The Daily Dose

Tastes so good

Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” Mark 14:34

Have you ever come to a portion of scripture in your daily reading or study time that you have read many times before?  When that happens, you can be tempted to quickly go through it or even think:  I know this part so I will skip on to the next.  Instead, when that happens, consider it to be like a delicious meal.  Even though you have had your favorite food many times in the past, when it is prepared for you again, you are ready and looking forward to it because it always tastes so good!!  You don’t skip and say “Oh, I’ve had that dish before and I know it is good, but I am going to pass this time because it isn’t something new.”  No!  You know that it is going to be delicious, and you want to enjoy the benefits of the taste and nutrition of that cuisine again.  You also know that your physical body need continual nourishment to thrive and survive in life.  Really, passing it up is not an option. 

If we approach scripture with that mindset, we will be able to enjoy the delights of fresh revelation and new insights every time we look at it.  Not to mention the spiritual nourishment we need to grow in our faith walk each day.

The next few sections in Mark 14 are passages that are probably familiar to many of us, so let’s go through these with the anticipation that we have been here before and it was good, so looking at them again at this point in time is going to be delicious and nutritious!!

Jesus often withdrew from His disciples to pray.  However, this is the first time He ever took anyone with Him.  This time, He took Peter, James and John with Him and told them He was really struggling with what was about to happen.  He asked them to keep watch while He went a little further to pray.  Jesus knew the guards would be coming for Him soon, so He set up His closest and most trusted guys to keep watch for those who would be coming to arrest Him.  Peter James and John watch Him go on ahead and fall on the ground to pray, but they did not understand the depth of His stress.  After some time praying, Jesus came back to find them sleeping.  He cautioned them to watch and pray because He knew the hour of temptation was coming.

In the disciple’s defense, they had just eaten a big meal and thought they were settling in for the night as they always had before, but when Jesus found them the third time still sleeping, Jesus woke them up to say: The hour has come, let’s go, My betrayer is here.

What would have been changed if the Peter, James and John would have been praying instead of sleeping?  Probably nothing in the natural circumstances.  These were things that had to take place.  However, if Peter had been praying for strength and wisdom at that time, he may not have found himself denying his relationship with Jesus just a few hours later.  The point is that their prayers were not for the circumstances to change but for them to be prepared and strengthened for what was ahead.

This is the same message Jesus has for us today.  Watch and pray.  Not that we are going to change everything around us, though it may happen at times.  Mostly it is for us to be strengthened and prepared as we face trials and temptations in life.  When we are pressed into God closely and on watch for the enemy’s devises, we are well able to withstand in the evil day.  If you are sleeping, your enemy will walk right up and steal, kill and destroy so quickly you won’t even know what hit you.

Today I want to encourage you to watch and pray.  Pray for strength, pray for grace and pray for loving life not sleep.  Be alert and keeping watch that your enemy does not get the upper hand.  Be ready to stand when temptations come and know that you will not even notice many evils pass right by because you are living in that secret place of the most High, your loving Father in heaven.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 14:32-42

32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 

33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 

34 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 

36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 

38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 

40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

41 Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

42 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Distracted

“But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Mark 14:28

Have you ever felt like you were alone in a crisis you were going through?  Maybe a family or emotional struggle? Maybe an issue or something with your employment?  Maybe it was some kind of natural disaster or event that was about to happen that you could not do anything about.  Hopefully you called out to your heavenly Father for help, but sometimes you have to take it by faith that He is listening, seeing what you are going through and believe that He will keep His promise to get you through this dilemma to the other side safely.

In today’s reading, Jesus is trying to give His disciples some encouragement and insight into the events that are about to take place for all of them.  He told them what was about to happen according to the prophecy in the scriptures, but He also told them that He will be raised up and meet them back in Galilee.  Even though they were about to go through their greatest struggle in this ministry, Jesus wanted them to know there is hope and He will see them again after it is all over.

