interesting. It describes man and God, at various times, as being righteous. 

I grabbed my Oxford Companion to the Bible and it says its basic meaning is of someone or something proven true, especially in a legal context. Not simply true, but proven true. Perhaps someone that has been tested and through that process has shown to be true. There are different meanings based upon the context. It says that for ordinary people, it means treating one's neighbor as a covenant partner, neither oppressing nor being oppressed. For everyone it means keeping God's will as conveyed in the Torah (Deut. 6:25). 

Those are only a few thoughts on this word and its meaning. Here in this verse of proverbs, the tongue of the righteous is extolled or lifted up as being of choice silver. The tongue shines. Our tongue is meant to shine. Our words are meant to be pleasing to the eye. Gold and silver are the most commodity uses in the Bible for currency. Gold for larger purchases and silver for everyday, common purchases. Thus, the tongue here of the righteous is the everyday use or the common use. It is how we use our mouth each and every day, our customary and everyday life.

In contrast, the heart of the wicked is worth little. The comparison here is between the heart and the tongue. Heart is used 593 times in the Old Testament.  It is used (figuratively, like the tongue) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything. The feelings of the wicked, the will of the wicked and even the intellect of the wicked - these are all worthless. 

Words like tongue and heart, and even wicked and righteous or succinct words that have a wide range of meanings. Thus, this proverb, like many other proverbs cover a wide range of applications. 

People don’t aspire for things of little worth or value. So we need to be about things that are valuable. We need to work towards proving ourselves as people of truth.

Prayer: Oh, God, help me to be an every day person of truth. I want my life to be proven true. Clean me from the inside/out each and every day. I ask that in my every day living I would honor you with my words, thoughts, care, concern, and even feelings. I want to be worthy of my calling as a Christ-follower.  

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

Joshua 11 - Israel's Northern Campaign

Joshua 11

Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua’s, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses (verse 15). 

Message: Israel's Northern Campaign

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: Joshua and the people continue to march through the Canaanite land and seize it. The Lord is on their side and continues to provide ways to conquer the land that on the surface don't seem possible. They are outnumbered and yet still prevail. God stills the water of the Jordan so they can cross, similar to the parting of the Red Sea with Moses. The fall of Jericho seems to be the improbable success that Israel has. Then the people of Ai are conquered. And then the southern kings come to ambush Israel but end up in a cave and are killed instead. And now in Joshua 11, it seems we have the story of the Northern kings. 

The first 5 verses of chapter 11 mentions all of these kings as "they came out...and encamped at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel." The Lord speaks to Israel in verse 6, "Do not be afraid...I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” As the Lord has done previously, he will provide the way to conquer foes. And this is what they did with verse 8 saying, "they struck them until no survivor was left to them." In verse 12, "Joshua captured all the cities of these kings." The text mentions in verse 19, "There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon." And in verse 20, "For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy." And this chapter ends in verse 23, "Joshua gave it [the land] for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes." 

The people prevail. Why? Because the Lord delivers them and allows them to conquer their foes. It seems that some of the foes have an opportunity to enter into peace with Israel and perhaps save themselves from death. And yet, God hardens hearts.  

Matthew Poole (1624-1679; minister at parish church in London; puritan) states of this verse "It was the design of God’s providence not to soften their hearts to a compliance with the Israelites, but to give them up to their own animosity, pride, confidence, and stubbornness; that so both their abominable and incorrigible wickedness might be severely punished and that the Israelites might not be mixed with them, but be entire among themselves in the possession of the land." 

The idea of hardening hearts is an interesting one. It seems like God acts in a sovereign manner to harden or soften hearts. But in these words by Poole is the idea that God did not soften their hearts, but left them to their own desires. There is a free will choice that people have and with these Canaanites they already had an ere of animosity, pride, confidence and stubbornness. And this disposition by them would work to achieving God's sovereign plan. So he didn't make them that way, but he also did not soften their hearts to seek peace with the Israelites.  

Romans 1 speaks of God giving people over, again, not softening their hearts but allowing them to pursue their own agendas of trading God for a lie, worshiping the creature rather than the creator, men and women engaging in unnatural sexual relations, leaving them to their own desires. We are to pray that God would soften people's hearts and help them come to the realization that He is real. 

