Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” – Mark 3:6

It’s interesting how hatred for Jesus could unite two groups that couldn’t be more opposed to one another! The Pharisees and Herodians normally couldn’t stand each other. The Pharisees were the most religious group in ancient Israel. They were the most zealous for obeying the Law of Moses. Meanwhile, the Herodians were political creatures who loved and embraced the immorality of the Greco-Roman culture. The Pharisees despised Israel’s Roman overlords while the Herodians embraced them. For this reason, the Pharisees wouldn’t normally have anything to do with the Herodians. And yet, they found common ground in their hatred of Jesus.

They hated Jesus because He was a threat to each of them. He revealed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and rejected immoral corruption of the Herodians. As Messiah, Jesus was a threat to the political power of the Herodians. As the fulfillment of the Law, Jesus threatened the religious power and moral authority of the Pharisees and their rule-based, superficial holiness. So they united in an unholy alliance to kill Jesus.

This should be a warning to us. If the most religious and least religious people could team up to get rid of Jesus 2000 years ago, the same can happen again. Each group thought they were good and wise to want Jesus out of the way. That can happen again. We must be cautious of any alliance between those who claim to be religious, even Christian, and those with or grasping for secular power. Perhaps that cooperation is a good thing. Or perhaps, they’re coming together in a spirit opposed to the true teaching, character, and heart of Jesus. As a follower of Jesus, be careful of not only the agenda but the character of those with whom you sympathize politically. Are they truly walking in a manner consistent with Jesus? #FollowJesus

“And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’” – Mark 9:25

Popular culture today has a great fascination with dark, demonic powers. There’s a resurgence in entertainment (TV, movies, music, etc.) emphasizing the dramatic power of evil. What a shame that there isn’t an even GREATER fascination with the One Who is infinitely more powerful than every demonic power!!! Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus the Christ.

Yes, demons are real and they are powerful. Nonetheless, Jesus is unimaginably, immeasurably, infinitely more powerful than any demon or army of demons! He has absolute authority over demonic powers and they know it! They don’t battle Him, they obey Him. The testimony of the gospels is that every demon who encountered Jesus knew He was the Son of God, knew He had total authority over them, and knew He would one day throw them into hell forever. Jesus doesn’t have to dialogue, debate, or negotiate with demons. He simply gives them commands and they obey to the astonishment of every onlooker.

In the culture of the day, it was believed that you needed to know a demon’s name to have power over it. Hence the difficulty people had in dealing with the particular unspeaking, unhearing demon found in today’s verse. That was no problem for Jesus! He has absolute power over every evil force in the world regardless of whether He knows its name or not. Let that fascinate you!!!

Choose to become more and more fascinated by Jesus and His power. Read the gospel accounts of Jesus, marvel at Him, and worship Him. Don’t let the enticement of entertainment draw you toward the demonic. Choose to focus on Christ Who is victorious every time and in every way! #FollowJesus

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” – 1 Samuel 16:7

The principle God explains to Samuel doesn’t just apply to this particular situation some 3000 years ago. This isn’t just about how God selected King David to begin a line of kings that would culminate in Jesus, the eternal King. No, this is a general principle about how God views all of us. This is how He views you. We humans are very impressed by outward appearances. We get excited about people who appear quite successful. We’re obsessed with celebrities, superstars, champions, and the ultra-wealthy. We’re impressed by success, status, wealth, beauty, power, credentials, and accomplishments. God isn’t.

God sees our heart. Every bit of it. He sees the good things and the shameful things. He hears the thoughts we want Him to hear and the thoughts we wish He didn’t hear. God knows the deepest truths about us. That’s what gets God’s attention. Fundamentally, this is what Jesus explained so beautifully in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). God doesn’t just want you looking healthy, holy, and all cleaned up for religious appearances. He wants you changed and transformed by His Spirit into the character and conduct of His Son, Jesus.

God wants to change how you think, feel, speak, and act. No matter who you are or how good you think you are, King Jesus is calling you to change and become more like Him. So, what’s your heart like? Where do you thoughts and words go when you think nobody is watching? When you’re stressed? When things aren’t going your way? Does it look like Jesus?

If not, if you’ve got guilt or shame about the condition of your heart, confess that to God. He already knows anyway. Ask God to forgive you and change you by His Spirit to become more and more like His Son. He wants to do that. He will do that. #FollowJesus

“And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.” – Mark 8:8

Jesus repeated one of His most famous miracles, the feeding of thousands of people in the desert. Why would He do that? Simply because He could??? No. As usual, Jesus had a deeper plan and message. This feeding was for a crowd of Gentiles. Starting with just a small amount of food, Jesus created food enough for thousands upon thousands to eat and be satisfied. When they were full, there were seven big baskets of leftovers. What does this repeated miracle mean?

First and foremost, that all people are included in God’s plan of redemption! Jesus didn’t just come for a few people from a specific country. While His first feeding miracle was for a Jewish audience, this one was for a group Gentiles. Jesus came to bless and redeem people from all nations, tribes, and tongues. He came in love to establish a new family of God drawn from every ethnic group on earth. The message of this miracle is that the people of God will be defined by faith rather than birth.

The feeding of thousands was a re-enactment of a central event of the Exodus, when God provided manna in the desert. This was a bold statement that Jesus was God come it the flesh. It was also a statement that Jesus had come to lead people on a new Exodus out of slavery to sin and death and into holiness and eternal life. But He didn’t just come for the people of one nation. He came for people from every nation!

This truth is emphasized by the quantity of leftovers collected after the meal. Jesus came to bless in overflowing abundance. He didn’t come to provide a minimal or adequate amount of blessing. He didn’t come to bless a lucky few. Jesus came to bless so generously and abundantly that it exceeds anything anyone could desire or imagine. There’s significance to the number of baskets of leftovers. Seven didn’t just happen to be the number of baskets. In the Bible, the number seven represents completeness. The ministry of Jesus has come for ALL the nations. He’s come for the completeness of the world, not just a portion. He’s come for you. #FollowJesus

“For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.” – 1 Samuel 12:22

What was true for Israel 3000 years ago is true for you today if Jesus is your Lord! Scripture explains that everyone who trusts in Jesus has become part of God’s people. The cross and the empty tomb of Resurrection Sunday made this happen! We’re adopted into God’s family by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ. If Jesus is Lord of your life, then this is true for you!

God won’t ever forsake you. He will never abandon you, leave you, ignore you, or reject you in Jesus Christ. You’re never alone because God is always present with you and listening to your prayers, confessions, worries, and fears. This verse also explains why you can trust this promise. God will be forever faithful for His great name’s sake. Faithfulness is fundamental to the name and nature of God. He is a God Who is merciful, gracious, patient, just, steadfastly faithful, and overflowing in love. He can’t violate His name and nature. He is characterized by loyal love for His people and His faithfulness is to His glory.

If Jesus is your Lord, know that this is 100% true for you. When you feel alone, know that God is with you. When it feels like your prayers aren’t being heard, know that God is listening. When you feel abandoned by God, know that that will never happen. When you feel unloved by God, know that that’s impossible. God is with you. He loves you. He’ll never give up on you. He’ll always forgive you when you ask for His forgiveness. #FollowJesus