Category: Devotions

Focused on your purpose

Mark 10: 32-34 “They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ³³ “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

There are 3 groups walking to Jerusalem; one group are astonished, the other afraid, but one person is different than the other two groups, Jesus, he is leading the way, he knew his purpose, he was ahead. Where are you? Where would you put yourself today? It depends on whether or not your purpose for being here is all-consuming.

Your purpose in life is that of Christ, it will take many different forms but ultimately will be for people, in the end it will have something to do with the transformation of their lives through the love of God.

Jesus kept his purpose fresh and alive:

He took the disciples aside, “again”. This was the third time of doing so and perhaps there were other occasions too. Your purpose needs to be reiterated time and again. It needs to be ever before you.

He provided more details this time, he spoke of the Gentiles on this occasion which he hadn’t done before. Sometimes our purpose is one of discovery and this is done over various seasons of our life.

He knew he had to take them with him, “we”. Who do you need to come with you? The people you choose are the ones who will enable you to get to that place.

Jesus knew his purpose was not easy:

He spoke of being delivered over (a betrayal), being condemned, mocked, spat at, flogged and killed. There will be times when you feel out of control and pushed from here to there. But of course the end result is worth it!

Jesus’ purpose was not easily understood

Some will be astonished and some will be afraid and these can be the closest people to you. It was the disciples who were filled with “wonder and amazement at his bravery” (TPT) whilst the other followers were simply afraid of what might happen and they will soon tail away as the heat intensifies in the city. Around you can be a mixture of all kinds of emotions and it is important not to be swayed by either but focused on what is your purpose in life.

Nothing but Desire

Mark 10: 17-31

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother.” ²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” ²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. ²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is^[e] to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” ²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” ²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

 

Nothing but desire

 

1. It’s not your ability and what you have done that counts. It is what you will not let go of that will hinder your life. The rich man lacked one thing – the one thing was there was no lack in his life, there was no deficiency. What do you lack?

 

2. Sometimes the great cause (following Jesus), the great future (treasure in heaven) and the great present (the poor) are not enough for people. Hard to believe but true. What are you looking at the most?

 

3. It is hard for those who are not desperate, who do not have nothing, who do not need to trust and rely on God for their future to get into the kingdom of God, the rule of God. It is these things that the rich man didn’t have that make us rich. Those with nothing but God often look happier than those who have everything but not Him. What do you long for?

 

3 questions that will help us get to the place of nothing but desire for Jesus.

Chaos in the crèche

Mark 10: 13-16 “People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”

The disciples were not the best crèche workers. There was so much more important things to do than looking after babies and little children. This event reveals once again that it has nothing to do with children’s ministry but everything to do with the heart and Jesus became angry with what was being revealed.

What did the disciples do wrong?

1. The disciples got in the way of people and Jesus.
2. The disciples tried to prevent or at least control the blessing.
3. The disciples saw the blessing as a bothersome nuisance.
4. The disciples failed to know the heart of Jesus.
5. The disciples’ view of the lowest category in society was different to that of Jesus.

The disciples were not the mirror image of Jesus. When you looked at the disciples that day you were not looking at Jesus, in fact their behaviour and responses were the opposite to who He is.

I think the same question should be asked today: are we the mirror-image of Jesus to the world?

1. Do we get in the way of the Way?
2. Are we controllers?
3. Do we get annoyed at our plans being affected?
4. Do we let go of the heart of Jesus, for example, his heart of love for sinners was never condemnatory at any occasion?
5. Do we turn our nose up at the outcast?

Challenging questions perhaps, but no one said it is easy being a disciple, it never was.

Pursue a soft heart

Mark 10: 1- 12

Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. ² Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ ³ ‘What did Moses command you?’ he replied. ⁴ They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.’ ⁵ ‘It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law, ’Jesus replied. ⁶ ‘But at the beginning of creation God “made them male and female”. ⁷ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, ⁸ and the two will become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ ¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. ¹¹ He answered, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. ¹² And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

 

Jesus is continuingly being given the opportunity to speak about the relationships we have with others that affects our relationship with God. Having spent time in Galilee teaching the disciples about not being a stumbling block to others nor stumbling oneself he is now in the region of Judea and yet the conversation continues. He is now given the chance to speak about marriage in the same context.

The Pharisees come to trap him. They use the divorce question. But which modern Rabbi’s thinking are they following? I think there were 2 at the time: one who interpreted Moses’ law as saying you could divorce for adultery and one who said any cause was acceptable. These Pharisees are clearly of the latter’s persuasion. But this was not God writing the law, this was Moses and even then it wasn’t some divine revelation it was in response to one thing only, the hardness of their heart.