It is disappointing, but not surprising that some of them were totally distracted with the prophecy and didn’t grasp what Jesus said about getting back together or even that He would be separated from them for a time.  Isn’t that often how we are?  We get distracted with the pressures we are facing and never consider that God is working on something for good that He wants us to have a part in the victory.  Jesus wanted His friends to know that crisis was coming, but that it was all part of the plan, and it was going to work out for the good of all people.  He didn’t tell any of them to follow Him once He was taken into custody and He didn’t tell them that they had to go with Him to the cross.  He simply told them He would be raised up and meet them in Galilee.

We have the same opportunity today to hold on to His words as we go through our tough times in life.  He has given us an entire book full of promises that we can take with us into every battle and conflict.  He has made provision for every obstacle we come up against in life and some of them are even there to produce His goodness in the environment around us.

Today I want to encourage you to dig deep into God’s word and hold His promises close in your heart and to your life.  If you are not sure where to start, you can consider getting a promise book with scriptures that cover various troubles and concerns we face in our daily living.  Whatever it takes, let the word of God become your greatest strength in every storm that rises and thank Him for His promise to get you through that time to celebrate the victories with Him!

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 14:27-31

27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

28 “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

29 Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”

30 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

31 But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” and they all said likewise.

His Body was broken

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Mark 14:22

Since I grew up in church, I probably heard and read the “communion” passages hundreds of times.  The words that Jesus spoke to His disciples at His last supper with them.  However, considering what to write about this passage today, brought me an entirely new perspective on the event.

Jesus explains the elements of bread and juice to the disciples, but since this was new to them, I’m sure they didn’t understand the depth of what Jesus was teaching either.  He gave them all bread and said:  This bread represents My body that is going to be broken.  For you.  He was talking about what was about to happen to Him when He was going to be taken away from them to pay the punishment for their sin and ours today.  He didn’t do it for Himself and He didn’t do it just for God His Father. He did it for people. My mentality when reading about this has always tended toward Jesus’ faithfulness to go through with this horrible event because it was the plan and reason that He came into the world.  And it was, but there was so much more to what was in His heart when He did it.

We know this.  In fact, one of the first verses that we teach children is that God demonstrated His love toward us while we were sinners in Jesus’ death.  There was a greater reason that Jesus went to the cross than because He wanted to obey God and fulfill the mission He was sent here to accomplish.  The main reason Jesus suffered and died the way He did, was because of love.  He loved us and wanted to ensure that people all would have the opportunity to receive His love and live with Him and His Father for all eternity.  He was not willing or satisfied to let us die and be cast into the pit with His enemy forever.

Today this is what compels us to share God’s love with those around us, because we love others.  If we are giving our testimony and telling the gospel because of obedience and faithfulness, we are not going to be as effective.  The real motivation is because we love others the way Jesus taught us to love.  Everything we do today and everyday should be because we are giving God’s love freely, just like Jesus did on the cross, but we do not have to be the one that suffers.

Today I want to encourage you to remember His love the next time you celebrate communion.  Yes, you remember His death until He comes back for us, but also remember how much He loved us when giving His life.  He willingly laid it down to show how much He loved all people. Start taking steps today to show your love for people by walking in that love each day.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 14:22-26

22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 

24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 

25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

He knows

 _{He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. Mark 14:20}

Have you ever had something in your life that you knew just shouldn’t be there?  Maybe some habit that isn’t really hurting anyone or a friendship that pulls you in a wrong direction?  Maybe it’s a debt or social media addiction that you cling to in an unhealthy way.  If you are honest with yourself, you can probably identify something in your heart that you have felt conviction about, but continue to justify that it isn’t that bad and isn’t hurting you.

Just recently, I finally surrendered one such item that I have been holding onto.  I had many internal arguments fighting for and trying to convince myself that it was fine.   Not a sinful thing, just something I was hiding and wanted to keep hidden.  I finally put my hands up and said:  “ok God, You win!”  But it wasn’t a battle that God was trying to control or take something away from me.  It was a battle that I was hanging on to something that was holding back His best plans for my life.  That one thing that I was holding onto was actually something I was putting between myself and His goodness. He doesn’t want to control us, He wants us to live this life in His greatest blessings and continue to grow in the things He has called us to.

