Category Archives: Righteousness / Serving God

Guide, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Purposeful / Intentional, Submitted / Servant

Whoever Has, to Him More Shall Be Given… Is That Fair?

By today’s culture, many likely read on the surface the following verse and think, “That is not fair.” More and more people are indoctrinated by the teaching of men with man’s concept of fair and somehow everyone is supposed to have equal outcomes.

Mark 4:25

25“For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

This same message is included in Luke 8:18 and Matthew 13:12 in the same context as Yeshua talks to His disciples about the parable of the sower.

There will never be equal outcomes because everyone is different and makes different choices. In fact, we are made intentionally different to serve the purposes of Yahweh (Romans 9) and for the purpose of functioning as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12).

It is important to put aside man’s view of “fair” and listen to what Yahweh’s word actually says. Do not miss the context. Yeshua was speaking to the disciples about why He taught in parables.

Mark 4:10-12

10As soon as He was alone, [b]His followers, along with the twelve disciples, began asking Him about the parables. 11And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those who are outside, everything comes in parables, 12so that WHILE SEEING THEY MAY SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR, AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND IT WOULD BE FORGIVEN THEM.”

We may think it is unfair, but what we think does not define what is right. What the LORD says is right, is right, whether or not we understand it. Clearly the LORD is making a distinction about the level of knowledge of the kingdom of Yahweh that is being entrusted to the disciples vs. others who may come to hear what Yeshua was teaching. Some are given more insight and some very little.

To further clarify the bottom line of the message, it is helpful to review the parable of the talents in which Yeshua makes the same statement about those having more getting more and those having little, losing even what they have. The key is that those who are obedient in little things will be entrusted with much and will be given more. Those who can not be trusted with little things, will lose even what they have. This includes insights and wisdom about the kingdom, not just money.

Matthew 25:14-29

Parable of the Talents

      14“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15“To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16“Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17“In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18“But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

      19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

      22“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

      24“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

      26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

      29“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please guide me in Your wisdom. Please open my eyes to the truth of Your kingdom and how I should live. Help me to be trustworthy and obedient so that You would trust me with more. Let me never take for granted what You have given me so that I would lose it. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Giving, Grace / Forgiveness, Grace / Patience, Help / Serve Others, Humility, Kindness / Gentleness, Love, Merciful, Mercy, Patient

Treat Others How You Want Yahweh to Treat You

The book of Mark is like a highlight reel. There is a lot packed in each chapter and not all of it has a lot of background context. Fortunately, if we are willing to invest a bit of time, we can cross reference with the other gospels and help to ensure we understand more completely.

Yeshua warned His disciples that the standard of measure they would use, is what our Father will use to judge them. Keep this in mind when reading Luke 6. If we first read Luke 6 strictly from the perspective of how we should treat others, we may tend to think that it is a very high bar and maybe find it a it tough to wrap our minds around. I get a slightly different perspective when I read it from the perspective of this is how I would like others to treat me, including my heavenly Father!

We are to engage others using a very challenging and selfless standard and in turn trust that the LORD will have mercy and grace on us accordingly.

Mark 4:24

 24And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.

Luke 6:27-38

    27“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29“Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 30“Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. 32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33“If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

      37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. 38“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

The closing line says it all… we are to treat others by the same standard we wish for God to use in His relationship with us and also how we would like others to treat us. Take time to dwell on that and truly allow yourself the humility to accept where you are not living up to the right standard. I have quite a bit of room to grow in this area. There is more grace and mercy I can pour out to others in my relationship with them… more love… more giving. I pray the Holy Spirit helps me and I know He will, because He always does. Praise God He is so compassionate and loving and filled with mercy and grace in His relationship with me. Let me be so to others.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead me in how I treat others. Help me to be selfless and filled with mercy, compassion, and grace. Thank You for the mercy, compassion, and grace You have for me and others. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Humility, Parables, Seeking God, Thankfulness

Why Does Yeshua Teach in Parables?

Yeshua was asked by his disciples why He taught in parables. I used to assume it was because it made it easier for people to relate and understand, but His answer is different and it can really challenge us to think a bit differently  if we let it. Let us not take for granted that He has chosen us to understand. Let us be humble and thankful.

Mark 4:10-12

10As soon as He was alone, [b]His followers, along with the twelve disciples, began asking Him about the parables. 11And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those who are outside, everything comes in parables, 12so that WHILE SEEING THEY MAY SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR, AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND IT WOULD BE FORGIVEN THEM.”

More detail is recorded in Matthew.

