Have you ever noticed how selfish toddlers can be? Their favorite word is “mine!” They don’t like sharing, and if someone takes their toy, they will often hurt the person. Teaching them to ask for forgiveness can be straight-up comedy. Nothing in their body wants to cooperate. Learning to forgive others when they have done something wrong is even more difficult.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11:25

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.”

Jesus was never shy when He spoke on the topic of forgiving other people. Here He tells us that if we are in church worshipping and haven’t forgiven somebody, then we need to go and make things right so that God will forgive us. Essentially what Jesus is saying is that we need to want to forgive others as much as we want God to forgive us. That’s easier said than done.

Yesterday the stock market hit a new high, property values reached all-time levels, and consumer confidence is on the rebound. The gurus would have you believe that the rebound is happening, and prosperity is right around the corner. Before you drink the kool-aid and buy into what they are selling, ask yourself one question, “Is this all there is?” Your greatest gain shouldn’t be in your portfolio or bank account but in your spirit. Your greatest gain comes with the combination of godliness and contentment.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:6

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”

As a young pastor, Timothy has a lot of challenges coming at him all at once. It would be easy to focus on the wrong goals and end up frustrated. His mentor, Paul, tells him how to take those in stride. Before Timothy was to work on the issues of the church, he was to work on himself. Paul tells him to build godliness and be content. If Timothy concentrated on those, the mounting stress of the church would diminish.

The legend has it that there was a small gate in the wall that surrounded Jerusalem. When they closed the main gate at sunset this small gate, called the “eye of the needle” was the only way you could get in and out of the city. It was only big enough for a human to walk through. If you had a camel and needed to get inside, the camel would have to get on its knees and crawl. That wasn’t an easy task, and Jesus uses it as an example to make His point.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:25‬

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

This scripture always catches people off guard. First, you ask yourself, “Is it impossible for a rich person to go to heaven?” Next, you look at it and wonder how a camel can go through the eye of a needle? Jesus is trying to make a point. Money can get in the way of us following Him. Paul tells us that the desire for money is the root of all evil. If we allow it to consume us, it will make us do things we would’ve never considered before.

One of the primary responsibilities, when you get married, is to provide for your family. This means the essentials like food, clothing, and shelter. For most people, this is a no-brainer, and we do it willingly. For others, it is a struggle because of the hard-luck that has befallen them. To forsake our families when we are capable of working is one of the lowest acts in God’s eyes.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5:8

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Paul was big on Christians being responsible. Previously, he had said that if you do not work, you will not eat. Today, we look at a verse directed at the men of the house and their responsibility to provide for their family. If they don’t, it is an act that is equal to denying their faith, and you rank lower than an unbeliever. You can almost sense from the tone of Paul’s words that he is tired of dealing with this issue.

I watched a video the other day of a father riding across the United States on his bicycle to raise money and awareness for organ donors. One stop was in Louisiana to meet the person who received his daughter’s heart after her sudden and tragic death. As he put a stethoscope on the man’s heart, he realized that her death gave life to this man. When we look at the cross, we need to understand that Jesus’ death gives us life.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:31‬

“For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.”

Jesus told the disciples several times that He would have to die but that He would rise again. Each time they heard the first part and were so grieved by it that they didn’t hear the second part. Even after Jesus’ death, they forgot His words about His resurrection. It wasn’t till the ladies at the tomb told them, and Jesus appeared to them in the upper room did it dawn on them that He was telling them all along.

In the Greek and Roman societies during Paul’s time, athletic ability and body image were worshiped. The Greeks had the Olympics and their gods, who were revered for their beauty and strength. The Romans had their emperors and military, which projected power and domination. Paul contrasts that by telling us what is truly profitable, disciplining ourselves for godliness.

‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:7-8

“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

In the Greek and Roman societies during Paul’s time, athletic ability and body image were worshiped. The Greeks had the Olympics and their gods, who were revered for their beauty and strength. The Romans had their emperors and military, which projected power and domination. Paul contrasts that by telling us what is truly profitable, disciplining ourselves for godliness.

I had a teacher who would often say to the class, “opinions are like ears; everyone has two of them.” I would always be one of the few to laugh, not because I got it, but because it was true. Everybody usually has two opinions on the same subject, and they usually contradict one another. If someone asked you about Jesus, what would you say? Would you tell them that He is the Son of God who came to earth to forgive your sins?

Mark 7:27-29

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

Jesus wasn’t asking these questions for His ego. He was asking them to see if the Disciples would trumpet what others were saying or if they genuinely believed in their hearts that Jesus was the anointed one. Israel had a history of rejecting the people God had sent them. It started with Joseph, then to Moses, King David, the Prophets, and finally, Jesus. Were those Jesus picked going to profess He was the Messiah?

Heard a sad story the other day of how a church split and went to court over who got the church building because an Elder got mad over a boy had gotten a bigger piece of ham at a potluck than he did. Sounds silly, but these issues crop up every day in the church. That is not what Paul intended when he wrote the qualifications of an elder. He was looking for those who desire to do the hard work.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭3:1‬

“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.”

The role that Paul is talking about here is an Elder. The Greek word used here is “episkopos,” which can be used as Elder, Pastor, or Shepherd. It is a person who is one of the overseers, or leaders, or the church. It denotes authority and means that the person has the role of responsibility in the church. The person who aspires to this office desires a good thing.

I am confident that if people listened twice as much as they talk, this world would be eighty percent better. We put too much value into what people have to say. The problem is that there is so much chatter that you have to say something outrageous to get noticed. Jesus said what comes out of the mouth, defiles a person and reveals what is in their heart.