In this passage, the people would not engage in peace and so God hardened those hearts, fulfilling His divine providence and purpose for His called ones, the people of Israel and His promise given to them to give land to them and their descendants. 

I think this is a hard concept for skeptics to understand, but I suppose what I see is God's overall plan and in that plan there are people that know Him and seek peace with Him and there are those that do not. Yes God loves people, but He also has a plan and that must be remembered as well. 

Summary: Joshua's conquests continue, this time being the northern kings and their people. People could seek peace with Israel, yet for those with no desire, God hardens their hearts to achieve His providence for His people. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "When we as Christians face seemingly impossible foes, we can be assured that the Lord will be with us as we look to Him."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are sovereign and your ways are true and right and perfect. You have a will for me and my life. I surrender to You. I trust in your way for me and do not carve out my own purpose, but submit and surrender to You. You have given people free will and in the process as people live they choose or do not choose you. Lord, soften hearts so that people will turn to You and we can continue to witness and see this in our lifetime. 

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

John 18:28-32 - Defiled in Heart

John 18:28-32

28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” 32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

Message: Defiled in Heart

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: Preface - Jesus heads to a garden and Judas leads Roman/Jewish officials to Jesus in the garden, then they fall down to the ground and Jesus surrenders to be arrested. Peter thinks he is coming to Jesus' rescue, and pulls out his dagger to cut off a high priest's servants ear, but Jesus tells him to back down, as He is to drink the Cup (of wrath) the Father has for him. Jesus is taken to Annas, but it seem Caiaphas really conducts the arrest proceedings. Peter and John follow though Peter denies being a follower of Jesus (the first time). Jesus is accused by Annas regarding his impact, answers that Annas should ask those that have been impacted, but Jesus is then sent to Caiaphas bound. Peter was questioned two more times about his association with Jesus and two more times Peter denies being a disciple of Jesus. 

After the interlude in the previous set of verses mentioning Peter's denial, we are back to the proceedings toward Jesus. The High priests go from Caiaphas to Pilate. They proclaim Jesus to have committed evil acts, but when Pilate turns the table on the Jews to deal with him as they see fit since the offense has been against them, the Jews, the Jews announce that they cannot put anyone to death. This also being a fulfillment of the words of Jesus. Only a Roman ruler had the legal authority to execute Jesus. 

Summary: The high priests take Jesus to Pilate, but Pilate puts it back on the Jews but they mention they are not permitted to put anyone to death. 

Promise: Keep our hearts always close to God. 

Prayer: Lord God, I admit I struggled with this lesson and discovering from it what you want to teach me. Maybe it is simply a reminder that your arrest was not lawful and people focus on things that do not matter. And like I discovered previously that sometimes people make up their minds on you without looking at the facts. Lord, I want to know you and follow you in the right way. I thank you for the way you speak to me and I pray that you would help me as I related to others. 

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

Esther 9:20-22 - Thanksgiving in Worship

Esther 9:20-22 

20 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, 22 because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

Message: Thanksgiving in Worship

Time: Unknown author and book named after the start of the story, a young Jewish girl named Hadassah taken from her guardian, Mordecai, and forced to compete for the affection of the king. As an unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant she became queen of Persia and was renamed Esther, meaning "star." The events in the book of Esther occurred from 483 BC to 473 BC, during the first half of the reign of King Xerxes, who chose Esther as his queen. It is the only book in the Bible not to mention the name of God, however it is one of the most skillfully written books of the Bible, but God's sovereignty permeates the book. Its focus is the feast of Purim. This book reminds us of how God weaves out our lives and all of its events for His glory. 

What the Lord is Saying: Purim is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman. Haman was king Ahasuerus evil second-in-command. He cast the lot, called "pur" in order to determine the days the Jews would be executed (Esther 3:7-9).  Esther and Mordecai though would foil the plan. Esther, the wife of Ahasuerus and thus, the queen of Persia. 

