Opaqueness in Life

 

Halo opaque,

essence surreal

Breathe whispers promise,

Hope lingers there.

 

Rising the sun,

Fresh newness of day,

Brings bright promise

Of hope on the way.

 

Whispers slip past,

Worries flee the light,

Heaven’s sweet nearness

Caress rested minds.

 

Promising rest,

Weary soul’s retreat,

Breathing with ease,

Bright promises meet.

 

Waking on new day,

Crescent fire in sky,

Joy comes with morning,

They exhale, we’re alive.

 

Stepping through new day,

Noon, evening, too,

Life’s great pattern

Constantly true.

 

Hindrances step back,

New Conq’rer trods in,

Savior’s great coming,

Sin and death to suspend.

 

Once forever always,

Walk through golden gates,

Always a victor

With the Ancient of days.

 

Life transformed, new,

Heart bursts with love,

Christ forever, always

Redeemer from above.

 

Justified, forgiven,

Never held at bay,

Walking with the Savior

Forever and always.

 

Halo opaque

Brings no fear of night,

Creator made them,

No harm comes from His might.

 

All His creation,

Good, He called them all,

Welcomes you in love,

Saves from man’s fall.

 

For this He made us,

Relationship so dear,

Living with the Savior

heart’s beat….

breath’s sigh….

my Savior and me.

 

Love One Another

 

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.” (Galatians 6:1-3)

Christian, when someone is found to have sinned, you who are living Spirit-directed and close to God should, with God’s given meekness and gentleness, strengthen and help that person walk close to God and do His will. Carry each other’s burdens as they are tempted and endure trials, just as Jesus helps you carry your burdens, so they are not too heavy and give encouragement to each other. This is one way to love God and neighbor. It fulfills the law of Christ, which Matthew recorded in Matthew 22:37-40.

In case you think you are important or better than another, rid yourself of that idea. Don’t deceive yourself. None of us is better than others. We each are tempted, sin, and carry heavy burdens. That’s why Jesus told us to love each other, so we receive help, encouragement, and love, and then grow closer to God and more like Jesus.

Notice the person who sees the sin of another is aware, confronts the other person in love, encourages, and walks with that person all in the power and will of God. Living in this way affects the mind, heart, body, and spirit of a person. It grows both the helper and the recipient in their faith and walk with God. One should never note a person’s sin and broadcast it, but should invest in that person by heart, word, and action through the Holy Spirit.

Never Alone

 

Little children, I (Jesus) am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: Where I am going, you cannot come. (John 13:33, BSB)

If we read only this verse from the passage in John, how would we feel? I would experience exclusion or grief. I would have no purpose in life. My reason for living would be gone. The power in life would cease. The world would devolve into chaos. Anarchy would occur. People would search for God aimlessly, with no purpose.

Jesus said this to fishermen, a tax collector, a thief, a doubter, and his closest of friends—Peter, John, and James. How would it impact you if your friend, teacher, mentor, and brother expressed he would not see or spend time with you anymore?

These men would not see Jesus in the immediate future. Jesus had planned to put their relationship on the ultimate level. He was not ending his relationship with them, but changing it. Jesus was changing it to be an everlasting relationship.

“To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

Are you seeking God? He said you will find Him if you seek for Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Jesus said if you seek me, you will find me (Matthew 7:7).

Yes, Jesus went away, but then he returned after his resurrection from death. He never leaves us. Even when Jesus ascended to heaven, he did not utterly and permanently leave. He put his Holy Spirit within each believer and gave us the promise of his return.

At that time, Jesus was going to endure torture, crucifixion, and death. It surpassed even that. Death did not end his story. He arose from death in the tomb and returned to life. Nobody could go there and do that. Jesus made promises to always be with us, never leaving or forsaking humanity.

Where do you stand? Do you sense God has forsaken you to struggle through life? Are you burdened by sins and sense a significant weight on your heart and spirit? Do you sense anything except for loneliness? The glorious victory and truth are we are never alone. Jesus is as close as our next breath, our next heartbeat, or our next thought. Breathe out saying YAH—breathe in saying WEH. His name means I AM.

God is always. He has always been present, before and during time. And there never will be a time when you are alone. You are not alone. Breathe again and call him again. He is waiting for you. Seek him. All who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved and never be alone (Romans 10:13).

Waiting Empowered

 

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. (Ephesians 6:16, NLT)

In the verses before Ephesians 6:16, Paul wrote about other pieces of the armor of God. He taught the Ephesians to don the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and the shoes of peace. These are all pieces of defensive armor. To protect the soldier of God from attack. In verse sixteen, Paul taught these believers to hold up the shield of faith so they can block the arrows of the devil. He continued with other verses that included the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and prayer.

Before these five verses, Paul began by saying where the armor came from, whose might empower the armor, and who would cause Christians to need armor. God knew in advance armor was a necessity. He knew human-made armor would be powerless to engage with spiritual forces. Because of that, God gives to every Christian the armor that carries the strength He gives. For this reason, Paul wrote in verses ten and eleven, “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (NLT).

God knew people's limitations in fighting the spiritual realm of evil. Everyone falls to Satan's temptations at least once in life. Because Christians are to be messengers of the gospel, Satan wants to stop them more than he wants to stop non-Christians. This means that Satan attacks Christians more than he attacks non-Christians. God knows the schemes of Satan. He knows the methods of attack Satan will hurl at His children, and because of that, God gives the armor His children need to combat Satan and his demons. He gives armor that will make His children victorious over Satan’s plans. Paul, convinced of this truth of God, testified of it in Romans 8:38-39. He knew firsthand of God’s love and declared nothing can separate us from God’s love, then gave a list of the things, events, and beings over which God is almighty—death, life, angels, demons, fears, worries, powers of hell, false gods, and anything in all creation.

