Mark 7:1-23

N Mark7:1-23,Jesus draws from everyday “life stuff” to unpack a lesson of the heart I need to soak in for a while.A group of Pharisees r bothered by some of the disciples not ceremonially cleaning themselves after being among a bunch of Gentiles and some Jews that didn’t adhere to Jewish Traditions!This ceremonial cleaning was something conjured up by the religious leaders,& not w/in the precepts of God’s Word(The Truth)!People had added to what God says(diluting&tainting what God does say!),& the result was that these people defiled themselves by how their lives had changed n ways that were far from what is RIGHT&TRUE as described by God.By teaching such things that are not from God’s Heart,followers of these teachings were allowing their hearts to become defiled(desecrate or profane something sacred).So,what they taught & the way they lived profaned the “proclamation” of their faith,i.e.,their claim to be followers of God!We r constantly bombarded by things that will dilute &/or taint our heart.This is why all things need to be “filtered”/discerned by God’s Word(The Truth)so we can identify those things that we need to “demolish” from our lives so we may bring our minds/hearts/lives in line w Christ(2Cor10:5 “We demolish arguments & every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God(revealed through God’s Word&Spirit),& we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”).Anything that challenges what God has revealed about Himself;what HE has done;His principles&precepts...is aiming directly at the heart of man&woman for the purpose of defiling not only God’s Word&Truth,but especially the PURPOSE for God’s Word&Truth n the heart of man&woman(Cor5:21 says,”God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us,so that we might become the righteousness of God.”).The PURPOSE of God’s Word&Truth is for us to be saved from sin AND to be made righteous by Christ!Being made righteous “happens” as I live my life according to God’s Heart as revealed through Christ (NJohn14:6 Jesus says,”I am the WAY & THE TRUTH & THE LIFE,no one comes to the Father except through me.”).Anything that taints;dilutes;or attempts to “change” what God says...is “setting itself up against the knowledge of God” in my life!Dear Jesus,I have many ideas/thoughts that set themselves up wrongly n my life...Please open my eyes to know these...and help me remove these and replace them with YOU!

Mark 6:51-52;Mark 8:14-21; Psalm 19

N Mark chapter 6,after He has fed 5000,Jesus walks on the water to the boat carrying his disciples & calms the headwind that was making it difficult for them to make progress.The disciples were “utterly astounded,for they did not understand about the loaves,but their hearts were hardened”(Mark6:51-52).The disciples had just seen Jesus take 5 loaves of bread & 2 fish...& turn them n2 enough bread & fish to feed 5000!But they “did not understand about the loaves”..they did not understand what Jesus was teaching&showing them about Who He Is&His Great Love...,so they did not yet know Jesus as GOD!They did not seek to let the significance of what they just experienced impact their understanding for WHO Jesus is!They let the awesomeness of what they just experienced go right by w/out rightly capturing it n their minds&hearts...and their hearts were hardened!Some days pass,& once again the disciples see Jesus turn a few loaves and fish n2 more than enough food 2 feed 4000.Afterwords,they r again in a boat w Jesus..HE is warning them/teaching them about corruption & evil!They totally “missed the boat” on what Jesus is warning/teaching about,& their hearts were hardened,and again they do not make the effort to capture n their minds&hearts what Jesus is revealing to them..they “Do not yet understand”(Mark8:14-21).When we do not seek 2 rightly understand what God has done through all He has created;revealed through His Word;& through only Christ has shown/taught/demonstrated 2 us n some way,we run the dangerous risk of our hearts becoming hard.Satan is fully aware of this,and he has been throwing all sorts of delusional/misleading tactics at humanity from the very 1st misleadingly of Adam&Eve.Satan has done & will do everything he can 2 rob us of having a right understanding of all GOD has done;is doing;& will do!For he knows not only the significance of what Jesus is urging into the lives of his disciples here,but he also knows the significance of this & the truths of Psalm19 for our lives(Psalm19, “The heavens are telling of the Glory of God;And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.Day to day pours forth speech,And night to night reveals knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words,whose voice is not heard.Their voice goes out through all the earth,And their words to the end of the world.In them He has placed a tent for the sun,Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;It rejoices as a strong man to run his course w joy.Its rising is from the end of the heavens,And its circuit to the end of them;And there is nothing hidden from its heat.The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.The fear(Reverence)of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;The rules of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;In keeping them there is great reward.Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent of hidden faults.Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;Let them not rule over me;Then I will be blameless,And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight,O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”).When we do not seek 2 rightly capture/appreciate what God has has done&revealed through all creation&all life as Psalm19 describes,we will have our hearts hardened.& if we once had hearts receptive 2 God’s Glory & changed by God’s Glory revealed 2 us...if we wane from rightly capturing/appreciating God’s Glory revealed 2 us through Christ,we will fade from an intimate relationship w God our Father in Heaven.Dear Jesus,I am just like the men in the boat...missing so much of what You have revealed to me because of my not rightly capturing/appreciating what You have said and done.Please correct these issues n my mind/heart & life,& guide me&help me 2 know You n all the ways You reveal Yourself to me...& May Your Word b the “rules” that make these issues right&true n my life.