Mordecai discovers a plot to kill Ahasuerus. Haman is appointed as second in command but refuses to bow to Mordecai, then discovers he is a Jew and casts lot to then determine a time to execute all Jews. In response Mordecai and other Jews enter a time of intense mourning and lamenting and fasting. Esther discovers what has happened and begins an exchange of conversation with Mordecai. Her husband does not yet know she is a young Jewish girl. After back and forth deciding and delays she finally reveals to her husband she is Jewish and the plan to exterminate all Jewish people. Ahasuerus instead has Haman hanged on the gallows he had set up for Mordecai. A decree is then given that allows enemies of the Jews to be killed and this results in 75,000 killed. Mordecai becomes second in command and institutes the annual commemoration of this saving of the Jewish people - known as the Purim and is celebrated today as a joyous time, with maybe a carnival, exchanging of gifts and donations to the poor.

It is interesting that at the time there was another example of fasting after the people heard of the difficulty that would be coming their way. Again mourning and lamenting and fasting here are also going hand in hand.  And even in the church today there can be special times of thanksgiving to commemorate different events or special milestones including Thanksgiving holiday, paying off mortgage, or staff anniversaries. 

And yet thanksgiving is also a part of normal worship. I was taught the acronym ACTS to pray which stands for Adoration-Confession-Thanksgiving-Supplication. It reminds me that there are many things to do when we pray before asking. And giving thanks is part of this. I see churches do this in thanking God for his forgiveness of their sins and also there is a thankful spirit of all that God has done. Yesterday, we sang the hymn "When we All get to heaven" and that song gives an attitude of the joy and thankfulness we will have when we enter a new life in Christ. 

I miss this at times. But, I am very thankful for the wife God has given me and the children he has given me and the parents. Even though my dad doesn't have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ he has always supported me in my faith. I am thankful for all of the little things my mom did to encourage me in my faith. I pray I can be a fraction of this towards my wife and children and now grandchildren. And a thankful heart needs to continue to be a part of me. My favorite chapter of Romans 1 marks that the first thing I see that goes in unregenerate man is not having a thankful heart. Romans 1:21 says, "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

Summary: Giving thanks is a part of our prayers that we make thanking God for all that He has done. It can be part of special occasions and it can also be a part of our weekly coming together time on Sunday morning. 

Promise: Cultivating thankful hearts will help us remember who God is and why He is worthy of our praise.

Prayer: God, how quickly at times I forget to give things and get out of this practice and instead get in the practice of wanting more and more and dissatisfied with the way things are going and want a better way. This is all consuming me at times and takes over my body. Lord, there is so much you have provided to me that I can be thankful for and I am indeed grateful to You. Thank you for giving me salvation and sending Your Son to live a better life for me to emulate but also to be my sacrifice and the perfect sacrifice for all. Thank you Jesus for rising again and perfectly redeeming me so that I would live forever in heaven with you. Keep that thankful attitude in my life continually and forgive me when I get off center from this. 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 21st - Now Don't Hurt the Lord!

Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? - John 14:9

    Our Lord must be repeatedly astounded at us--astounded at how un-simple we are. It is opinions of our own which make us stupid, when we are simple we are never stupid, we discern all the time. Philip expected the revelation of a tremendous mystery, but not in the One Who he knew. The mystery of God is not in what is going to be, it is now; we look for it presently, in some cataclysmic event. We have no reluctance in obeying Jesus, but it is probable that we are hurting Him by the questions we ask. "Lord, show us the Father. (John 14:8)" His answer comes straight back--"There He is, always here or nowhere." We look for God to manifest Himself to His children; God only manifests Himself in His children. Other people see the manifestation, the child of God does not. We want to be conscious of God; we cannot be conscious of our consciousness and remain sane. If we are asking God to give us experiences, or if conscious experience is in the road, we hurt the Lord. The very questions we ask hurt Jesus because they are not the questions of a child. 

    "Let not your heart be troubled (John 14:1, 27)"--then am I hurting Jesus by allowing my heart to be troubled? If I believe the character of Jesus, am I living up to my belief? Am I allowing anything to perturb my heart, any morbid questions to come in? I have to get to the implicit relationship that takes everything as it comes from Him. God never guides presently, but always now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the emancipation is immediate. 

From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

- Underlines and Highlights are courtesy of Mom from her print edition. 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 2nd - The Glory That Excels

So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” - Acts 9:17

When Paul received his sight, he received spiritually an insight into the Person of Jesus Christ, and the whole of his subsequent life and preaching was nothing but Jesus Christ--"I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2)" No attraction was ever allowed to hold the mind and soul of Paul save the face of Jesus Christ.

