Daily Encouragement

October 11, 2009 - Animosity, Follow-Ship or Kinship

Meditation on Mark 3

Mark told us that Jesus had become more and more popular. Multitudes of people were pressing him wherever they found Him. But the politicians (Herodians), and the religious leaders, (Pharisees) were already plotting together to destroy Jesus simply because Jesus had healed a person with a withered hand on the Sabbath. (v. 1-6) Some teachers from Jerusalem had also accused Jesus of having the power of Beelzebub (Satan) to cast out demons. Jesus of course pointed out how illogical that was. How would a house divided against itself could survive? He also pronounced the damnation against those who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit because they said that Jesus had an unclean spirit. (v. 22-30) No doubt Jesus was grieved by the hardness of these people who had so little compassion but harbored animosity against Him instead.

On the other hand, many in the crowd kept on following Jesus for one reason or another. Many followed him because they needed healing, cleansing or casting out of demons. Some were probably looking for miracles. (v. 7-12) The twelve disciples were chosen by Jesus to follow Him closely. But sadly, one of them would betray Him. (v. 13-19) So follow-ship may not be necessary a genuine relationship.

Jesus' own relatives were looking for Him but some of them thought that He was out of His mind. (v. 20-21) When Jesus' mother and brothers came to get Him, Jesus looked around those who sat about Him and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." (v. 34-35 NKJV) That is kinship with Jesus.

What is your relationship with Jesus today? I hope you don't harbor any hatred against Him. But simply following Him casually is not enough. You need a close relationship with Him. That means you should keep on doing the will of God.

October 12, 2009 - Your Ability To Pay Attention

Meditation on Mark 4

The major teachings of the parables in this chapter have to do with the seed. The seed is the word of God. (v. 15) Therefore the growth of the kingdom of God is because of the word of God. And that growth is entirely through the power of God. (v. 26-29) The growth is great and powerful. (v. 30-32) How do we become parts of the growth? It is by hearing the word and accepting it. (v. 20) Jesus said it several times here that "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." (v. 23 NKJV) That means that we must pay attention to our hearing. That is the key of this chapter. In fact, Jesus said, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you, and to you who hear, more will be give. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." (v. 24-25)

Whether we understand God's word or not is all depend on how we hear. That means whether we pay attention to what we hear or not. The more attention we put into it, the more understanding we will be given. The greater acceptance of the word of God we have, the greater growth we will have too. But if we are not willing to pay attention to the word of God, we will never understand it. And our sins will never be forgiven. (v. 12)

The final passage of this chapter tells us the incidence of Jesus calming the storm and the sea. Once again it shows that Jesus' word is authoritative. When He speaks, even the nature listens. Should you not?

October 13, 2009 - Jesus Or Riches

Meditation on Mark 10

From all the precious and sacred passages here, let us just focus on the account of the man who came running to ask Jesus, "Good teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" (v. 17 NKJV) From Matthew 19 and 20, we find out that he was a young man. Luke 18:18 indicates that he was a ruler. Mark showed the humble attitude of this young ruler: he knelt before Jesus. He also recognized that Jesus was good. From that Jesus also hinted to him that He was God. (Matthew 19:17) When Jesus questioned him, he told Jesus that he had been faithful keeping the Ten Commandments. He certainly was a law abiding Jews. The most striking thing was that Jesus Looked a him and loved him. Here it seemed to have the best candidate for inheriting eternal life. Isn't it?

But when Jesus told him to sell all he has, give to the poor and take up the cross to follow Jesus. He was sad and went away sorrowful because he had great possession. Obviously he loved his riches more than following Jesus.

Why was it that Jesus demanded this rich young ruler to sell all his possession and follow Him in order to have eternal life? I believe that it is because he wanted this young man to take Him as Lord and therefore the priority of his own life over riches which had been the most important thing in his life. When a person would declare Jesus as his own Lord and Savior by word and action, certainly he is saved and inherits eternal life. (Romans 10:9-10)

Do you accept Jesus as the Lord of your life today? To you, may be your number one thing in life is not riches but something else. But when you accept Christ as your personal Savior, you also need to realize that He must be the Lord over all and that He is your first priority.

October 14, 2009 - Prayer and Forgiveness

Meditation on Mark 11

You may have been blessed greatly by some of the accounts in this chapter. Today, let's also meditate upon the cursing of the fig tree by Jesus. (v. 12-14, 20-25)

Jesus found no fruit in the fig tree, he then curse it to never bear fruit again. The next day Peter found the tree withered away to its root. There are two lessons we can learn from this incidence.

First, the fig tree had leaves. Though it was not the season for fruit yet, it still should have edible buds. Therefore the tree had the appearance of good growth on the road side but in reality it was not a good tree. Jesus hated hypocrisy. We should be aware of that.

The second lesson is most important. Jesus was trying to teach his disciples about faith through this fig tree. The immediate result of the complete withering was astonishing. Jesus told the disciples that if we have faith even the mountain can be removed. We may have impossible hardship ahead of us; it will be taken away for sure if we pray in genuine faith.