Mark 4:8-9

Jesus says something in Mark4:8-9 that I need 2 make a regular question in my life!He has told the Parable if the Sower and the Soils!The last soil is the GOOD soil,the soil that is obviously the one that I need to be.Jesus says,”And the other seed fell into good soil & produced grain,growing up & increasing & yielding thirty fold & sixtyfold & a hundredfold. & he said,he who has ears,let him hear.”LET HIM HEAR!It is important to Jesus for me 2 understand the significance of what he is saying in this parable!Because,among other things,it is Jesus’ giving me a way to tell if I am “spiritually healthy”,or if I am “declining”.Jesus wants me to know the condition of my heart/life with him,so I can make corrections in my life before I “get to far gone”.N Mark4:8-9 Jesus is giving me signs to look for n my life that indicate a healthy relationship w him!If When the soil of my life is healthy & vibrant,there will be good things growing out of my life...things that r “nutritious”/edifying in the ways that the Lord describes as good!If there r other things growing out of my life or my life is “drying up”,I am becoming one of the other soils that Jesus is warning me about!N these 2 verses though,Jesus is giving me a way to get an accurate read on the condition of my heart/life as it relates to this parable,so I can make the adjustments needed b4 I get “too far into the weeds”,or shrivel up!I need to regularly ask myself questions about what growth there is n my heart/life & out from my heart/life?!What is growing n my heart/mind/spirit(the soil of my life) as a result of where&how I invest my time/heart/mind?What is growing out from my life?What kind of fruit is growing from my life?Is there any fruit growing out from my life?(Matthew7:17-20,”Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”).If I am sincere about my life being spiritually healthy,then I will regularly check what is “growing out of my life”!The same way we need to have regular physical check ups so we r not surprised by declines of 1 kind or another,we need to do the same for our spiritual life!I need to b more aware of the condition of my heart/mind/spirit/life for Christ!What r the thoughts growing n my mind?What r the things growing attached to my heart?What do I see around me & n peoples lives around me as a result of my life n theirs?Where do I see trends n my life that may not be growing the right things n my life&heart?And many other questions that God’s Word or the Holy Spirit May b giving me!These r all for my good! Whether I admit it or not,I am always asking myself questions about my life...about how I am doing relative to something!I just need to make the questions “relative” to those things that r “relative” to a good soil n my heart/life!Dear Lord,even though I am asking myself personal questions a lot...,please bring the questions to my mind/heart/spirit that I need to b asking...& give me the wisdom & discernment & discipline & strength,enabling the right corrections n my life...so that I have Your fruit growing  n and from my life.

Mark 1:14-15

Mark1:14-15 says,”After John was put in prison,Jesus went n2 Galilee,proclaiming the good news of God.’The time has come’,he said.’The Kingdom of God is near.Repent & believe the good news!’”Jesus is placing a stake in the ground with a strong & concise statement that gives us God’s Way 2 save us from sin & give us Eternity w Him in Heaven!THE Way to Heaven!The Kingdom of God is synonymous w the Kingdom of Heaven!Jesus is telling us that God’s Mercy&Grace has offered Heaven to us!In his next sentence Jesus tells us how we make God’s GIFT ours-how we become citizens of Heaven,AND how we can know if we have truly received this GIFT!Jesus tells us to “repent&believe”!The Greek word Jesus uses for repent is “Metanoia”,which means a transformative renewing of heart;renewing of mind;a metamorphosis of heart/mind/life!Jesus is telling us that a change of heart/mind/life will be what happens in our lives if we truly believe/turn to accept God’s Gift made possible by what he says next.Jesus asks us to believe that he is THE Good News-THE fulfillment of God’s Good News for us!THE Way of God’s offering Salvation through the life;suffering;death;resurrection;&ascension of Christ!Jesus is the ONLY Way!And if we sincerely believe this & the SIGNIFICANCE of this,then our lives will be “metamorphosised” by our turning away from our old ways and to the new ways of the life more abundant that Christ came to give us(John10:10)N Acts20:21 Paul says it this way,”I have declared to both Jews & the Greeks that they must turn to God n repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”This is the PARAMOUNT decision of our lives!Will we believe The Gospel of Christ,or not!?Once the “decision” is made it cannot be like a New Years resolution that fades from our lives!This decision “must”(as Paul says)be followed up with the “metamorphosising” of our hearts/minds/lives in ways that honor The Gift of being made righteous&holy through Christ.If I am not seeing this change in my life,& if those around me r not seeing this change toward honoring Christ...then I must ask myself questions about the true state of my life & seek The Lord’s help n making “course corrections” n my life.I praise You,Lord Jesus for what You have enabled me to have through Your Birth/Life/Sufferings/Death/Resurrection&Ascension,& the plain/concise instructions You give me! May Your Word&Your Spirit always be working Your processes in my life...ever keeping me in line with honoring Your Gift to me!