 
We have to learn to maintain an unimpaired state of character up to the last notch revealed in the vision of Jesus Christ.

The abiding characteristic of a spiritual man is the interpretation of the Lord Jesus Christ to himself, and the interpretation to others of the purposes of God. The one concentrated passion of the life is Jesus Christ. Whenever you meet this note in a man, you feel he is a man after God's own heart (see Acts 13:22).

Never allow anything to deflect you from insight into Jesus Christ. It is the test of whether you are spiritual or not. To be unspiritual means that other things have a growing fascination for you.


"Since mine eyes have looked on Jesus,
        I've lost sight of all beside,
So enchained my spirit's vision,
        Gazing on the Crucified."

-- Mary Dagworthy Yard James USA 1810-1883 from the hymn, "All for Jesus!"

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

My Utmost for His Highest - March 22nd - The Burning Heart

They said to one another, “Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” - Luke 24:32

We need to learn this secret of the burning heart. Suddenly Jesus appears to us, the fires are kindled, we have wonderful visions, then we have to learn to keep the secret of the burning heart that will go through anything. It is the dull, bald, dreary, commonplace day, with commonplace duties and people, that kills the burning heart unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus.

Much of our distress as Christians comes not because of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own nature. For instance, the only test as to whether we ought to allow an emotion to have its way is to see what the outcome of the emotion will be. Push it to its logical conclusion, and if the outcome is something God would condemn, allow it no more way. but if it be an emotion kindled by the Spirit of God and you do not let that emotion have its right issue in your life, it will react on a lower level. That is the way sentimentalists are made. The higher the emotion is, the deeper the degradation will be, if it is not worked out on its proper level. If the Spirit of God has stirred you, made as many things inevitable as possible, let the consequences be what they will. We cannot stay on the mount of transfiguration, but we must obey the light we received there; we must act it out. When God gives a vision, transact business on that line, no matter what it costs.

            "We cannot kindle when we will

                The fire which in the heart resides,
            The spirit bloweth and is still, 
            In mystery our soul abides;
                But tasks in hours of insight will'd
                Can be through hours of gloom fulfill'd."  -- Matthew Arnold

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

Mark 16:14-15 - Commissioning the Disciples

Mark 16:14-15
14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Message: Commissioning the Disciples

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 has risen from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday, after being crucified on Friday following his arrest and seemingly conviction for rightfully being King of the Jews. The news of his resurrection was given first to 3 women and then he appeared for the first time to Mary Magdalene, followed by 2 of the disciples, however after hearing from these individuals, people are not believing that Jesus has in fact raised from the dead.

Between verse 13 and 14 is another appearance of Jesus to his disciples - Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining. Jesus is appearing to them in the evening now of Sunday, the first day of the week. The disciples are now known as the eleven as Judas, the 12th, has killed himself following him betraying Jesus. But, it is said that Thomas is not even with them at this time, but still the group is referred to as the Eleven. They were reclining at the table and eating when He appeared to them.

and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. Jesus confronts their unbelief, their stubbornness in not believing despite His appearance to others. It is a situation that remains true to this day as many will not believe unless they see Him or have some sort of visible proof. They are not willing to take the Words of other witnesses. But, this is important for us today as well for we are believing now based upon the testimony of others. However, his focus is not on the evidence, but rather the condition of their hearts. They begin with a hardness of heart so that the evidence does not even matter, whatever the evidence may be. This is the problem with a hardened heart as it makes a decision even before the evidence is presented.

Yet despite this unbelief, it is them that he tasks to go into all the world and preach. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." On the surface this seems surprising. Today, wouldn't we look for the most qualified individuals prior to giving them this task. All to often this is how we choose people today, based upon their resume's and past performances, but Jesus then commissions these men that throughout His ministry have shown over and over that they are not the most qualified. Could this be because man's position is not what is important, but God's position and His mission will always save lives. So Jesus gives them the task despite their hardness of heart. He rebukes them, but then commissions them. One note is that Mark is always careful to show the failures of the disciples. He is often more interested in how people responded to Jesus rather than Jesus' message itself.