Since God’s love is so great and powerful, nothing can stand against and defeat us. God made that possible by giving us armor by which to combat Satan’s evil forces. This armor is God’s; He made it, and He gives it. All that comes from God is powerful and good. Yet, we must actively receive it—actively take it and wear it.

A question arises, though, when we consider Christians’ lives. Why do we keep hearing of their sins and downfall? The answer is that no Christian is perfect. They cannot be because they are not God. Only God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is perfect. But Christians are being perfected daily by Christ as they stay in daily communion (relationship) with God. Still, they fall to temptation. For this reason, God gives believers armor. Remember, the armor comes from Him, and, with it, believers can defeat the schemes of Satan. Since God gives Christians this undefeatable armor, why do they still sin? The answer is straightforward: Since God is invincible, the Christians who sinned did not take the armor God offers to each believer, put it on, and use it. These Christians fought Satan with their own strength. For example, people can receive a car but not get in and drive it. God gives believers armor, but until they put it on intentionally by praying over it and onto themselves each day, they stand as prey to Satan’s schemes. King Saul’s life is an example of this.

When Samuel the prophet and priest of God grew old, the Israelites feared they would have no leader upon his death. They asked Samuel to give them a king to judge them so they can be like the other nations (1 Samuel 8:1-5). In 1 Samuel 10:1, Samuel, by God’s instruction, anointed Saul as king of Israel, then gave him instructions on what would happen and what he was to do. He told Saul that he would meet two men as he passed Rachel’s tomb, meet three men at the oak of Tabor who would give him two loaves of bread, then go to Gibeah of God, meet prophets, and receive the Spirit of the LORD, by whom he would prophesy. From the time the Spirit of the LORD came upon Saul, Samuel said he would be a different person (1 Samuel 10:2-6, 10-13). After receiving the Spirit and prophesying, Samuel told Saul he would know God is with him (vs. 7). From Gibeah, Saul would go to Gilgal and wait for seven days for Samuel to arrive (vs. 8). God chose Saul, anointed him with oil by Samuel, His prophet, and anointed him by the Holy Spirit to lead the people of Israel. The signs proved God's choice of Saul as leader to himself and the Israelites.

Knowing that, why did Saul sin and fall away from God? It happened fast. Saul had the Spirit of God within him. That means he had the armor of God extended to him because God’s Spirit was within him. Yet Saul chose to fight his first temptation, that of receiving the glory and goodwill of his people, by disobeying God’s will as He stated through Samuel. He stole the glory that was due to God by not waiting for Samuel to sacrifice animals on the altar. In 1 Samuel 13, Saul, with his warriors, marched to fight the Philistines. His men feared the Philistines because they had a “mighty army of 3000 chariots and 6000 charioteers and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore” (1 Samuel 13:5). The Israelite soldiers tried to hide anywhere they could find, including large cisterns. Some soldiers crossed the Jordan River to get away from the Philistines. Overwhelmed by fear, the Israelite warriors were unwilling to let Saul wait for the full seven days as instructed by Samuel, so they could burn sacrifices to God and seek His guidance and blessings for the impending battle. Saul decided he would offer the sacrifices to God since Samuel did not arrive before the end of the seventh day, the amount of time Samuel instructed Saul to wait in chapter ten. Samuel arrived in Gilgal just as Saul was finishing offering the sacrifices (1 Samuel 13:10). His reaction to seeing that Saul had acted beyond his authority from God—by acting as a priest—was to say with righteous indignation, “What is this you have done?” (vs. 11) Samuel continued in verses thirteen and fourteen, “How foolish! You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end.”

What happened? Why did Saul disobey God’s instructions through Samuel, God’s prophet? Saul succumbed to his soldiers’ pressure, wanting to be like other kings. He trembled at the idea of losing their trust and loyalty. Saul's focus was on people, not God. He took his eyes off God and focused on his situation. God punished Saul by removing the kingdom from him. He also removed His Spirit from Saul and left a distressing spirit in him (1 Samuel 16:14-15). The first sin of Saul’s, that of disobeying God and taking His glory, led quickly to other sins. He decided not to kill all the Amalekites and their livestock (1 Samuel 15:1-19). Saul walked to Carmel after defeating the Amalekites to set up a monument to himself (1 Samuel 15:12). The Lord outright rejected Saul and had Samuel declare it in 1 Samuel 15:23. When the Lord rejected Saul, He sent Samuel to anoint a man after His own heart, David, in 1 Samuel 16. In this same chapter, the writer of 1 Samuel tells us when the Spirit of the Lord left Saul, a tormenting spirit filled him with depression and fear. A void of God’s Spirit in a person leaves a vacancy for an evil spirit to enter that person. In summary, Saul disobeyed God by taking on the role of priest. God anoints and prepares men to be His priests. He anointed Saul as king, not as a priest. Saul stole God’s glory. He set up a monument to himself because of his pride and allowed the Israelites to give him praise instead of directing the praise to God. For this, God rejected Saul and took His Spirit from Saul. The latter led to a tormenting spirit living in Saul.

Saul was impatient. He received the Spirit of God because of God’s choosing him. He did not use the power and guidance God offered through the Spirit by waiting for guidance and obeying God. Consider Ephesians 6 and the armor of God. For Christians, God’s power and guidance are available to each person. God offers it to each of His children. Christians can choose to receive and use it or not. When believers accept each piece of armor with prayer and then walk with the knowledge, power, and wisdom of God imparted by His truth, righteousness, and salvation, then they can battle Satan and evil spirits. God does not just save people and abandon them to fight alone in life. He wants to journey with each believer and to guide, teach, protect, encourage, and empower them to live life victoriously. Jesus died to give people who believe in Him victory over more than death. Christians can have victory over sin, too.