Matthew 27&28

N Matthew27:51-53,when Jesus died,”...the curtain of the temple was torn n 2 from top to bottom.& the earth shook,& rocks were split.The tombs were opened.&many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,& coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went n2 the holy city & appeared 2 many.”These EVENTS were so shockingly revealing of WHO was just crucified that “When the Centurion & those who were w him,keeping watch over Jesus,saw...what took place,they were filled w AWE & said,”This was the Son of God.”(Matt27:54).What these men saw was so monumentally compelling that they believed what was previously ridiculously unbelievable.What they were 1st hand witnesses to was so AWESOME,that they were now CONVINCED that Jesus “was the Son of God”.These men allowed TRUTH to impact&change them.These men had their perspective for life changed!They surely knew the consequences of their BELIEF(at the very least the future of their careers would b negatively impacted),but the ETERNAL significance of what they witnessed...it soaked into their lives & changed them!Matt28:2-4 THE MOST AWESOMELY SIGNIFICANT EVENT OF ALL TIMES occurs!The power of sin&death is demolished when Jesus raises up from the dead!There were guards around the tomb of Jesus that witnessed this 1st hand-“& behold,there was a great earthquake,for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven & came & rolled back the stone & sat on it.His appearance was like lightening...& for fear of him the guards trembled & became like dead men.But the angel said to the women,”Do not b afraid,for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified.He is not here,for he has risen”...”ALL of the guards saw and heard this!Even though they ALL saw the same thing,some of them refused to allow the significance of what they witnessed change their minds&hearts about Jesus(Who he is,&His message)!N Matt28:11-15 we learn more about these men,”...some of the guards went n2 the city & told the chief priests ALL that had taken place.& when they had assembled w the elders &taken counsel,they gave a sufficient sum of money 2 the soldiers & said,”Tell people,’His disciples came by night & stole him away while we were asleep’.& if this comes to the governor’s ears,we will satisfy him & keep u out of trouble.”These guards took the money & did as they were directed!These men let their greed overwhelm the significance of what they just witnessed!Additionally,their perspective for life remained temporal!The Awesome things they just saw&heard were quickly overshadowed by money!They turned away ETERNAL TRUTHS because they more concerned about getting a bunch of money.The result is that their story(LIE)has spread to this day.”These men DID NOT let TRUTH impact/change them!& they not only succumbed to lies,but they spread lies/they lived a lie(a bunch of lies)!When we do not allow TRUTH to marinate n our lives,& change us,we will end up succumbing to lies just as this 2nd group of men did.& just as these men end up “living a bunch of lies”,so our lives will become the same...,& potentially lost for Eternity!Satan knows this,& this is why DECEPTION is one of the most effective weapons n Satan’s arsenal.Every lie begins w a deceptive thought of some kind.We must not just b aware of this,but we must take to heart 2Corinthians10:3-5,”For though we live n the world,we do not wage war as the world does.The weapons we fight w r not the weapons of the world.On the contrary,they have divine power to demolish strongholds.We demolish arguments & every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,& we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”If we are to defend our lives&who we are from deception,then we must seek to have “knowledge of God”,& then we must “take captive every thought” that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.If not,we will fall prey to the most effective weapon of the enemy of God-deception of all kinds!Anytime that any TRUTH comes under attack,it is Satan’s most effective weapon taking aim & plotting a strategy to ultimately bombard The TRUTH of WHO Jesus is,&His Gospel.Dear Lord,I know there are lies&deception in my life.Some more noticeable than others.Please root these out of my mind&heart,and replace them w Your Truths....may these change me  forever to b faithful to You.