But there is a very important qualification. Jesus pointed out that when we pray we must forgive. Unwilling to forgive is the hindrance to our prayers be answered. So faith and forgiveness is linked. When we pray in faith, it is assumed that we already have forgiveness toward others as well as we have asked for forgiveness from our Heavenly Father. So let us have forgiveness in our hearts as well as faith. Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (v. 24 ESV)

October 15, 2009 - Salvation For Human Corruption And Weakness

Meditation on Mark 14

Here Mark recorded some of deepest problems of human kind.

The religious and political leadership of Jesus' days were corrupted to the core. They plotted and used trick to try to kill Jesus who brought nothing but good to the Jews. (v. 1-2)

Later they arrested Jesus at night and conducted an illegal trial and beating against Jesus. (v. 53-65) No wonder God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed completely in 70 AD by the Romans.

Then the disciples instigated by Judas criticized a woman for her anointing Jesus with expansive oil with perfume in the name of wasteful spending. (v. 3-9 cf. John 12:4-5) When Jesus was arrested, even though they all had pledge their loyalty to Jesus, they all forsook him and fled. (v. 50-51)

The most tragic of all, Judas betrayed his teacher and mentor for money. (v. 10-11, 43-49) Peter, the out spoken disciple, denied Jesus three times even with cursing and swearing.

We can also lament the fact that the three closest disciples of Jesus were too tired to pray for Him in his greatest hour of need. (v. 32-42)

These sinful problems and weaknesses of man could only be saved by the body and blood of Christ. That is why we ought to remember regularly the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. He has prepared and instituted the Lord's Supper for all disciples to remember to go to Him for our forgiveness and strength. We must thank Him for his shedding of blood for our awful sins. And we must accept his offer for His new covenant of love. (v. 12-31)

October 16, 2009 - The Persons Used By God

Meditation on Luke 1

Luke, the physician told us in the introduction that he wrote this Gospel in an orderly record after careful investigating everything he wrote from the beginning as well as obtaining eye witnesses' account. He told the truth. We should trust everything he said.

This lengthy chapter contains tremendous truth with powerful lessons for us. Each story itself should be studied very carefully. God will speak to you as you take time to meditate it because they are God's inspired Words.

Today let us approach this passage with just one focus: What were the qualities of those persons whom God used to accomplish His work in this world?

In the life of Zechariah, the priest, the Scriptures says that he was upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. (v. 6) Though his faith was lacking, God still used him but taught him a lesson by making him speechless till his son, John the Baptist was born. (v. 20, 64)

In the case of Mary, the mother of Jesus, she was obedient and submissive to God's will even though she knew that she would not be accepted by the standard of the world and be misunderstood by the country folks around her that she would carry a child before she joined with her husband, Joseph. She consented to the angel who announced to her the birth of the Savior through her, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." (v. 38 NIV)

Then for John the Baptist, God told his father that John would never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. (v. 15) John the Baptist would be the prophet of the Most High, for he would go before the Lord to prepare the way for Him. (v. 76)

The qualities from these three individuals in this chapter are worthy of our reverent consideration. Apply them to your life; you will be God's powerful instrument.

October 17, 2009 - Repentance Prepares The Way

Meditation on Luke 3

From Luke's record, we can see how careful he was to document the time and life of John the Baptist and Jesus. He told us exactly the period John began his ministry as well as the genealogy of Jesus Christ in this passage. (v. 1-2, 23-38)

John the Baptist was the one prophesied by Isaiah to be the voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus.

His main message was repentance. He conducted the baptism of repentance for those who accepted his message. But he emphasized that Baptism was not enough. The converts must bear fruit worthy of repentance. He taught them what kind of actions would show their true repentance. Then they could look forward to the salvation of Jesus. John was preparing for "...all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (v. 6 NKJV)

Today, we know that we must receive Jesus as our personal Savior for becoming the children of God. (John 1:12) Our mouth must confess the Lord Jesus and our hearts must believe that God has raised Him from the dead, and then we will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

However, the willingness to repent as John proclaimed is the preparation of the above step. Without repentance of the heart, our salvation will not be genuine. There are many church people today who claim that they have asked Jesus to come into their hearts. But their lives have never shown the repentance that John the Baptist talked about. No wonder their Christian lives are still not awakened. May we all heed the words of the messenger who prepared the way of the Lord. Though it is not by work that we are saved and receive eternal life but when we receive Jesus, we must have the willingness to repent of our unbelief and sins. After we become a Christian we should show the fruit of repentance in our Christian living. The power of Christ will strengthen us from within to do that.

(Now concerning Jesus’ genealogy, you will notice that many names are different from the genealogy recorded in Matthew. The reason is that Luke recorded Mary's ancestors who were also the descendant of David and Abraham. Heli then was the father in law of Joseph. (v. 23) Probably Heli had no son either. Joseph was his son by marriage.)