A Permanent Vacation ...

Today's Readings: OT Year 3 - Micah 1 / NT - Mark 5:1-20

"And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid." - Mark 5:15

In the comedy "What About Bob", a psychiatrist writes his patient a prescription to "take a vacation from his problems". As a result the patient (Bob) finds an uncommon relief and emotional freedom. For many people such a prescription would be just right, but only if the vacation from their problems was permanent.

In this passage Jesus confronts a demoniac and the legion of demons that possessed the man. With divine authority the Lord sends the demons into a herd of pigs and relieves the man of a horrifying condition. As the crowd arrived they found that this man was now "in his right mind",  "taking a vacation from his problems". And since his deliverance was from Jesus, this vacation was permanent.

Does the idea of taking a vacation from your problems sound good my friend? Maybe you have tried a variety of resources and each one has fallen to pieces. Well, if you really want the kind of relief that will restore your "right mind", then turn to the Lord. Only Jesus can provide you with a "vacation from your problems" permanently.

Tomorrow's Readings: OT Year 3 - Micah 2-3 / NT - Mark 5:21-43

Finding Your Calm...

Today's Readings: OT Year 3 - Isaiah 11-12 / NT - Mark 4:21-41

"And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”  - Mark 4:39-40

We used to have a very gentle and loving Australian Shepherd. She would greet everyone in the family with a wagging tale and "happy to see you" howl when we came home. But, she had one weakness; she was very nervous around fire engines, buses and loud trucks. No matter how often I would tell her that there's no reason to be afraid, she just couldn't seem to settle down and be at peace. Apparently, she had little faith in what I say.

Is it not amazing that the wind and sea responded so quickly at the words of our Lord? Jesus spoke and "the wind ceased, and there was a great calm". Yet, the disciples were completely unable to experience the same peaceful calm in their hearts. This is far too often the case; the words of Jesus were just not enough to calm their nerves. Apparently they had little faith in what He said.

Is this your story as well my friend? Can you recall numerous verses that tell of God's great power and faithful care of His children? And yet, in the face of stormy situations do you find that you are still often afraid? Is it true that no matter how much you know, you just can't settle down and be at peace? Well, maybe you need a little more faith in the One who "makes the clouds his chariot"... and "rides the wings of the wind" (Psalm 104:3). You need to give your fear to the One who says "Peace! Be still" and find your own "great calm".

Tomorrow's Readings: OT Year 3 - Micah 1 / NT - Mark 5:1-20

Beauty ...

Today's Readings: OT Year 3 - Isaiah 10:5-34 / NT - Mark 4:1-20

"But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” -- Mark 4:20

Spring will be upon us in no time at all. With this season many will be busy planting new flowers and nurturing their gardens. As we walk through our neighborhood we will see some large, some not so large and some rather simple gardens. Yet, each one will have their own beauty.

In the same way the gospel seeds will be planted throughout the world today. As usual, many will reject the message as nothing more than foolishness. Yet, there will be a select few that will receive the truth with great joy. Their lives will be changed and in the years ahead they will produce a wonderful spiritual harvest. Large, medium or small, each one will have their own beauty.

What kind of soil are you today my friend? Has the gospel story fallen upon your heart and produced a great crop of thirty, sixty or even a hundred fold? Or has this message passed from your memory like the morning dew? May the good news about Jesus change your life and deliver you from the fruitless pursuit of worldly gain and unending worries! Rejoice and yield your heart to the work of the Lord as He brings about His beauty in your life.

Tomorrow's Readings: OT Year 3 - Isaiah 11-12 / NT - Mark 4:21-41

The Family ...

Today's Readings: OT Year 3 - Isaiah 9:1-10:4 / NT - Mark 3:13-35

"For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." - Mark 3:35

What really is "family"? We are told by some that it's all about our blood line and ancestors. As a result there can often be a dramatic and tenacious loyalty to the "family" over all other relationships. Some people will refuse to embrace Christ as Savior because they are afraid of offending the "family". The will of God becomes secondary to the will of the family.

Our Lord was raised in a godly family. As a young boy we are told in Luke 2:51 that "he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart." But in time submission to God the Father became priority. This was so significant that He spoke of being a member of a new "family".  His brothers and sisters were not just those who adhered to family loyalty, but were those who did the will of God.

You too have a "family" my friend. And your family is one that can be traced through a very significant "blood-line". Your eternal brothers and sisters are those that are washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus. While your earthly "family" is of great value, remember that the most important family members are those who do the will of God above all else.

Tomorrow's Readings: OT Year 3 - Isaiah 10:5-34 / NT - Mark 4:1-20

Hearts Can Fly...

Today's Readings: OT Year 3 - 2 Chron. 27 / NT - Mark 2:18-3:12

"He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored." - Mark 3:5 

“The millennium is at hand. Man has invented everything that can be invented. He has done all he can do.” These words were spoken by a bishop at a church gathering in 1870. Someone commented, “I think man will learn to fly.” The bishop replied that this was blasphemy. “Don’t you know that flight is reserved for angels?” The bishop was Rev. Milton Wright, father of Orville and Wilbur. Only open hearts can fly.

Jesus found the very same attitude among the religious elite of his day. God had broken into their lives and they were closed to the possibilities. They had reached the point where they worshiped their traditions more than God. If the miraculous couldn't fit into the traditional setting, it was rejected. The stubborn heart distressed Jesus because he knew that only open hearts could fly.

Are you ready for God to do the miraculous in your life today? Will you allow him to break into your life in ways that may challenge your traditions? When you pray for the Lord's intervention are you prepared for the change he might bring? Remember, only open hearts can fly.

Tomorrow's Readings: OT Year 3 - Isaiah 9:1-10:4 / NT - Mark 3:13-35

The Great Physician...

Today's Readings: OT Year 3 - Amos 9 / NT - Mark 2:1-17

"Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” - Mark 2:3-5 

One afternoon, during my college years, I broke my ankle while trail riding on my motorcycle. I was quite a distance from the road and a hospital. My friend, who was riding with me, took me out of the brush on his motorcycle to another friend's house. From there they took me to the hospital, transported in the back of an old Volkswagen Bug. The rides were creative and bumpy, but they got me to the physician.

Bringing people to the Lord can be just as difficult. The paralytic in this passage was blessed with four friends who were determined to bring him to Jesus. They were willing to do anything necessary to make this happen. With a little creativity and hard work, four men succeeded in bringing their friend to the Great Physician.

Every day the Lord uses creativity and hard work to bring people to himself. Are you ready and willing to be one of those who will bring others to him? Do you know someone who needs the Lord today? Will you make the effort to carry your friend or neighbor out of the brush and down the road to the Great Physician?

Tomorrow's Readings: OT Year 3 - 2 Chron. 27 / NT - Mark 2:18-3:12

He Prayed ...

Today's Readings: OT Year 3 - Amos 7:10-8:14 / NT - Mark 1:21-45

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." - Mark 1:35 

I have known a good number of people who rise early in the morning. Some get up before  dawn to get ready for work. Others get up to fish and still others get up to golf. While there are many reasons to beat the sunrise, there has never been a better reason than the one listed in the above passage.
Take a moment and consider the following list of godly men who devoted themselves to early prayer:

"The men who have most fully illustrated Christ in their character, and have most powerfully affected the world for him, have been men who spent so much time with God as to make it a notable feature of their lives. Charles Simeon devoted the hours from four till eight in the morning to God. Mr. Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer. He began at four in the morning. Of him, one who knew him well wrote: “He thought prayer to be more his business than anything else and I have seen him come out of his closet with a serenity of face next to shining.” John Fletcher stained the walls of his room by the breath of his prayers. Sometimes he would pray all night; always, frequently, and with great earnestness. His whole life was a life of prayer. “I would not rise from my seat,” he said, “without lifting my heart to God.” Luther said: “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” He had a motto: “He that has prayed well has studied well.” - E. M. Bounds in Power through Prayer

Work, fish or golf may be worth the effort, but prayer alone can make a lasting difference in your world. Why not "beat" the sunrise tomorrow and "greet" the Son of Righteousness?

Tomorrow's Readings: OT Year 3 - Amos 9 / NT - Mark 2:1-17