Consider now, what is your sin today? What was your sin yesterday, this week, this month, this year? Did you live with the power God gives and with His armor received and on you?

To be transparent, one of my recent sins was about to be impatience. Despite not hearing from God, I wanted to make a decision after praying for three days. I desired to accept an opportunity without God’s confirmation. Fortunately, I pray and read my Bible daily. One day, God aimed at my heart with this reminder from Saul’s life. God asked me, “Are you going to be patient or be like Saul?” Ouch! Now, I wait and keep praying. I still ask God want He wants me to do about this opportunity. He reminds me that He does not have to make a quick decision, even though I experience internal pressure to make it. Saul sensed a similar pressure from his soldiers about the choice between fighting the Philistines or running away. God knows what is best for me and for His ultimate plan. He knows what is best for you, too.

Praying for days and not getting an immediate answer is hard. God’s non-answer could mean He is saying, “No,” or “Not yet.” The hard part for me is the "Not yet". I am impatient at times. Will I be like Saul or wait? I am choosing to wait.

Will you wait on God or be like Saul? God is asking you.

Reflection and Reaction

 

“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

— John 15:3

 

Why would Jesus change metaphors here? First, He speaks about pruning then cleaning then returns to the vine image. 

 

In this passage, pruning the vine means removing the portions that aren’t producing fruit either because it’s dying because it’s not connected to its original source or because that portion of the vine (the branch) is producing bitter fruit not sweet. 

 

Jesus, when He said, “You are already clean,” means two things and they are both the same. The first obvious sense of the metaphor is that He meant, “Because of your faith in Me, you are cleansed from your sins.” That is the easy, obvious understanding. Each Gospel writer uses this analogy. And here, Jesus still means that, but why mix the metaphors?

 

So why did Jesus seem to mix His metaphors in this passage. The vine is pruned to remove that which isn’t producing or growing like the vine. When Jesus used the “clean” analogy, He referred to the same process of salvation. Just as removing the dead, non-producing, or bitter producing branches removes any negative admixture to the produce, cleansing a person through salvation removes any admixture in a person of his/her old way of life. That old way of living would taint the spiritual fruit of his/her life from his/her past bitter, sinful way of living. It would cause the fruit of the person’s new saved life not to reflect the sweetness of Jesus. 

 

The pruning and cleansing metaphors both were very understandable to the people of Jesus’ time. The people could relate, reflect, and then react to Jesus’ message because it made sense to their first century Middle eastern lives. Pruning and cleansing are about removing from the believer any admixture from their old life that would taint, make bitter, or dirty his/her new life, which should show only the fruits that come from living a Christlike life indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

 

Does your life reflect only Jesus? Are there shoots or fruit in your life that are bitter, tainted, or dead that don’t produce sweet and pure fruit that reflect the new life Jesus gave you? Of what do you need to confess to God and repent? Each of us have shoots and fruit that need pruning because we each sin. You are not alone.

Get Closer

 

 

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

— Matthew 7:3

 

A speck is just a small particle of something, like chaff, straw, or a splinter. In this parable, it’s a sin but not a flagrant rebellion upon which other sins and one’s life has been founded upon.

 

Often, our sins become a foundation for a way of life we begin to follow or make our life be centered around. It’s not a way of life that glorifies God. It’s self-centered. This way of living becomes quite noticeable to other people. They begin to associate the sinner as the one who does that action, whatever the sin is. Their beam is big and very obvious.

 

Often, a person will find a sin in someone  else so that the focus of other people is on that person instead of him or herself, the beam-blinded sinner. They forget that by pointing their finger at the speck-obstructed person that four fingers point back to themselves. 

 

God’s focus never moves away to another by our pointing fingers. He sees us and knows us. God knows our hearts and our sins. He experiences the pain of our beams and specks. 

 

Confessing of our sins to God and repenting of them provides the pivot point for Him to remove each of these elements of sin. God’s removing the beam and speck only at confession doesn’t mean He cannot remove it before then. It means we’ve gotten closer to Him by seeking Him with our whole being and asking Him to remove our sins by confession and repentance. We’ve returned to the place where we choose Jesus to be our foundation, not the beam.

Freedom

 

“My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love.”

— Galatians 5:13 (CEV)

 

This Bible translation seems closest to the meaning of the most often used word, “opportunity”. Other Bible translations say don’t use your freedom as an opportunity, occasion, or incentive to indulge in/satisfy your flesh.

 

After looking at the Greek word Paul used in this verse, it seems the verse should read like this. “Don’t use your freedom from slavery to sin, which is gained through believing in and being saved by Christ, as a reason or excuse to indulge your sinful human desires. Instead use your sacrificially bought freedom as the opportunity to serve each other.” 

 

The freedom about which Paul wrote is freedom from our past sins that held us powerless against future temptation and condemned us to eternal separation from God. This freedom, bought through Jesus’ sinless sacrifice on the cross, gives anyone who believes in Him the power of His Holy Spirit, who dwells in each believer, to overcome the temptation and not to sin. This freedom comes from the power of God, who lives in us through the Holy Spirit. 

 

We have the power, if we accept it from the Spirit, not to sin (indulge our human desires) and  only care for our wants. Instead, we can care for other people. When we indulge our human desires and sin, we turn our back on God, and that often means we’ve harmed at least one person overtly and/or covertly. Sinning hurts God, other people, and, often, oneself.

 

Instead of relying on our own power and then sinning, rely on the Spirit’s power, avoid sin and love other people. By doing this, you love God, too.