In today’s reading, Jesus tells the disciples that one of them would betray Him as they were eating the Passover meal.  They were shocked and surprised, mostly because they didn’t believe one of them would do such a thing, but one of them already was planning to betray Him and was surprised that He knew.  In one of the gospels, it is accounted that Jesus told Judas that whatever he was going to do, to do it quickly.  It almost looked like Jesus gave Him permission, but then Jesus added a solum warning.  He said: Woe to him by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would be better if he were never born.  Jesus knew what was going on.  He knew He had to be taken to the cross, but He also knew that He didn’t need Judas’s help to get there. Judas on the other hand thought he had it all under control, but it turned out much different than he expected.

Today I want to encourage you to surrender all to Him.  In Luke 8:17, Jesus said there is nothing hidden that will not be reveal.  He knows all things, so thinking that you can keep or hide anything from Him is beyond reality.  He loves you and has the best path for your life!  Get all the roadblock out of the way and surrender all to Him today.  He is not trying to keep any good thing from you.  That is a lie that started in the the garden with the serpent and Eve.  He wants to pour out His goodness on you life everyday in every area of your life, but He can only do that as you give Him access.  Open up your heart and confess your secret parts to Him today.  He already know anyway, why not let Him show you His best plans to success in all your ways.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 14:12-21

12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”

13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 

14 Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ 

15 Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.”

16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.

17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 

18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.”

19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?”

20 He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 

21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”

Point Break

^{Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. Mark 14:10}

Have you ever been pushed to your limit by the circumstances happening around you?  So many unexpected disappointments at once that it put you close to the edge?  Maybe it was financial pressure or family trouble?  Maybe politics at work or the betrayal of a close friend?  Maybe it was all of these things happening at the same time?  One could certainly understand if you met your breaking point when your world seemed to be crumbling around you.  The important thing is, what do you do next?  Do you give up?  Do you try to fix all the problems yourself or do you surrender them over to your Father in heaven?  The decision you make at that point will either make your way established or could break destroy all that the Lord has been doing in your life and in your heart.

In today’s reading, there was a woman that came to Jesus and began to anoint Him with a very extravagant gift.  It was the most precious thing she had, and she poured it out on Jesus because she loved and honored Him so much.  Jesus didn’t correct her, but He protected her from the scrutiny of the crowd and taught them how her gift would mark her as one who gave it all for Him.  This was the final straw for Judas.  It was the offense that pushed him over the edge.  Judas had already betrayed the ministry by stealing from the funds, but he was no longer able to hold back the contempt he felt for Jesus’ goodness to others.  I don’t know if he thought the priest would be unable to take Jesus because he had seen Jesus in tight spots before? Or if he really wanted Jesus to be brought down by the hands of men.  I do know he was out for the money they offered him, but in betraying Jesus, he went further than he was ever able to come back from.

What do you think?  If Judas had confessed and repented would Jesus have forgiven and cleansed him from all unrighteousness?  I certainly believe so.  It was a terrible thing to do, but Jesus most certainly could have restored him.  However, Judas was unable to live with the shame of his actions and instead of running to Jesus, he ran aways from him and took his own life.  It is one of the saddest events in the bible.  One of Jesus closest and trusted friends on the outside, yet on the inside there was deception and lies.

Today I want to encourage you to examine where your breaking point is.  Take a look at your life and think about what things would push you close to the edge.  Imagine what your decision would be when you got to that point and consider would you run to God or away from Him?  Put together an action plan that will help you to surrender all your struggles over to Him to receive His peace and solutions.  Your plan should start with spending time with Him each day and making it a priority and habit to surrender your day and everything in it now when things are going well.  Then you will already be in the habit of running to Him with everything and you will not be as tempted to run and hide when thing randomly come up.  Next get around others that are fully surrendered and they will encourage you when you need it most.  Don’t let the enemy push you over the edge when you get close, call out to Jesus and He will come and rescue you from all your troubles.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 14:1-11

1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 

2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”

3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 

4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 

5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.