Why did Jesus respond to the disciples in the way he did? He was simply saying that if a person divorced a perfectly good marriage simply to marry another then that is adultery. Not many divorces are done for that reason.

The main central point in this passage is not the divorce or whether we have grounds to do it. It is this, the hardness of the heart breaks everything good. The sin is not the divorce, it is the hardness of heart. The threat to marriage is not the grounds for divorce it is the hardness of heart. From the beginning the heart was good but then it hardened and as it did rules were needed and Moses had to write them.

But the key to life is a soft heart.

A soft heart is large and incredibly patient. It is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. A soft heart does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. It does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honour. It is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. A soft heart joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. It is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. It never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. (TPT 1 Cor 13:4-7)

Can you now imagine the scene if the disciples had soft hearts and what their discussions would have been? Can you imagine what kind of questions the Pharisees would bring with soft hearts? Can you imagine all those years ago what Moses would have written if marriage partners had soft hearts? Can you imagine marriages today with soft hearts? Hard hearts kill everything. Divorce happens a long time before the divorce proper. It happens because one or both partners have hard hearts.

If we go to this passage looking for the rules on whether we have grounds for divorce and whether people should remarry etc, then we have missed the whole point. This has always been about the hardness of the heart.

May our prayer today be ‘soften my heart Lord’.

Cut off your body parts, really?

Mark 9: 43-49

“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.” Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

So we haven’t done this yet have we? We haven’t cut our hands and feet off, we haven’t plucked our eyes out and thus saved ourselves from an eternal fiery hell.

If we were to start where would we stop? We would have no body parts left for sure!

But perhaps our understanding of these verses have caused us to try harder, to stop this, to stop that, become better, work harder, do more, go without and if we do all this then we will enter the kingdom of God.

We have certainly done that and we are up for trying even harder today.

But what if we have understood it wrongly?!

Let us remind ourselves of the scene:

Jesus has again revealed that he will suffer, die and rise again.

The disciples not understanding have spoken about who was the greatest among them.

Jesus warns them in their leadership position not to make the little ones stumble because if they did their own lives will be seriously affected, they would be the ones to stumble.

So what is the hand, the foot and the eye?

Is it certain sins that we have tried to rid ourselves from?

Or is it self-righteousness towards others? Is it the desire to become greater than others? Is it a lack of serving others? Is it policing the church making sure that those with ministries are doing it the right way and telling them off if they are not (v38)? Are these the sins that need cutting off? Are the sins against others what is being focused on rather than the sins against our own bodies?

The salt reference fits well here. The salt will purify and will be among themselves referring to the many salt covenants that were made as peace and business treaties at the time. “Be at peace with each other.” (Numbers 8:19 is just one of several OT references to salt covenants)

Jesus is countering the rising arguments of who is the greatest, of their pride and self-righteousness and of who knows best by ending with a reminder of the salt covenants between one another and to be at peace.

The gospel is a gospel of peace not of pride over acts of righteousness and achievement. This is perhaps the interpretation of this passage. It is at least the truth.

But if you don’t agree, go ahead and keep cutting off your body parts!

Really strong warnings on the power of leadership

Mark 9: 41-42

“Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. ⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.”

Jesus is speaking to the 12 disciples, the leaders of the church.

The little ones are those who give a cup of water. Those believers who may not be as significant as the 12 disciples or similar large ministry in the church.

The little ones are those who come under the influence and care of people with greater seniority. They are children in Matthew’s gospel.

The little ones are new believers of Christ.

To cause to stumble is to entice them away from following Jesus through temptation.

To cause them to stumble is to put needless pressure on them to perform to such a degree that it becomes inevitable that they will fall away.

To cause them to stumble is to discourage them from following their plan and purpose in God.

Why would any leader do this? Desire.

Why would any leader do this? Control.

Why would any leader do this? Self-righteousness.

The millstone is a form of execution that is a slow and painful death reserved for those leaders who make the little ones stumble.

The millstone means you are being removed from the scene of life.

The millstone means you will never make a come-back.

 

Ownership in Church

Mark 9: 39-41

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.”

The importance of getting people involved must not be overlooked.

The disciples tried to stop the deliverance ministry because they were not part of the team. Jesus said let them be.

So here are 3 important thoughts regarding people and ownership:

1. The people not engaged in the work are more likely to criticise and harm the work.
2. The people who equate their success to the leader are unlikely to then harm the leader.
3. The people who even do the smallest things but do it for the good of the whole are part of the team.

3 responses to the masters teaching

Mark 9: 30 – 38

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. ³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” ³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” ³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

 

 

3 responses to the masters teaching:

Jesus is leaving, He tells them he will suffer, he will die but that the future will be great, He will rise to a new day and a new era for mankind. This is the post-transfiguration talk. He has done a similar talk before but now after his experience on the mountain it is even clearer. Peter, James and John witnessed the transfiguration, they saw His glory, the eternal Son. Jesus speaks again, He teaches one more time. The responses come from a fixed position. It is these fixed positions that we can all fall into and we need to be unlocked from. They still exist today. Let us see them ….