Summary - After speaking to Mary Magdalene and others on the road (perhaps disciples) he comes back to his original disciples (less Judas who is deceased) and reproaches them for their unbelief and for not even looking at the evidence, but first having a hardness of heart. Yet despite this denial of Him, He tasks them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. They are still the one's that He will use.

Promise: Past failures do not mean that we cannot be used of God today.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for using the undeserved. You show me continually that You can work through any person. Help me to not be so caught up in qualifications that I miss the work that You are doing. Help my unbelief and thinking a certain way before the evidence is presented. Help me to have an open-mind.

Mark 12:32-34 - Close to the Kingdom of God

Mark 12:32-34
32 The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE's NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

Message: Close to the Kingdom of God

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 answering question after question. He is speaking with an authority about God that many have not seen. The Jewish leaders of the day are even being questioned. People see this. people want to hear from him. Jesus has said that we need to have faith in God, forgive others; we need to love God, love our neighbor. He has said at the beginning of his ministry that the purpose of each person is to repent and believe in the Gospel. This is the message. Turn from my evil ways and embrace God and others.

After Jesus responds to the scribe's question about the greatest commandment, The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher. This is a response that hasn't really been voiced by many up to this point. The disciples often did not respond in this way. If anything, it seems that Jesus wants this response.

The scribe has much to say that is right and draws upon words from the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 6:4 - “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!Deuteronomy 4:35 - To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him.Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.I Samuel 15:22 - Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.Isaiah 45:21 - “Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.Hosea 6:6 - For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice,And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

The scribe somewhat summarizes what Jesus has just said but he adds that He is "one." Jesus said, "THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD." The scribe agrees with this and says, "He is ONE." 

He also knows that there is no one else like Jesus. Instead of heart, soul, mind and strength, he takes soul and mind and combines it with understanding to say: heart, understanding and strength. For me, this is clear.

Jesus responds with this scribe with the words - When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God." This is an interesting response by Jesus and also a confirmation of the importance of simply agreeing with Jesus' words. The scribe simply responds back with the words he has said which brings affirmation that we are answering him correctly. Perhaps this is what was meant by many have said in teaching us how to pray that we need to simply echo the words of God or speak the scriptures back to God in our prayers and petitions.

The scribe had definitely made up a lot of ground in him becoming a child of God. Jesus did not tell the man he was in the kingdom of God but that he was not far from it. Thus, to enter the kingdom of God is to recognize the authority of God's law. But there is also more to it by Jesus saying repent and believe. Each person needs to recognize that they are living life in a foolish manner and turn from their sin and believe in Jesus and therefore all that He says. So the scribe was not far from the kingdom of God. 

Summary - After the scribe asks Jesus to explain the greatest commandment, Jesus proclaims the Shea from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 that the love for God above all else is the most important of all the commandments. Then Jesus says to love one's neighbor is the second greatest of the commandments. The scribe responds by agreeing with Jesus and re-stating what Jesus has said. Jesus is pleased with this response and acknowledges that the scribe is not far from the kindgom of God. But there is more. There is the Law and recognizing we are sinners.

Promise: God's judgment must be preached for people to enter the kingdom of God. This message is as central as recognizing that we are to Love God and Love our Neighbors as ourselves.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the truth of your message. Thank you for clearly explaining it. You have told me that the Love of God and Love for my neighbor is central to my faith, but also repentance and believing and having faith is central for the forgiveness of sins. Lord, help me to be an anchor of truth to this generation. Thank you for your great love for people and for showing me this love through the study of this book.

Mark 12:28-31 - The Greatest Commandments

Mark 12:28-31
28 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31 The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”


Message: The Greatest Commandments

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 has answered his critics questions. Most recently the question was about the resurrection and what it would like to us upon resurrection in the way of marriage. We will not be married. We will have everything that we need in Christ. For God is the God of the living not the dead. His ways are always the same. He is the God of the now, not simply then. He says, "I AM" not "I was." Jesus is in Jerusalem on his way to die and then be resurrected as he has predicted 3 times.

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing - I believe they were discussing, not necessarily arguing. This one scribe comes to Jesus with a reasonable question. This scribe recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him. So this scribe is different from the others, accepting the words of Jesus. When Jesus answers the scribes question What commandment is the foremost of all? his response is actually not real different from anything he has said previously. In fact, when He and the disciples walked back into Jerusalem and Peter saw the fig tree and that it was withered Jesus responds with a two-fold response of Have Faith in God or believe me, believe me what I say and then soon after tells them to forgive their neighbors. The message is a little different but the focus is on God, then neighbor.

