MARK 9 - 2.21.24
Scripture
For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
(Mark 9:49, NKJV)
Observation
The NIV translation says, "Everyone will be salted with fire". Salt is the seasoning that makes every dish perfect. A gourmet chef will tell you that you cannot make even the sweetest of desserts without a pinch of salt. God seasons us by allowing us to pass through fire. Zechariah 13:9 says that God will refine us like sliver, and purify us like gold put through fire. Nobody wants to go through fire. But God uses fire in our life to purify us, just as a goldsmith uses fire to melt gold so that the impurities wash away, leaving behind the pure gold. At the end of this, our faith will be as pure gold that has been tested in fire (1 Peter 1:7 CEV).
Application
When we go through fire, God has promised us that we will not be burnt. When we go through waters, we will not be drowned. He is with us in the fire and in the water (Isaiah 43:2). He will not allow us to go through trials beyond what we can endure (1 Cor: 10:13). When we go through trials, let us hold on to Him knowing that He is in control. He is working in us, to make us more like Jesus. He will make all things work together for good for us who love Him and are called according to his purpose. This includes even what the enemy meant for evil (Romans 8:28).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you because you love me more than what I can fathom. When I have walked through waters, it has not overflown me, and when I have walked through fire, it has not burnt me, because you were with me in the fire and in the water. Help me to trust you even when I don't understand. Thank you because I am the clay, and you are the potter (Isaiah 64:8). Thank you because you are shaping me every day to make me become more like you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Asha Chacko George
Mark 8 - 2.20.24
SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:31-33 “ Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. He was openly talking about this. So Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning around and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan, because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but mans! “
OBSERVATION: Jesus began an ongoing teaching about how He, the Son of Man, must suffer many things! This certainly didn’t sound like good news to His disciples! He had just asked them, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah!” As soon as they acknowledged He was the Messiah, Jesus got right down to business and began teaching them about His death and resurrection. But this news didn’t sound good at all to them! That’s when Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him, I think it was because He didn’t understand God’s unfolding redemptive plan yet. Peter was probably confused as to why Jesus, the Messiah would have to suffer such horrible things. I think Peter’s quirky way of comforting Jesus was to rebuke Him, kind of like saying, “It isn’t so!” But…was Peter showing that He was more concerned about Jesus’ comfort or His character? Comfort is not always God’s will, doing what’s right is!
APPLICATION: I learned something after reading what Peter said to Jesus. I learned that I need to be more careful how I pray for others. God’s will is not always based on what makes us happy, it’s based on what makes us holy. Peter was concerned about Jesus’ comforts more than what Jesus said He MUST DO! Jesus knew what He must do, and He was willing to do it, even if it meant suffering! He needed to do it in order to make a way for us to be saved! My sanctification process; the work that God began in me, its purpose is for me to become more like Jesus. When I think about Jesus, He was willing to suffer and die for my sins so I could live for Him! In order for me to do that, I MUST be willing to die to myself! God isn’t about making me happy as much as He is about making me holy!
So, the next time I pray with someone, or give advice, I need to remember the important lesson here: Jesus’ disciples believed He was the Messiah, and when He told them He MUST suffer many things, be rejected and die, He was teaching them AND US that when we follow Him, we should be ready and willing to build our character more than our comforts. We should be willing to do what’s right according to God’s will, no matter how uncomfortable it gets!
PRAYER: Oh Lord, I am alive and well, but I pray, as I serve You that I will be willing to die to myself to follow You! Thank You for doing what You knew You must do in order to accomplish God’s will; to die on the cross to pay for my sins! You gave Your life for me so I could be saved!
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it.” I pray God will help me think about His concerns more than man’s.
- Robin Orefice
Mark 7 - 2.19.24
Scripture
Mark 7:6 NLT
”Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.“
Observation
Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law began to question Jesus about his disciples. They point out to Jesus that his disciples were not following the ancient Jewish traditions of washing their hands before eating or even immersing their hands in water before eating food from the market. Jesus then basically tells these Pharisees and teachers that all the religious rituals and practices they do are mere “lip service” towards God. They only do them so they can look good and more spiritual than others. They have a “holier than thou” attitude, while their hearts are far from God. These Pharisees and teachers seemed to be more concerned about glorifying themselves rather than glorifying God.
Application
God cannot be fooled. God sees our hearts.
”The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”-1 Samuel 16:7b
”People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.“ -Proverbs 21:2
It’s important when we do things for God, we have the right motives behind them. For God sees our hearts. He knows when we are just going through the motions, jumping through those “spiritual hoops”, or checking off boxes so we can feel or appear like better Christians. When in reality we could be acting like the Pharisees and religious teachers mentioned in this chapter. We could be merely giving God good lip service; praising God with our lips, but not with our actions. So let’s not fall into that trap. Let’s remember that God wants our hearts. He desires our relationship over rituals.
Prayer
Father God, I pray that I have a heart that is fully devoted to pleasing You. Help me to stay the course, and be focused. Help me not to stray. Help me not to just go through the motions when serving and worshiping You. You gave me Your all when You gave me Jesus. I pray that I can give You my all in service too. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi