Mark 8
Jesus uses the miracle feeding of the 4000 as a teaching tool for His disciples.
INSIGHT
After feeding the 4000, it is obvious that the disciples do not understand the significance of the event. Jesus says, "When I fed the 5000, how many loaves did you pick up afterward?" His disciples reply, "Twelve." Then again, "When I fed the 4000, how many loaves did you pick up afterward?" "Seven," they answer. "Do you not yet understand?" the Lord asks them. Then, some days later, Jesus is alone with the Twelve, and He asks them, "Who do you think I am?" Peter replies, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Finally, progress!
PRAYER
Offer your praise with the following psalm to the Lord who is faithful to us when we are weak:
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night. . . .
For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands (Psalm 92:1-2, 4).
As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm (Joel 2:13).
As you consider the mercy of God, confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You are the door. If anyone enters by You,
he will be saved, and will go in and outand find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy. You have come that we may have life,
and that we may have it more abundantly (based on John 10:9-10).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
greater faithfulness with your finances,
the President and national leaders and affairs,
your activities for the day,
whatever else is on your heart.
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17).
Monday, March 23, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Open Eyes
Mark 7
Jesus points out the hypocrisy of observing traditions yet ignoring the Scripture.
INSIGHT
Even the earnest Christian must guard against hypocrisy. How easy it is to sing, "All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give," and then go out to live with some areas of our lives not given over to Christ. Yet, there is a difference between weakness and rebellion. All of us struggle with weaknesses which we wish we didn't have and with which we wrestle in the grace of God to overcome. Rebellion expresses itself when we could overcome a sin if we wanted to but make no attempt to do so. The Bible expresses compassion for us in our weaknesses as we cry out to the Lord for greater strength. But God's Word pronounces a scathing rebuke for hypocrisy and rebellion. We must check our hearts to be certain that our shortcomings are weaknesses and not hypocrisy.
PRAYER
Because the Lord accepts us in spite of our weaknesses, we can praise Him:
But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness,
of Yours only (Psalm 71:14-16).
As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight (Hosea 6:1-2).
As you confess your sins, pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go;
You will guide me with Your eye (based on Psalm 32:8).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
greater love for your family,
evangelism in America,
your activities for the day,
whatever else is on your heart.
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another,
according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify You,
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5-6).
Jesus points out the hypocrisy of observing traditions yet ignoring the Scripture.
INSIGHT
Even the earnest Christian must guard against hypocrisy. How easy it is to sing, "All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give," and then go out to live with some areas of our lives not given over to Christ. Yet, there is a difference between weakness and rebellion. All of us struggle with weaknesses which we wish we didn't have and with which we wrestle in the grace of God to overcome. Rebellion expresses itself when we could overcome a sin if we wanted to but make no attempt to do so. The Bible expresses compassion for us in our weaknesses as we cry out to the Lord for greater strength. But God's Word pronounces a scathing rebuke for hypocrisy and rebellion. We must check our hearts to be certain that our shortcomings are weaknesses and not hypocrisy.
PRAYER
Because the Lord accepts us in spite of our weaknesses, we can praise Him:
But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness,
of Yours only (Psalm 71:14-16).
As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight (Hosea 6:1-2).
As you confess your sins, pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go;
You will guide me with Your eye (based on Psalm 32:8).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
greater love for your family,
evangelism in America,
your activities for the day,
whatever else is on your heart.
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another,
according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify You,
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5-6).
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