This is what Jesus mentions again now in the 2 greatest commandments - Love God, Love Neighbor. That is easily the central message of our lives that really stands in contrast with any other message of this day from any religious body or group: Love God, Love Neighbor. Have Faith in God and Forgive. This is what needs to motivate my life each day. This is it.

I love that message. HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. It is interesting here. RC Sproul comments that we love God in 4 ways - with our heart, with our soul, with our mind, with our strength.

The second commandment is somehow simpler. There is a contrast in the type of love we have for God and the type of love we have for neighbor. It is a given that we love ourselves. We don't simply love our neighbor, but we do it AS YOURSELF. This is very true. We love ourselves. And this love gets greater when we realize who we are in Christ and that God loves us so much.

I was listening to a message yesterday from Tom Nelson of Denton Bible Church, an older message maybe from 10 years ago he did in Matthew and it reminded me of how rules based we are in our lives and how heart-based God is. God is most concerned about our hearts. And this message of loving God and loving neighbors begins in the heart. It can't simply be a rule will follow. But rather it is a condition of our heart. I often struggle to understand or communicate to people what living for Jesus is really about and somehow I think it is this notion that God wants to change our heart, not just change how we do a few things in our lives.

Sometimes i have difficult figuring out what sin I have broken. I get to this point at times where I don't think I've done anything bad but at its core I don't really love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. And I definitely don't love my neighbor as I do myself. What I want is often what is most important.

Summary - Jesus responds to the question from one of the scribes, a scribe that believed Jesus had responded well to the the Sadducees question. He asks for the greatest commandment and Jesus gives two commandments, thus though there are 2 they are together. We cannot truly love God without loving our neighbor and we cannot truly love our neighbor without loving God.

Promise: Love for God on account of who He is in Himself is the highest form of love that creatures can show. It is love God with all of the power that we can muster; with our mind it is studying His ways and His character as revealed in His Word; with our soul it is means loving Him passionately; with our heart it means loving God from the very root of our being.

Prayer: Lord, first of all, forgive me God for the way in which I have loved you. Each day I seek out first ways to please myself or love myself rather than loving You. Yesterday was church and I find that church is only good if it pleases me, but you remind me that it is about loving You with all that is in my being. So forgive me for thinking that I know better. I want to be in that place to Love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I admit I don't know what that looks like much of the time. Help me to know how to communicate this with others. And I want to love others the way I love myself. It's easy to have this love for my wife, but sometimes not as easy with even my kids and then those that I would call neighbors. I should be sacrificing more of myself for them. You are Savior and Lord. You are king. You are Lord of All. I want to praise You.

Mark 10:23-25 - The Difficulty of Entering the Kingdom

Mark 10:23-25
²³ And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Message: The Difficulty of Entering the Kingdom

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 - A man has come to Jesus asking what he can do to inherit eternal life. He calls Jesus good and Jesus attempts to correct him so the next time he calls him simply Teacher. This man feels confident that he has kept the laws, the 10 commandments, and yet he still asks the question of how he can obtain eternal life. Jesus tells him that it is more than only rule-keeping, but a matter of the heart. The man walks away because his heart is focused on accumulating wealth and he won't give up his wealth for anything else. 

And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” Mark records Jesus first looking around, as if Jesus is wondering if this incident has had an impression or impact on His disciples. In other words, are they understanding the lesson that is here in this man and his response? Jesus makes a pronouncement that is still true today. The wealthy feel like they don't need God. They have everything that money can by and so they have need for nothing else. It is an interesting assertion, especially in the world I live in where having more seems to be what everyone wants. And those that have little are thought to be suffering. 

What happened to this man becomes a lesson to us all. Having wealth can create a stumbling block to man and his ways. The disciples were amazed at His words. The words of Jesus continue to express an opposite way to that which has been proclaimed in the world and Jesus today continues to put forth this opposite way. 


But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Again, Jesus repeats and he then draws upon a comparative hyperbolic language. It is simpler to take a large animal and fit him into a small opening that it is for a rich mad who has a large abundance of things to be willing to give them all up so as to enter the kingdom of God. 