Absolute Trust

“Still I am certain to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

— Psalms 27:13

 

Do you firmly trust you will see God’s goodness in heaven? That’s what David alluded to in verse thirteen. Yes, he had faith God would protect and keep him alive. David also firmly believed he’d experience God’s goodness by His keeping him from hell. David alluded to his belief in God’s promises that he would see God in heaven.

 

Do you have faith like David? Do you know for certain—with absolute trust—that you will be there? 

 

Sins (wrongdoings) keep people from being good enough to enter heaven and God’s presence. Jesus, God’s holy Son, who has never sinned, died a sinner’s death and was separated three days from His Father until His resurrection. He did this so whoever believes in Him will have their sins wiped away from their name and that they will be righteous (John 3:16). Only when a person believes in Jesus and is made righteous by Him can that person enter heaven to live with God forever. 

 

Do you have faith like David? Will you see God’s goodness in the land of the living—eternal life with God?

Freedom and Humility

 “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

— Galatians 5:13

 

Paul wrote, “You, who have become my brothers and sisters because of your believing faith in Jesus, were called to be free” (paraphrase). God called you to Himself and removed the shackles of your old, sinful nature so you were not bound to be powerless against temptation and evil forces. He made you free by His power through Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself on the cross to pay the judgment price for your sins. You are free! You have God’s power available to you now to defeat temptation and evil by walking in step with the Holy Spirit who lives in you. 

 

Since God called you to freedom and has freed you, don’t entangle yourself with your old desires and sins. Your freedom gives you the right and ability to have and live the best life—the perfect life God created you for. (God only gives good gifts)

 

What does that best life include? It includes the penultimate example of what Jesus showed you. Just as Jesus loves you and loved people while on earth (all who were/are not biologically His family), you, too, serve and humbly love others. For Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 and Galatians 5:14)” By doing this, you obey God and His commandments and show your love for Him with your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37). Your serving is a willing submission (humility) of your right to yourself because of your love for God by obeying Him eternally. 

 

Today, will you use the freedom you received from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to entangle yourself with your old desires? Or, will you use your freedom to humbly and gratefully love God by humbly serving your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Prepare

 

Introduction

In the study on Mark 1:1-3, Mark told the Roman Christians about the prophecies by Jewish prophets, Isaiah and Malachi, of a message sent from Yahweh God about a Messiah He would send to the earth. He explained what this Messiah meant for them and for all people. Mark said each person must prepare the way of the Lord in their lives. They must prepare to see Him, repent, and confess, and accept Him as the Savior of their souls from sin and an eternal death separated from God. Mark referred to the one about whom God called to prepare the way for the Messiah to begin His ministries on earth. This study will lead the readers of Mark 1:4-8 to understand who God chose as the messenger “preparing the way of the Lord” (Mark 1:3).

Preparer of the Way

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:4 [NASB])

Mark began his gospel writing about Old Testament prophecies. He then went linearly to the next step toward introducing the good news by showing the prophecy’s fulfillment. The first step of that fulfillment was introducing the prophesied “preparer of the way.” John the Baptist was the first man who preached to people about preparing the way. He was the forerunner to Jesus’ ministry of salvation and reconciliation. A forerunner is an announcer. He is the one who goes before the one about whom he/she speaks. Other words for a forerunner are messenger and herald. Each of these describes the person who enters a city, town, or village before the one whom he/she announces. The one whom the herald goes before is a dignitary or person who comes with an important message or important work to do. Think of a king of bygone days. When he traveled, he sent a messenger in advance telling the village or town he was soon to be with them in their town or village. A messenger/herald/forerunner prepares the way for a person of great stature. Mark told the readers/hearers of this gospel John the Baptist was the preparer of the way. John was the one who would go before the Messiah, telling people to get right with God and be ready, for the Messiah is coming imminently.

Who was John the Baptist? What made him important enough to be the herald of the Messiah? John’s parents were Elizabeth and Zechariah, both of whom were from the tribe of Levi, descendants of Aaron. The tribe of Levi was the tribe from whom the priests came. Elizabeth and Zechariah were in their old age when God informed them they would have a son. Zechariah was in the temple and did not consider it possible, so the angel of the Lord told him he would not speak until his son was born (Luke 1:9-17). This reminds us of another couple from Israelite forefathers to whom God gave a promise. Abraham and Sarah had no children and in their old age, God promised Abraham more descendants than all the stars of the sky or sand of the seas. He fulfilled that promise beginning with Isaac’s birth (Genesis 12:1-4 & 21:5). Elizabeth was the cousin of Mary, Jesus’ mother. That means John and Jesus were cousins. Like Jesus, angels proclaimed John’s birth. John grew up in the wilderness (Luke 1:80). His public ministry came after almost 400 years of silence from prophets. John was called the Baptizer because of his practice of baptizing people. When people repented of their sins, he baptized them. John was no great king, seer, or leader of the people. He did not live as most people did. Still, God used him to be the preparer of the way for the Messiah.

What else did Mark say about John in his gospel? In verse four, he said John appeared on the public stage when God gave him a word to proclaim. He lived and ministered in the Judean wilderness in the lower Jordan River valley, just north of the Dead Sea. John preached the word God gave to him to say. He baptized by submerging a person under the water. He wore clothes made of camel’s hair and a belt made from animal skin (Mark 1:6). John ate locusts and wild honey (Mark 1:6). He was no one special in the eyes of man. To God, he was His child and servant, willing to do as He commanded.

What did God tell John to preach/proclaim? Verse four tells readers/hearers that he preached a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Baptism was commonly used by Jews when a person from outside the faith converted to Judaism. It was not an unusual act for the Jews. John used it for another reason. He used it to symbolize a person’s cleansing of sins when he/she confessed and repented of them. Sin comes from the Greek word hamartia. It means missing the mark. When one missed the mark in target practice on an archery or shooting range, it means the person did not do what was required to be perfect. The same occurs in life when you sin. You strive to do and be good, but you can never do or be good all the time. You are human with freewill. The Jewish religion became bounded by many manmade laws that each Jew must keep. By doing this, they could be in God’s presence at the temple and could enter heaven, hopefully, when they died. Yet, each Jew knew he/she was not holy. He/she was unclean daily. Because of this, God told them to offer a sacrifice for their sins each morning and night. John proclaimed to the Jews a new way to repent. Instead of using an animal as a scapegoat for their sins, the Jews could offer themselves directly for cleansing. John told them if they sincerely repented of their sins, they could be baptized for forgiveness of their sins. The Jewish religious laws never taught a permanent forgiveness of sins. The religious leaders would have spoken against what John preached. John, though, was “the preparer of the way.” He helped the people prepare their hearts to see, listen about, and believe in Jesus and what He taught. Confession and repentance are part of being a Christian. Jesus brought what only He could give for salvation, the sufficient sacrifice.

Mark noted for his readers/hearers that “all the country of Judea was going out to him (John the Baptist) and all the people of Jerusalem, and they were being baptized by Him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:5 [NASB]) John did what God called him to do. God told him to prepare the way. He told the people about the Messiah who was coming. John preached about repenting of sins and being baptized for repentance, too. Baptism for salvation is what Jesus gives to everyone who believes. This baptism is symbolized in two parts. The going down under the water symbolizes a person dying to him or herself. A person’s rising up out of the water means becoming a man/woman born anew by Jesus. The baptism John performed symbolized a person’s sincere repentance of sin. Repentance prepared a person’s heart for listening to and accepting the salvation Jesus taught about and gave through His sinless life, death, and resurrection.

In Mark 1:7, John preached One mightier than him would come after him. He said he was unworthy to serve Him by untying the straps on His sandals. The most menial work a servant could do, even John was not good enough to do this for the Messiah. Mark used the Greek word ischuros in this verse. This word means a power/might that comes from God and is greater than what a human has. John recognized his humanity and the divinity of the One who would come after him by using this word, “mightier.” He prepared the way for the people to hear about the One whom God would send to them, the Messiah about whom the prophets proclaimed. This Messiah, John realized and proclaimed, is greater in stature, being, and might than him. He, a man to whom the people of Judea flocked and held in esteem, could not be His servant because he was too low in stature.

John prepared the way of the Lord with his words and ministry. He helped the people prepare their hearts and minds to hear about the salvation God gives through Jesus. John helped them prepare to pay attention to the man all knew came from a tiny village called Bethlehem because He came to be the greatest of all. He explained in more detail how great this Messiah would be. John told his listeners in Mark 1:8, “I baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” He said the Messiah sent from God can save people from their sins, but he himself could not save them or empower them not to sin again. Only Jesus, the Son of God, could do this.. John’s baptism was for the forgiveness of sins. It was just a symbol. He knew people needed a sacrifice that was lasting to make them righteous. Cleansing from unrighteousness means cleansing a person eternally from sins and the guilt of their sins. Eternal righteousness only comes from God. Nothing a person could do would ever clean himself/herself from sins and guilt. The temple sacrifices did not give an eternal cleansing and make a person eternally righteous. For this reason, Mark told his readers/hearers that John said, “I baptize with water. He will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” Water just makes the outside of a person clean; it does not touch the inner person-the heart. All actions and words of a person come from the inner disposition of that person. To cleanse and change the heart requires something far beyond what humanity can do. God knows the heart of a person and only He can reach the heart. His Spirit enters a person when he/she confesses and repents of his/her sins and trusts in Jesus Christ as his/her Savior from sins. From that point, the Spirit of God lives in the person giving direction for the right way to live, think, and be. Only the baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes at the point of profession of faith, as Mark wrote, gives a person salvation from sins, guilt, and eternal death. The recounting of John’s proclamation and baptism for repentance disclosed to the readers/hearers of Mark’s Gospel that John’s baptism was nothing compared to the baptism Jesus offers. John was unworthy to untie the Messiah’s sandal, just like his baptism was not good enough to give permanent removal of sins and give salvation.

Application

The Jews considered their actions would be good enough for God to forgive them of their sins and make them righteous. This did not keep them in a close relationship with God, though. They very often lived contrary to God’s way. They sinned and ran away from God like we all do at points in our lives. God prepared a way for each person to receive salvation. He planned this from before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:17-21). God provided judges, priests, and prophets to continue to call the Israelites to stay in a close relationship with Him. He told the Israelites, when He gave them the Promised Land, that they were to be a light to the nations so that all nations would come to know Him as their God (Isaiah 49:6). Each of these people were to be the messengers of God, though the Israelites, as a nation, did not follow God consistently. After four hundred years of silence, God called a man, John, about whom His prophets foretold was to proclaim about the One whom God would send. John was God’s first New Testament messenger. He told John to proclaim, “prepare the way of the Lord.”