6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 

7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 

8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 

9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 

11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

Watch and Pray

And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:37

This passage is a little disturbing to me, but mostly exciting.  It is disturbing because it says that the Master (Jesus) could come back in the morning in verse 35.  Then very the next verse says don’t let Him catch you sleeping.  Not that I sleep in a lot, but there are occasions when I do get up later than usual.  It makes me consider, what are my priorities?

Today’s reading instructs us to be ready at any time, all the time for our Master to return.  If I think about how that would look, I of course, would be on my best behavior all the time, ready to be taken away with Him, but also ready for inspections of my life’s activities and responsibilities here in my assigned place.  Though it is a part of kingdom living to steward our time and property well, there are those times that my guard is down.

Verse 33 of this passage says: Pay attention by watching and praying. Yes, we see the things happening in the world today and hear how the evil seems to be growing, but that is not for us to focus on.  We are to watch and pray for His return and see that we keep our own “house” in order.  If we knew that He was coming back today, what would we be doing?  If we knew it was a week or a month from today?  I know for me; I would be making sure that His work and His plans were being done each day so that I would be ready when He did arrive.

That is how we watch and pray.  Watch that we are keeping God’s kingdom and righteousness first and number one priority and pray for the grace to lead others to watch and pray also.  Rescuing the lost and making His agenda our agenda.

Today I want to encourage you to watch and pray.  Watch, so that you are not caught off guard and unprepared when He comes.  Watch by seeking Him plans first each day.  He wants to lead you in that perfect path of righteousness, but you must start out by fully trusting and following His lead each day.  Second, take time to pray.  Not just a quick “Good morning God, watch over me and protect through out the day” prayer, but an earnest surrender to His plan for the day, kind of prayer.  Determine to accomplish down to the last detail your entire missions before He comes to take us all home.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 13:32-37

32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 

33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 

34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 

35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 

36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 

37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Here is a hint

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Mark 13:31

In today’s reading, Jesus continues by talking about the last days and the great tribulaiton. But He gives us a hint where are focus should be and continuously stay on. The clue He gave is in verse 31, but I believe this is one verse in the passage that often gets overlooked.  It says no matter what happens and no matter when it happens, there is one thing that will remain and always be the same in strength and power that you can depend on, that is the word of God.

God’s word!  What a precious gift we have been given.  Having a written form accessible to us 24/7 is something that up until the last 200 or so years, was not available to everyone.  We are blessed more than any other civilization before us because of the unrestricted access we have to God’s words and promises to all people.  Sadly, we are probably the one age who ignores it more than any other time in history.  Of course, I don’t know if that is the case, but certainly the present time in this world, people have a greater responsibility to know God’s Word since it is at our fingertips continuously.

Oh, we get excited about the latest headlines and the current crisis and think, this could be it?  Surly He is on His way back for us now, but we don’t take the time to bask in the love of His word that He gave us to know Him so intimately.  Plainly said: God’s word needs to become our focus and our main priority in life.  We should know if better than we know how to use any devise or any other written word we study, whether digitally or manually.  We need to value the Word of God as the great treasure that it is, bury it in our heart so that all our responses in life will be in line with Him, not against Him, and all our focus will be on Him, not on who the anit-Christ could be?

Today I want to encourage you to get in God’s word.  If you don’t already have a quiet time that you spend with Him and His word each day, start today.  If you do have that time, then begin to really appreciating the gift we have in God’s word and recognize it as the authority that will stand forever. Everything else in this world will fade away, but here is a hint to hold onto, His word and the power of it will be with you through all eternity. Learn it now and you trip there will go much smoother.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 13:14-31

  14 “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 

15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 

16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 

17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 

18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 

19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 

20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

21 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. 