But, it is not impossible, Jesus is stating though it can be hard. For the rich young ruler, it was hard. He had things in this earth to hold onto and he could see how his days were better, his present days were better by having these things. And to give them up, even if it was only a matter of the heart giving them up, was not what he could do.

Yet, this is also a lesson for me. I protect our finances. I have a giving heart and yet I often don't give because I am concerned about the needs of my family. And I want to make sure I have what I need to sustain this present life. It is tough to know at times how to give. 

Summary - Jesus, after speaking to the Rich Young Ruler, in answering his question on obtaining eternal life takes a moment to speak a lesson to the disciples and those around. He says that being rich makes it hard, not impossible, but hard for people then to enter the kingdom of God. We must always be careful of the matters of our heart. 

Promise: Wealth brings temptations. We may be prone to look for security in our riches and not in Christ. Where is my heart? 

Prayer: Lord, I need to evaluate this in my life. I know I do this at times. I like to hold onto my wealth. And yet I know I can also be a giving person. There is a tough balance. I want to be guided by You. And I want to make sure that I am not holding onto something, my wealth, and forgoing what you are calling me to do.

Mark 7:20-23 - Evil in Heart

Mark 7:20-23

20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Message: Evil in Heart

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 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. 

Jesus is emphasizing that what comes into a man - be it drink or food, even eating with unclean hands is not what defiles a person, but rather that which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. There is a clear contrast here that he is emphasizing.The Pharisees and scribes questioned why the disciples were not maintaining the tradition of hand washing that was thought to render people clean. Ultimately, Christ explains that cleanliness is an interior matter. It is the state of one's heart that determines cleanliness for the heart is the origin of all uncleanness. Before any sinful deed can be committed, it is conceived in the heart. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts...All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. 

God and man see people differently. This, to me, further emphasizes the radical nature in which Jesus came. I Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This verse reminds me of the way God has always been and therefore God sees in a way that man does not see. Naturally, we look at the outward and our prisons are set up because people have committed outward violations. The civil law is set up like this. But, God and Jesus go beyond the outward to the inner. This must be a difficult thing for society to comprehend for everywhere we are trained in the idea of the outward, but everyone God trains us on what is on the inside that matters most. 

Here sins are listed to clearly show their inner origins: fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. The first six in this list are acts that are seen outside of the flesh while the second six are attitudes behind the acts. 

First on the list is fornications. It is interesting for there is such a great power of sexual sin and sexual temptation that has been present in every culture of man. It was a problem 2,000 years ago and it is a problem today. The internet in the last 25 years has seen the proliferation of this sin. This is a sin that seeks to become more and more private.

Second is thefts. To be a thief is obviously abhorrent in society. But, for me, the acts of being a thief are changing. We most definitely grade this sin, in that taking a dollar versus $100 is seen a way different. With the advent of movies in the home came forth the issue of piracy. Even the internet and youtube made piracy of music more prevalent to the point that they had to figure out a way to make money on listening to music and now it has become the norm to listen in this manner. 

Third is murders. For me, personally, Roe v Wade in 1973 was the biggest change that occurred over the issue of murder for society accepted that murder of the fetus was warranted based upon a woman's choice. In the nineties, doctor assisted suicide started to appear as we looked at the other end of the spectrum, the elderly. Again, sin began to be disguised as warranted behavior. Society still today does not view either of these as murder. 

Fourth is adulteries. Adultery is not a new thing. It is a sexual sin practice that has been present for thousands of years. As a person that loves to watch old movies, adultery in the movies has always been present. There was a notion that if one was wealthy then they more easily could afford a mistress. The woman as an object of the man's desires crept more and more into people's thoughts and was then culminated with pornography being viewed as entertainment. 

Fifth is coveting. Coveting is a internal desire seen outwardly. Consumerism has made coveting a normal practice. The desire to have what your neighbor possesses is viewed as competition and moves us to be a strong business person. 

Sixth is wickedness. This is all kinds of wicked behavior. Thus, anything not covered previously is covered here. 

This is what we see and now Jesus focuses on what is on the inside. Deceit means lying, not telling the truth, deceptiveness, false witness. Lying can be pretending to be something we are not. Lying shows up in church all the time as people want to pretend to others that they are religious in order to get acceptance from society. 