Today, we who are believers in Jesus the Messiah are God’s messengers. He commands us to tell people to prepare the way of the Lord in their own lives and then to tell more people. Jesus commissioned His disciples by saying,

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. God, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20 [NASB])

For people to prepare the way, they must be told about Jesus, their sin, and their inability to be good enough to earn righteousness and eternal life with God. For this reason, God sends messengers to herald Jesus’ arrival and declare, “Behold.” Added to hearing the good news of Jesus, people need to prepare to receive the salvation God offers. They do this by confessing and repenting of their sins. Unconfessed sins are like bricks stacked on top of one another, creating a wall between us and God. The more we sin, the easier it is to sin. This wall makes it harder for us to want to turn to God. Preparing the way of the Lord is confessing and repenting, as John taught. It is listening to the message of good news about God’s salvation offered to everyone who trusts in Jesus. Preparing the way of the Lord is affirming Jesus is God’s Son and accepting the salvation He provides. It then must involve preparing the way by proclaiming about the salvation Jesus gives. He gives it through His life, death, and resurrection so other people will listen to, accept, and experience salvation for themselves.

This reflects the “now and not yet” of God’s good news of salvation. We are saved at a point in time and are being saved from our sins every day until the day we arrive in heaven with God. At that time, Jesus perfects us in His image. He makes us complete; our salvation is complete because we will sin no more. The point of our salvation reflects a “now and not yet” scenario in that God’s salvation plan of humanity is not complete until His kingdom comes in its fullness. While we are alive on earth as His children, we become His messengers of His good news of salvation for each person. We become like Isaiah, Malachi, John, the disciples, and other Jesus-followers since Jesus’ arrival on earth. We are God’s messengers who prepare the way of the Lord by telling others about Jesus and the salvation He gives to each person who trusts in Him. As Jesus-followers, the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 is our command from Jesus.

As we study these verses, we should ask ourselves questions. 

1     Do you realize you are a sinner?

2.     Do you recognize nothing you do is good enough to remove the judgment of your sins and the guilt?

3.     Have you recognized Jesus is God’s Son, and that He died to save you from the penalty of your sins?

4.     Have you professed your faith in Jesus and confessed and repented your sins to Him?

5.     If you are a Christian, are you “preparing the way of the Lord” by living as God’s messenger, telling people about Jesus?

6.     Does your life point toward Jesus so that people will see your works and heed your words, then seek Jesus to be their Savior?

7.     Do your words and actions seek attention for yourself? Do they point to Jesus so other people will come to know Him as their Savior instead of admiring you as great, strong, smart, and wise?

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36 [NASB])

Are you living life as a “preparer” called by God?

Or are you living as a ”hider” trying to avoid Him?

Escape

 

Therefore, let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind.

God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 [NASB])

If you have ever read a Bible, listened to one being read, or heard people quote Scriptures, you have probably heard this verse or something akin to it. Most often, people will use part of it. What they say is, “God will not allow you to be tempted more than you can handle.” There is much more to these two verses Paul wrote than God’s benevolence to a person. These two verses speak almost exclusively about God.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in south-central Greece. The body of Christ, the church, there was experiencing problems within it. (Note: All churches will experience difficulties, temptations, and sin at least once.) Paul wrote to these Christians about the factions and divisions in the church caused by people falling to temptation. He wrote to tell them each member of the church must stand strong in their faith in Jesus to be a unified body of Christ that serves the members and the neighbors outside the church. A Christian’s freedom through Jesus Christ does not mean they are free to sin. Potentially, that would cause a brother or sister in faith to stumble because of his or her example.

To what were the temptations did the Corinthian Christians fall? Lust and craving what they did not have and but wanted. They were discontent with God and seeking only Him. The Corinthian Christians allowed these things and activities they desired to be their gods. These Christians worshiped false gods. Paul said the Corinthian believers wanted to gratify their evil desires and live immorally. By doing this, they caused factions and division in church and caused other believers to falter in the growth of their faith.

Next, Paul reminded these believers about the Israelites, God’s chosen people, and how they had a covenant with God through Moses. Repeatedly, the Israelites broke their covenant with God and sinned against Him. Paul helped the people recall what happened to the Israelites when they sinned. This, hopefully, would cause reflection amongst the Corinthian Christians and influence them to become mature followers of Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthians because he cared for them. He did not want them to fall to temptation, but to stay in a growing faith-relationship with God.

With verses twelve and thirteen, Paul explained how Christians could avoid the snare of temptation, not be seduced to sin. In the New Living Translation of the Bible, Paul’s words in verse twelve say, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful (take action) not to fall.” Just when a Christian thinks he or she has conquered his or her temptations and cannot be tempted again, watch out because one is already in front of you. No one is outside the sphere of temptation. Paul’s word standing comes from the Greek word meaning being steadfast in mind and faith. It involves the mind, heart, and spirit. Indirectly, what Paul said involves action, too. Strong faith in and from God will keep Christians from acting out their desires that He does not approve. Paul meant, do not stop guarding yourself against Satan’s attacks. Put on the armor of God always. No person is strong every minute of his or her life. If that was the case, then Jesus would have had no reason to come to earth and die sinless of a sinner’s death. He died to take our place, so we would not have to die for the judgment of our sins. So, stand strong in your mind and faith and be careful not to fall. Consider the possibility of falling to temptation and being on guard, consider, and take heed (act) to avoid sinning. Living the life of a Christian in a fallen world is like being in a battle.

Paul continued with verse thirteen by telling the Corinthians how to avoid falling to temptation. He began by writing, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.” Remember, in verse twelve, Paul mentioned one must be steadfast in faith and mind and act, so he or she does not fall to temptations. Fight temptations with your whole being–heart, soul, mind, and strength (body). With verse thirteen, Paul reminded them no temptations any Christian faces are different from what other people experience. Each Corinthian Christian (and us) faced what the other did, wallowing in pity and being the lord of their lives, or allowing God to be the only God of their lives. None of us is beyond being tempted by Satan. All people have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Jesus came for this reason. He paid the penalty for each person’s sins by dying a criminal’s death, though He had not sinned. Jesus did not leave believers defenseless against temptation. He gave His Holy Spirit upon their belief in Him. Other Christians have faced the same temptation the Corinthians Christians faced and emerged victorious; therefore, each believer can overcome temptations. The Corinthian Christians were not defenseless; no one is. Take heart by remembering the people who walked through and defeated this same temptation. Remember, the ones who went before us, like the Israelites, who fell to temptations, reaped their reward of disciplining and judgment from God.