22 For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 

23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 

25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 

26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 

27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

28 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 

29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! 

30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

The End is not yet

But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. Mark 13:7

 I can remember from a very young age looking for the Lord’s return.  We have believed for years that He could come back for us at any time.  What a glorious day that will be!  With the crazy times we are living in, sooner rather than later is what my hope is.  However, my heart’s desire is to make the greatest impact with the remaining days I have here in this world and to reach as many lost people as possible.

In today’s passage, Jesus gave His disciples a look into the future as He explained some of the events that they would be up against and the rest of the world in the coming years.  He gave a list of some signs that we all have seen and continue to see, but then He said, but that is not the end.  He said: wars and rumors of war. Check! Nations rising up against other nations. Check! Earthquakes. Check! Famines and troubles. Check!  The beginning of sorrow. Check! We’ve seem all of these things, many times over.

Then He says something that we cannot check off this list, yet. In verse 10 Jesus said: And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.  We have not seen this accomplished yet, now or even in the past.  I was recently at an event that spoke of translating Bibles into many languages of nations that still do not have the massage of salvation.  I remember thinking:  with today’s technology and travel, how can there still be parts of the Earth that have not been reached with the messages of God’s love and provision of salvation.  Yet, Jesus said before He comes to get us, first the gospel must reach every nation.

Is there anything we can do to help that happen?  To this I say, Yes!!  First of all we can pray.  We can pray for the provision and the people to take the message.  We can pray for every corner and far out village that has not been discovered, to be revealed.  We can pray for hearts to be ready to jump on the opportunity when it finally gets to them, and we can pray that we will know what our place and part is in reaching the nations.

Next, we can support missions and outreaches that are taking the message out. And most of us have access to the world through the world wide web and can begin to ask for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and insight on how we can use this resource and all other tools we have to get the message out.  This is an “All hands on deck” call.  We all have a part and we all have been commissioned.  We cannot live this life the way the world does and be content to let others do the things we were born into this time to accomplish.

Today I want to encourage you to get alone with God and seek His love, grace and direction.  Praise and worship Him for the great things He has done in the past, is doing right now in the present and the things He will do in the coming days.  Seek out the mission you have been assigned to if you do not already know what that is and begin to go through the doors that He opens on that road today.  If you are already on your called way, continue to press in to hear and know the steps He has for you to take today and every day.  Let’s get His love and grace to the nations and to the ends of the earth and see Him returning in the clouds to get us, ASAP!

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 13:1-13

1 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”

2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 

4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 

6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 

7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

9 “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 

10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 

11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 

12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 

13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

She gave it all

For they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” Mark 12:44

Have you ever felt so much love and admiration for God that you wanted to give all that you possessed?  What about just giving Him the things that are most precious to you? Oh I know God doesn’t require us to give Him all of our possessions, but has His love ever filled you up so greatly that you desired to lay it all at His feet?

In today’s reading, there was a poor widow that came to the temple to give.  She only gave a little bit to offer, but she gave it all.  Even though there were many others there that were rich and gave large amounts of money, Jesus told His disciples that the widow gave more than all of them because she gave her whole livelihood.

This concept seems foolish some people.  Why would you give your money away? And especially to the church?  This poor widow was giving at a time when it was obvious that the priests were getting rich off of the people’s giving.  Why would she give all that she had that they would never appreciate?  She knew something that they didn’t know.  She loved God and was giving her gift to Him, not to the temple leaders.  What they did with her gift was between them and God.  She gave because of God and what happened to the money after that was not her concern.  She knew that her offering was accepted in heaven at the throne because it was from her heart to the heart of God.

Maybe you are someone who gives tithes and offerings at the church or donations to ministries, supporting the work of God in various places.  These are certainly worthy gifts, but if given out of duty or obligation, there is no love for God and His work being done in this world.  It is important to check your heart when giving and purpose that you want to love and honor God with all your giving.  Pray over your gifts and offer them to God with your words and heart.