Sensuality shows up in our behavior and speech. It is a dirty mind. Once again, society has made having a dirty mind being completely acceptable. Its amazing to think of the TV sitcoms and their attitudes and behaviors that made having a dirty mind comedic.  

Envy is to look with hate or to look with anger. 

Slander is to have abusive speech such as blasphemy. I went and saw a movie yesterday, one I should have avoided for the slander or abusive language that occurred in the movie, all under the disguise of laughter and entertainment was incredible and the most haunting thing was to witness children in the movie laughing at themes most likely they did not understand at all, but only laughed because their parents also laughed beside them. 

Pride is the feeling of being superior to others. And then foolishness, to be unthinking or senseless.

The issue that I'm seeing more and more is the normalizing of these sins in society. We don't think of these in a serious light because we have such a thirst for entertainment that we excuse these behaviors because they have made us laugh or enjoy life. 

Summary - Jesus, in a way, concludes the utter defilement of the heart by naming a list of these sins and repeats the idea that evil comes from within. While we stare at the outward, it is what is on the inside that matters most.  

Promise: Sin and holiness are fundamentally issues of the heart. Although holiness can be faked before men, God is never fooled. 

Prayer: Lord, I want to walk in holiness. I thank you for forgiving me of my sins and I'm embarrassed of how prevalent these sins continue to be in my life. I should know better. Thank you for the reminder and continue to clean me up, not only so that my witness is better but so that I can have peace with myself in life. 

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 7:5-8 - Prophetic and Apostolic Tradition

Mark 7:5-8
⁵ The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” ⁶ And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
⁷ ‘But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’

⁸ Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

Message: Prophetic and Apostolic Tradition

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 - In Mark 1:15 are the words from Jesus - The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel. Jesus initially calls a few to be his disciples and later expands it to 12. He will send out his disciples to speak this message of the kingdom of God. Along the way, Jesus performs many different types of miracles: physical healings, spiritual healings such as forgiveness, power over nature. There is the clear testimony of His power throughout these pages as He shares his message with the masses but also intimately with his disciples showing always his reliance on God and the power of God in people's lives. Jesus has become very popular in this area as many are coming to him to experience Him, to experience God. At the beginning of Chapter 7, Mark pauses a moment in his gospel to bring attention to the Pharisees and their attack on Jesus for doing things that are contrary to the laws and traditions they have followed. Jesus permits his disciples to eat without clean hands. 

As I saw in my reading at the beginning of Chapter 7, the Pharisees are following Jesus around, perhaps checking on him, but also disapproving of his actions. Mark mentions how one attack was related to not following traditions, not necessarily the Moses law, but traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation through the rabbi's. I think of faiths that have traditions like these, such as abstaining from caffeine or other types of abstinence issues. Thus, the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” Jesus uses this as an opportunity, hopefully to go beyond the mere act of washing one's hands prior to eating, which isn't a bad thing and something that is still encouraged to this day, to focus on the "why" of what we do. 

And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’

Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.

The concern by Jesus here is that the Pharisees are going to great lengths to purify themselves outwardly in hopes that this rituals would make themselves acceptable to God. If they kept enough rules, thus sacrificing one's own desires, then through the rule keeping they would be set apart as worth unto God. And this is chiefly what Jesus is counteracting in his message. Paul sums it up well in Romans 2:28-29 - A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. Obviously, at this point Romans had not yet been written so Jesus brings us back to the words of Isaiah in 29:13 which conveys the same idea that simply speaking or doing something outward is not what Jesus is looking for, but rather a change of heart. 

In addition, the commandment of God comes to us from the written word of God. It is this word that we must hold onto....and nothing else. Nothing overrides the written word of God.

Summary - Jesus is speaking of the importance of a heart change. I don't think he is diminishing the importance of keeping oneself clean, but he is emphasizing that we all need to make sure that we don't get caught up in rules and outward appearances and forget the real issue is the motive of one's own heart.

Promise: We must not change Scripture to make it fit our man-made traditions.

Prayer: Lord, Jesus, help me to focus on what is on the inside. Yes, the outward matters and I knew my best to exemplify in my life the best in my obedience, but overall, I need to focus on the inside. This is where evil resides and can outpour evil onto my life.