Even more than recognizing we must be strong and have faith, in both of which falter, we must recognize God and not wallow in self-pity. Paul wrote about God in verse thirteen. He said, “God is faithful.” In the middle of these two verses, Paul reminded the Christians of the most important part of fighting temptations. God is unlike humans who fail in their promises. He always keeps his promises. He abides by them. God’s faithfulness is a fundamental part of His being. He cannot lie or fail. What God says He will do will be done. Everything He promised in the past still holds true. He promised He would be found if we sought Him with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:13). God will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8 & Hebrews 13:5). Jesus said to His disciples He was going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house (John 14:2). The Bible is filled with God’s promises to His people and to those who earnestly seek Him. God is always faithful to His children. Faithfulness is inherently part of God. Each believer must hold on to that truth as they battle temptation. They do not fight alone or with failing strength. God gives faith to believe in Him, that He will lead him or her to victory over that temptation.

The third statement Paul wrote in verse thirteen is, “He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.” (NLT) God is faithful and God is powerful. Omnipotence is part of who God is. Only He holds the universe in its correct alignment, so cataclysm does not occur and destroy all life. No person is more powerful than God. When fighting Satan’s forces as they strike out against you, a person needs superlative power, power beyond all imagining. The word power comes from the Greek word dunamis, from which the English word “dynamite gets its origin. Besides knowing this, we must recognize Paul did not tell the Corinthian Christians they will fight the temptations alone. God is with the person and will not allow it to be greater than the person can withstand. God knows that each temptation and trial grows a person stronger in their faith and trust in Him. He knows when it will be more than the person can stand up against because the person’s Christian growth has not grown that far. God also knows when a person needs to grow more and allows stretching through trials and temptations. In this verse, remember, God is and has the power (dunamis) to help a Christian get through temptations and to stop it completely, so His child is not overwhelmed. Note that God’s hand in all this. He is faithful. He has and gives His power. God controls how long a temptation/trial will last. Defeating temptation is all about being united with God in heart, mind, body, and soul.

The fourth and final part of verse thirteen states Paul told the Corinthians Christians, “When you are tempted, He (God) will show you a way out so that you can endure.” So, understand well, God won’t let a temptation go longer than you can stand with faith in Him and His power. He will show/give you a way out. He knows the map of the temptation and your desires and leads you, with His light, to green pastures (Psalm 23). Paul began this teaching and encouraging passage by telling the Christians to be careful and make sure they are standing strong against temptations. Look, see, and discern you face temptations and without God, you will not prevail. At the end of verse thirteen, Paul said, “When you are tempted, God will show you the way out and carry you away safely.”

Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians they will still face temptations like they did when they were not believers in Jesus. So, do not be surprised. Paul did not end with that fatalistic thought. He said God is faithful. He is faithful to His children and His promises. Paul continued by reminding the believers God is all-powerful. He can defeat the temptations Satan throws at them. God knows how far a Christian has grown spiritually and has the power to end the temptation at a specific point. The LORD is almighty and gives the strength His people need for the temptation/trial when they ask Him. Inherently, God is faithful, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and almighty. He knows what each person faces at any moment in time and desires to help him or her. Christians must do their part, too. Paul mentioned only two things Christians must do. He said believers must be steadfast in mind and spirit (vs. 12 a) and “be careful not to fall.” Christians must remember He is always with them, giving them His power and strength, and making a way for them to greener pastures (Psalm 23).

Being careful not to fall requires action. Believers in Jesus must act on the faith and trust they have in God. They act based on who God is, His promises, and what He has done and can do; He can do everything. The faith and actions of Christians are not baseless. Christians’ lack of faith can cause harm to themselves and their relationships with family, friends, God, and believers in the body of Christ. Paul addressed the Corinthians Christians because of their sins of living like non-Christians: visiting temple prostitutes, worshiping idols, cheating people out of money. In essence, they made their desires into their gods and did not follow the LORD God. Be aware when you sin, you cause disunity in the church, just as the Corinthian church experienced. You cause other believers to stumble. And you allow yourself to be led astray by Satan. When Christians live by God’s power against temptation, they gain more faith, grow more like Jesus, grow closer in relationship with God, grow stronger relationships with other people, strengthen the church to follow God more diligently, and bring God glory 1 Corinthians 10:31b).

Where do you stand in your relationship with God? Are you fighting temptations in your own weak strength and power? Or are you calling on almighty God to fight with you, give you faith, and show the way out of that situation. From this, your relationship with Him will grow and be an example of His faithfulness to someone who watched you conquer that temptation. Do not stop praying for strength to combat temptations. They will confront you every day.

 Whether then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 [NABS])

God is faithful, all-powerful (omnipotent), almighty, all-knowing (omniscient), and always-present (omnipresent). You face and endure nothing without His knowing, His light, His power, and His strength because He is always faithful to His promises to His children. Going through trials and temptations can be all about God or all about ourselves. You choose and that choice decides the outcome of the temptation. What you choose can and will affect other believers, your neighbors, and the church.