Proverbs 3:9 says: Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; and 2 Corinthians 9:7 says: So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  The instruction in these passages are clear, we are to give from every increase we receive and not just give, but to honor God by giving it to Him, not to an organization.  Also, to purpose or plan to give so you will not be compelled to give grudgingly.

Lastly, consider when giving to individuals in need.  Sure if a friend or loved one comes to you and asks for help, you would certainly give willingly.  Probably not even considering that you are giving to God, but what about those on the street corner that are looking for their next meal?  Do you give willingly out of your abundance or do you judge who is worthy and what will be done with your gift?  Proverbs 19:17 tells us that He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord.  It doesn’t tell us to consider and scrutinize what will be done with the funds, it just says that when you give you are giving to God. What a great promise and such freedom.  You no longer need to decide who is worthy to receive your blessing and who will appreciate your sacrifice.  Instead, you can see these opportunities as an honor to give to your Father in heaven and trust Him to see to how the substance is being used.

Today I want to encourage you to give.  Give your tithes and give your offerings.  Very few things in this world are transferable into the spirit world, but giving from your heart is seen and received by God.  Don’t worry about how God will provide for you if you give, just honor Him with your love and giving and His blessing will follow you in all the areas of your life.  Look for opportunities to bless others whether you know them or not and let God be the one who makes sure your gifts are used to reach the lost ones.  Remember, your love for Him is evident in what you are willing to release into His hands to reach those who are far from Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 12:35-44

35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 

36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

37 Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” And the common people heard Him gladly.

38 Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 

39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 

40 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 

42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 

43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 

44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

Love God, Love your neighbor

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 30-32

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, His response was “love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and mind”.  But He didn’t stop there, He connected it to loving your neighbor as yourself.  Nobody asked Him what the second commandment was just for the first commandment.  Jesus connected these two because the second part demonstrates the first part.  In other words, by loving your neighbor as yourself, you are showing outwardly your love for the LORD your God and showing others God’s heart of compassion for them.

This brings me to the question how do I “love my neighbor as myself”?  It has always been something hard for me to grasp.  Almost like a vapor, very cloudy, because I think I didn’t feel it was attainable or I just didn’t know how.  Then God showed me a practical way to view my neighbor so I would know how to love them with the God kind of love.  When I see my neighbor, I see myself.  If I see my neighbor struggling with something, what would I if I was struggling with the same thing or what would I want someone to do to help me through it?  If I see my neighbor rejoicing about something, how would I want others to rejoice with me if I were celebrating something?

Now that I looked at it from this angle, it seemed very simple to understand, but not so simple to follow through. The first thing to identify is, who is my neighbor?  Is it those who live next door to me or in my neighborhood?  What if I live in the country and don’t have anyone living close to me?  Secondly, how do I know what to do to “love” them? In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate loving your neighbor as yourself.  In this parable, there were strangers who passed by a man that had fallen among thieves, and yet He calls the man who showed mercy his neighbor.  The Samaritan didn’t even know the guy and he certainly didn’t live next door to him. I also want to make the point that this was not a fellow believer, this was a dirty, hurting, dying, helpless, and hopeless sinner. The point is that anyone you can do good for is your neighbor.

The last thing I want to consider is why does God want me to love my neighbor as myself?  Is it only to make rules for me to keep me in line?  Is it to make me look like a good person?  No, the reason is to show others the very heart of God!  The only way others can know God is if they see His heart in our actions.  The other part of that is, we can see God’s heart in action when we are showing it to others.  If you want to see a great act of God, then watch it play out in your love towards your “neighbor”.

Today and every day I encourage you to look for those God will send across your path to “love” as you love yourself and do good to them as you would do for yourself.  Let your actions toward others reflect the heart of God’s love for them. Be watching for ways to bless people you know and also those you don’t know and let God’s love be the answer to other people’s problems.

Today’s scripture reading:  Mark 12:28-34

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 

31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 

33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.