Mark 6 - 2.16.2024
Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.
Mark 6:52
for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?
I knew what the Lord was going to talk to me about in preparation of this SOAP journal. I just knew it. I had been getting wronged all week. I had been doing well on various fronts. So of course when things started to appear not to go my way I knew I wasn’t at fault. I knew that the Lord was going to speak to me in preparation for my journal entry. I just knew that a story about deliverance and a psalm about vindication was headed my way!
I knew I had found my answer when I read that the disciples and apostles, when watching Jesus walk on water, were afraid because of their hardened hearts.
A-ha!
I knew that I was dealing with hard hearted people. I just knew it!
The context of this verse is that Jesus had just prior performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand (which only counts the men who had eaten).
The full section of this verse in NIV Mark 6:47-52 reads:
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Application - How will you apply this to your life?
God hears the plans of men and…
As I was preparing to write out my journal, I felt a small voice inside me speaking. A voice I wanted to ignore.
With all my relational and situational struggles here on earth beginning to mount again, as my life began to feel like the wind was against me and I was straining to paddle against that wind, I initially knew I was more like Jesus in this story. There was absolutely no way that God was telling me that I was still on the other side.
But sometimes that still small voice is persistent.
And so it is with a small sigh I begin to examine my own heart today, Lord. Heart check me for areas of hardening. The spiritual kind.
For my life application today I will inspect my heart and pray to God for guidance.
Prayer - Write out a prayer.
Lord, I thank you for the bible verse this morning. Thank you for helping to give me a much needed gut check to my heart. I ask for forgiveness for my sins. Help me to change, Lord. Please help my inclinations towards frustration to be replaced by peace. Please, help me to be reminded of all the amazing things you have done in my life. Thank you for the miracle of Christ. Thank you for being a loving Father. As I inspect my heart today please soften me. Fill me with Your peace. Fill me with Your love.
And the next time I find myself paddling against the wind. Help me to remember You. Draw me closer to You, Lord. Always and forever.
All these things I pray and ask for in the name of Jesus, amen.
Mark 5 - 2.15.24
Mark 5: 35-36
S – 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
O – I love the book of Mark and the way it presents so many vivid pictures of Jesus in action. We just finished reading in Mark 4 some of Jesus’ amazing parables regarding the 4 soils, faith of a mustard seed, and then read how Jesus calmed the waves and the storm. Here we read how Jesus sends a legion of demons into a herd of pigs and has them jump off a cliff, heals the bleeding woman and then restores a girl to life! It shows who Jesus is by his extreme compassion through all that he does. It’s a story of Jesus on the move…it’s a book of action! In this chapter he was literally on his way to heal one man’s daughter who was dying when the woman who was subject to bleeding all those years reaches out to touch him and receive her own healing. She knew she was unclean and shouldn’t touch him, yet she was desperate for God’s touch and healing. And He gave it to her because of her faith!
A – I love this scripture because this scene sounds so chaotic, with everyone coming at Jesus at once. There are massive amounts of people following him, people who are desperate for a touch of his hand. I love the picture I see of the sheer chaos in that moment. The desperation of the woman, as well as a father who was just told to leave Jesus alone, that it was too late, and his daughter was dead. At first, it appears devastating and unimaginable, but then the scene changes as Jesus oh so calmly tells this grief stricken and panicked father, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Wow! What if we approached all our troubles this way? I can’t pay this bill Jesus and I don’t know what to do…..but I BELIEVE you will make a way. Everything is so expensive now. How can my kids live/make it on their own…..Jesus I BELIEVE you will provide for them. I am so tired and can’t do another thing today….but I BELIEVE with you Jesus I can do anything.
The book of Mark is filled with story after story of Jesus doing miraculous things and just being a loving, compassionate man who wanted to bring hope and healing to the many he encountered. This should encourage us to believe, have faith and get moving and healing in the name of Jesus!
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.
Mark 16:18b they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
P – Jesus may we be a CHURCH who BELIEVES! Help us to know that all we need is that little bit of faith, as small as a mustard seed and that changes EVERYTHING. Help us to live as though we know it. To live in a way that other people see that we believe and that our hope is in you…and that when all the world around fails them, you won’t. Help us to believe in the small and the big miracles and to pray for everything. Thank you that you give us the same power you gave your son to heal the sick and thank you that you are with us and that you went before us to show us exactly what we need to do to be the hands and feet of Jesus today! Amen
- Crystal Flory
Mark 4 - 2.14.24
Scripture
Mark 4: 39-40
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Observation
The disciples were afraid for their lives. They ran to Jesus and said - why aren’t you doing something?? He calms the storm. But he challenges them - why are you so afraid?
Application
We are going to experience storms - they are a part of life. When Jesus took the disciples across the lake, he knew the storm was coming. And he was in control. The God we serve has the power to command the elements. He has the power to control and direct our lives. And he tells us to trust him.
Psalms 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God.
Earlier in the chapter 4, we read, “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” Jesus spent time with his disciples, teaching and training them, preparing them for the storms ahead. Likewise, when we spend time alone with him, in his presence and in his word, he is teaching and training us, preparing us for the storms ahead.
“Whatever furious squalls are frightening us, we can be sure that the Lord who is with us is in charge. He may well lead us into trials; he will certainly lead us through … This story is not just a message of comfort for Christians who are facing trials in their lives; it’s a challenge as well. ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ Jesus asks. If we are disciples, what is our answer? (Steve Wilmhurst, Mark, A Ransom For Many)
Prayer
Lord, thank you for this challenge today. Thank you for continuing to work on my heart to change my first response from fear, worry, or panic to faith, knowing that you are in control.
- Debbie Dunn