1. “We don’t understand you.” How can this be? It just seemed they were blinded and deaf to what he was teaching them. In short they were lacking wisdom. The earliest time I can recall praying for wisdom was as a 13 year old newspaper delivery boy and there has not been many days in my life when I have not prayed a simple prayer, “God give me wisdom.” We need this so much in every aspect and every new chapter of our life.
2. “We want to be number 1.” v34. How can this be? Jesus has said he was going to suffer and they want to talk about who is the greatest. Perhaps Jesus mentioned one of them would betray him and they all argued at who it would be. Whatever actually happened the whole team were battling over their positions. Even Peter, James and John who had been chosen to go up the mountain of transfiguration were not content to be in the close circle of Jesus, they too wanted to be number 1. They were full of ambition. Still today even leaders want to be a higher leader, members want to be pastors, Pastors want to be apostles, apostles want to be bishops, bishops want to be archbishops and archbishops want to be Popes. That’s in the church but it is everywhere. Naked, raw ambition, climb the ladder, get to the top, it is better up there. Ambition is a killer of the church.
3. “We are the only true representatives of you.” v38. How can this be? When the disciples led by John saw people being set free from demons, lives being transformed, they complained that it was being done outside of the team’s authority. They were the only ones who had been ordained by Jesus, who had the true commission, who had the best qualifications. These other people were not doing it correctly, they were not one of them. They were filled with arrogant righteousness. Social media is full of this every moment of the day. We are the best, the only, the true, look at us, look at me, listen to how authentic, original, the best, you have tried the rest now try the best. We need to be delivered from such attitudes.

3 responses that actually still exist today!

IT CAN HAPPEN!

Mark 9: 19 – 29

¹⁹ “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” ²⁰ So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” ²⁶ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. ²⁸ After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” ²⁹ He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

What have I learnt in Mark’s gospel so far?

You may be in a dry and barren place but it is still possible to be led by the Spirit, Mark 1:12-13

You may receive one obstacle after another with the pursuit of your miracle, but it is still possible to receive it, Mark 2:3-4

You may feel you are the unlikeliest person God will use, but it is still possible for Him to greatly use you, Mark 2:14

You may be about to go under in the biggest storm of your life, but it is still possible you will survive, Mark 4: 37

You may have given and done everything but your situation is unchanged in fact it is worsening, but it is still possible, Mark 5:26

You may know you are called by God but you feel totally unequipped, but it is still possible you have all that you need, Mark 6:37

You may have a physical diagnosis of disability on your life, but it is still possible you can be very able, Mark 7:32

You may be part healed, but it is still possible you will receive total healing, Mark 8:24

You may have failed to be successful in the ministry, but it is still possible you can be, Mark 9:18

So today don’t give up, or let go because with Jesus it can happen!

Here comes Jesus!

Mark 9: 14 – 18

¹⁴ When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. ¹⁶ “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. ¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

 

There are so many different people in this encounter.

Peter, James and John are coming down the mountain with Jesus. Coming down the mountain is as important as going up. Do life. Be real. It isn’t just about mountain top wow experiences, it is about getting down on the dusty floor with children who are suffering. Is this where you are today?

The other disciples are surrounded by a large crowd of onlookers watching the teachers of the law arguing with them. Something has gone wrong. “They could not”. For the first time we have it recorded that the disciples had failed to carry out the works of Christ. Do you feel disqualified because you have failed?

The teachers of the law seized on an opportunity to attack the failed disciples. The religious certainly do this. There are many voices that will attack you given half the chance. The know-it-alls. Those who theorise rather than practice. Those who hold the rule book and say what can and cannot be done. These people will always be near. Are you with them today?

The large crowd were watching. Bemused and amused at the fighting going on with the religious and the church-to-be. Those supposedly in the family of God can provide great entertainment with their in-fighting. It seems every week the media promote the church as being deceived, liars, perverts, not relevant, prejudiced etc etc. All the time the world looks on without involving itself. Are you in the middle of this today?

A father in the crowd calls out similar to how a Father called out in the cloud moments before. “This is my son.” However his son is not the same. He is broken. Every father wants his son to be fixed. He could fix his toys but he cannot fix him. Is there someone you cannot fix today?

The son, only a boy, cannot understand what is wrong with him. He seems out of control at times. He doesn’t mean to do what he does but something takes hold and makes him embarrassed. The other children make fun of him. He is ashamed. Are you struggling today?

So which person are you?

Here is the good news.

Jesus is here.