 

The Cup

 

“And He (Jesus) was saying, ‘Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me, yet not what I will, but what You will.’” (Mark 14:36 [NASB])

 Jesus approached His final Passover. He and His disciples walked to Jerusalem to take part in the festivities and remembrances that week. The Jews recalled the times when I AM (Yahweh God) provided food for them in the wilderness. They remembered when the Spirit of God went from home to home and from one animal stall to another, killing the first-born of each species. Moses told the Jews to put the blood of a sacrificial lamb on their door frame to protect them from God’s judgment. The Spirit bypassed obedient Hebrews when exacting God’s vengeance against Egypt. During that night the Jews prepared for the journey they would begin the next day. They packed their belongings and asked their Egyptian neighbors for their gold, silver, and other assets. During this night, they made unleavened bread for the journey. Jesus traveled to Jerusalem like obedient Jews did to celebrate the Passover and the exodus from Egypt.

 Jesus and His disciples obediently journeyed to Jerusalem to thank God. They prepared and ate a meal together. Jesus knew, though His disciples did not understand fully, that His time had come. Soon He would be arrested and handed over to the Jewish religious leaders and Roman leaders. The purpose for His life on earth had arrived. The purpose for Jesus’ birth as a man was to provide a once-for-all perfect sacrifice for humanity’s sins. For this reason, He purposefully walked to Jerusalem.

 After Jesus celebrated the Passover and began giving its new meaning of the “Lord’s Supper,” He and His disciples walked to the Mount of Olives, where they often prayed and He taught them. During this time, Judas Iscariot prepared to betray Jesus. He took thirty pieces of silver from the Jewish religious leaders and sought a time to betray Jesus. Jesus knew who would betray Him. He realized, because He is 100% divine, He would be given into the hands of men who would crucify Him. The Son, like the Father, knows all things. That He knew His disciple would betray Him weighed heavily on His heart. As the Son of Man (100% God and 100% man), Jesus understood He would experience the pain of being nailed to a cross, having His side pierced by a spear, and gasping for breath. As a man, Jesus probably felt trepidation and needed strength to finish His purpose on earth. His human mind and heart possibly dreaded what He understood must be done. This gives new depth of meaning to John 3:16. God (Father, Son, and Spirit) loves us so much that He willingly sent His Son to earth in the form of a man to die the death of judgment for our each of our sins. Jesus, God with us, came to us and for us, willingly and knowingly living on earth as a man to die a slow death of asphyxiation for each person. He did this so whoever believes in Him as the Son of God, the Messiah, will have eternal life and forgiveness of sins.

 Jesus said in Mark 14, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me, yet not what I will, but what You will.” Jesus called out, “Daddy!” That speaks of a close relationship with the Father. He then states fact; God is Sovereign and can do anything. Anything, like keeping one from death and from the hands of angry, evil, and scared men. Anything, like making a way for His created and rebellious humans to have an eternal relationship with Him. God is the source of all power. Jesus knows the Godhead is all-powerful. He also knows no other way was available to provide redemption from sins. A sin sacrifice was required, and it could not be just anything. This sin sacrifice had to be perfect, without blemish or stain from sin. The only sinless being is the Godhead-Father, Son, and Spirit. God provided the perfect sacrifice through the death of the Son of Man and Son of God, Jesus the Messiah. With this understanding, Jesus made His final statement in this verse. He said, “Not what I will, but what You will.” The humanity of Jesus submitted to the perfect, divine will of the Godhead. He willingly walked to the cross to be crucified, pierced, and to suffocate so humanity could be saved from their sins and death.

 The Father did not leave Jesus to walk to His mortal death alone. In Luke 22:43, Luke tells us, “An angel from heaven appeared to Him (Jesus) and strengthened Him.” The Father realized the mortal flesh was weary and frightened but determined to do His will because of His overabundant love for each person. Luke continued in verse forty-four by saying, “And being in anguish, He (Jesus) prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” [NIV] Jesus prayed for the strength to walk to His death. He prayed for each person to believe in Him. Jesus prayed so fervently that sweat became profuse, like a river of blood flowing from an arterial vein. The angel encouraged, strengthened, and upheld Him for the purpose for which He humbly gave up His place on the throne in heaven. Jesus’ decision was deliberate before He left heaven, while He walked and taught on earth, and as He prepared for Judas’ betrayal, the Jewish religious leaders’ antagonism and unbelief, and Pontius Pilate’s handwashing. This One who died for the sins of each person was betrayed, mocked, tormented, and found unworthy for a governor to be held accountable.

 Considering what Jesus did and said in Mark 14:36 and Luke 22:43, are any of us ever willing to make these statements to God? Have any of us lived out God’s purpose this determinedly? Have we made a genuine sacrifice of ourselves to God’s plans and purposes? With Jesus as our model, I realize few people make this ultimate stand for God. This purpose in life requires a total surrender of heart and will to God’s plans. Jesus understood this profound surrender. To give oneself in total surrender to God means giving the right to oneself-one’s whole heart, mind, body, and spirit-to obey God in His purposes to save every person before he or she mortally dies.

 Just as Abba gave strength to Jesus to walk the road to Calvary, He gives us the strength to walk according to His plans. Those plans may be to help someone with food, offer shelter for someone without a home, or donate to a charitable organization. It may also mean leaving home and country to live where most people have not heard about Jesus and walk with them telling them about Him. Walking with unbelievers often means being willing to sacrifice our lives. The key to each of these tasks and others God asks of believers is God, not us. God created. He sacrificed and redeems. God cleanses. He calls and strengthens. Then, God walks with those who willingly offer to Him what He asks of them. God gives each person what she or he needs to live abundantly in a loving, growing, and eternal relationship with Him.

Jesus didn’t ask for a kiss, but Judas gave it.

He asks us to believe in Him; He paid the price.

 Are you willing to give your all-heart, soul, body, and spirit-to God? He will give you the strength and everything you need to follow Him. All things are possible with God.