Mark 7:20-23

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts… All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

I think we all will agree that our mouth has gotten us into more trouble than anything else we have done combined. Sometimes it seems like we aren’t even in control of our tongue. Words are coming out, and we are asking ourselves, “Who is this person?” That’s because the mouth reveals our real heart. Most of the time, we can keep it under wraps but add in a little anxiety and anger, and soon it is a tsunami that is destroying everything in its path. We don’t need to control our tongue; we need to root out the sin.

The story is told that George Mueller had a prayer list of five men who didn’t know Jesus. He prayed every day that these men would come to know Jesus. After one year, one of the men gave his life to Christ. Another one came to Jesus a decade later and then another years after that. For fifty-four years, Mueller prayed for the final two, and one gave his life to Jesus at Mueller’s funeral, and the final one did so a year after his death. The faithful prayer of one man saw five of his friends come to know Jesus. Prayer changes things.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:8

“Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

There has never been a time when prayer is more needed than today. The church should be on its knees, crying out for a mighty move of God. This world is in need, and we have the solution through Jesus Christ. The only way people realize their need for Him is by the church coming together to pray.

Every soul matters to God. I know that’s not a popular belief today but Scripture backs it up. He desires that everyone would come to know Jesus. As the Bride of Christ our desires should be the same. Our heart should be for the lost and those going to hell. This is the desire of God’s Heart.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:4‬

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

God desires that everyone be saved from hell and experience the forgiveness of their sins. That is the whole purpose for sending His Son. God set His plan of redemption into action as soon as Adam committed the first sin. When He looks at people today He sees our brokenness and our inability to fix it.

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God made it very clear to the Israelites that they were to keep His laws. If they did, He promised them great blessings. If they didn’t, it was only a matter of time before disaster was on their doorstep. God hasn’t changed His heart. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His message is simple, “Walk in my ways.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭20:19-20

“I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them. Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

Israel had a hard time keeping their eyes on God. They didn’t obey his law or set apart the Sabbath day as holy. Instead, they did what was right in their own eyes and did whatever they wanted on the Sabbath. This leads them to be corrected by God and eventually being led into captivity. If they would’ve obeyed His Word, they would’ve been close to Him.

From time to time I like to recommend a book or resource that I believe can help you in your walk with Jesus Christ. The book “Replicate” by Robby Gallaty and Chris Swain is one of those books. Jesus’ last command to the church was to “Go and make disciples, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.” (Matt 28:19 I wrote a devotion here) Discipleship is the mission of the church. We are to go and make disciples. The book “Replicate” lays out all of the reasons why you and your church should be doing it and a simple plan on how to implement it.

On our wall, we have several family portraits. They start with our wedding picture to our last one. Each shows our growth in both age and number. When our kids were younger, they would ask why they weren’t in specific pictures. It was hard for them to understand they weren’t born yet. Are you part of the family of God? If there was a family portrait, would you be in it?

‭‭Mark‬ ‭3:32-35

And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus was sitting inside of a house, probably Peter’s in Capernaum, teaching His followers. Mom and His brothers show up, asking for Him. Some have speculated that they were coming to take Him home because rumors were swirling that He was doing crazy things.

It’s mind-boggling how much people spend on self-improvement. From the books, to the online courses, to personal coaching all to change how we are. Most of it fails because people want new improvements but with very little change in their lives. You can’t have both. Jesus makes that clear in that the new work that He wants to do will take some change. The sooner we prepare ourselves, the quicker it will happen.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:22

“No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”

If you want things to change, you can’t keep doing it the way you’ve done it in the past. For the Jews, it was adhering to the old system of the law. Jesus came to change things, and the old way of doing things according to the law wasn’t going to work. They had gotten into a spiritual rut and didn’t even know the heart of God anymore.

Going to see the doctor today can be an adventure. The fear of catching COVID-19 is keeping people away from hospitals and getting the care they need. Add to that the fact that hundreds of people are filled with fear, sure they have the virus taking their places, and it can be frustrating. It’s the sick who need a doctor. The same can be said for those who are spiritually sick. Pastors are inundated with people with made-up problems while the genuinely needy go ignored.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:17

“And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus had multiple confrontations with the religious people in Jerusalem. These were the people who prided themselves on having it all together, spiritually speaking. Jesus tells theses spiritually elite that He came to minister to those who were sick. These people didn’t think they were part of that group. Self-righteous people think that they are okay, but sinners know they are messed up.

When a judge walks into his courtroom, the Bailiff tells everyone to rise. When a high ranking officer in the military enters, everyone ranked underneath him stand up, come to attention, and salute. Why is it we don’t have the same reverence for God’s Word? It deserves the same respect of any judge or general.

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭8:5

“Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.”

The Israelites had a reverence for God’s Word. Even after seventy years of exile for forsaking God, the remnant that came back stood when Ezra opened the Law’s book. While it was being read, they stood, and the scribes read it for several hours. I encourage you to read the whole story in Nehemiah 8. By the time that Ezra was done reading, people were weeping. This shows you that there is power in the written Word of God, and it can change our lives.

Want to know God’s will for your life? Part of it is that you are full of joy and peace. The Apostle Paul tells you how to accomplish God’s will for your life, always rejoice, and pray without ceasing. Focus on this, and you will notice the change.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes we need to be told to do things that produce a positive result in our spirit. It’s too easy to focus on what is wrong or what could happen and then sink into a funk because it seems like everything is caving in. As Christians, we are to walk in joy and peace. Those come from us rejoicing and being in constant prayer. A warning, though, don’t take this verse too literally. I knew someone who walked around doing this. He wouldn’t respond to you if you asked him a question. When it says, “without ceasing,” it means consistently.