Matthew 13:10-17

An Explanation

      10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12“For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13“Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14“In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

      15FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’

16“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17“For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Some have been granted the opportunity to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and some have not. Yahweh does not reveal Himself to everyone equally. Some He has chosen for honorable purposes and some for common.

Romans 9:21-24

21Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? 22What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

Thus Yeshua says He speaks in parables so that some will hear and understand and some will not. This may be very challenging for some of us to digest who have been taught that Yahweh wants everyone to be saved. Not all are chosen for special purpose of being in relationship with Him. Caution, however, do not let this lead you to stop praying for people who are lost. It is by prayer that some will be brought to relationship with our LORD.

Let us also recognize that this was always His intent, as it is captured in prophecy to which Yeshua refers.

Take time to reflect on the word. Let it challenge your comfort zone. Test what you have been taught against what the word says. Let us also change our attitudes a bit to be less confident in ourselves for our salvation and relationship with Yahweh and more grateful to the LORD for choosing us. Yes, we had to respond and choose Him, but He chose us first. Be humble and thankful in regards to your relationship with our Father.

Yeshua also refers to giving more to the one who has much and taking from him who has little.  I think this is in relationship to our faith and our corresponding relationship with Him. There is no middle ground. We are either with Him or against Him. Do not try to ride the fence between Yahweh and man.

Matthew 12:30

    30“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Revelation 3:15-16

    15‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Guide, Protector / Deliverer, Seeking God

Seek Yahweh for the Battles You Face

For most of us, our battles will not be literal warfare. However, whether it is warfare or other challenges we face, we do well to seek and obey Yahweh on how to approach them. Obviously it is important to develop a deep personal relationship with Him before that time. Do not wait until you are in the battle to spend time with Him and His word. That said, You can reach out to Him in the battle even if you have not developed the relationship You want to have with Him.

1 Chronicles 14:8-17

Philistines Defeated

      8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them. 9Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” 11So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim. 12They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.

      13The Philistines made yet another raid in the valley. 14David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 15“It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 16David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even as far as Gezer. 17Then the fame of David went out into all the lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him on all the nations.

I recognize we do not all hear this clearly from the LORD. However, each of us should strive to build relationship with Him so that we will hear from Him more clearly.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please hear my cry when I am facing challenges and I seek You. Help me to clearly hear and understand Your voice as David did. Give me the courage to obey when I do hear from You clearly. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Fear / Reverence for God, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Holy, Obeying God, Seeking God, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Focus on God’s Mission, Not Your Own, and Do It His Way

Sometimes we may have a tendency to get angry with Yahweh when something does not work out well, even if it was relating to the church or ministry or service to others. David experienced this when he tried to move the ark and Uzza was struck down by Yahweh for touching the ark. David became fearful, which is understandable, and paused the movement of the ark.

1 Chronicles 13

Peril in Transporting the Ark

      1Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader. 2David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us; 3and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

      5So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. 7They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.

      9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. 10The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11Then David became angry because of the LORD’S outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day. 12David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.

A common attitude in reading this scripture may be that Yahweh was harsh or that David was only trying to honor Yahweh. However, if we look deeper the history gets more interesting.  David clearly asked the people if moving the ark was a good idea, and said he wanted to do it if it was from Yahweh. However, there is no firm indication that David went to the LORD in prayer and sought an answer from Yahweh about moving the ark. It is not clear if he did so, but its absence of mention may imply he did not as elsewhere in scripture that action is explicitly mentioned.

Further, David moved the ark his own way, not the way Yahweh had instructed. David used a cart where Yahweh instructed it was to be carried by men in a certain way. Yahweh also said noone should touch it and that was violated when Uzza reached up to stabilize it. It would not have tipped and needed to be stabilized if it was carried properly as Yahweh instructed.

I suppose a summary may be that David was so excited with what he wanted to do, perhaps with good intention for honoring the LORD, that he may not have consulted with the LORD on the mission and definitely went about it his own way instead of Yah’s way. The ark was holy and set apart for Yahweh’s purpose. It was not to be treated as common cargo.

I believe there is a lesson in this for all of us. It is not enough to seek to honor God in what we think is right and do it however we want. We must honor God how He instructs and seek Him to make sure we are lined up with His mission and not our own.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to stop and ask You about those things I want to accomplish, even if my heart is towards You. Help me pause and seek You. Let me hear from You. May the Spirit guide me. Show me how to accomplish all You call me to do in a way that is pleasing to You. Help me not to just hurry to do it how I think is right without seeking You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Faithful, Justice / Judgment, Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Thankfulness, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Praise the LORD at All Times!

Even when we experience difficult situations, let us praise YHWH and reflect on His glory and who He is and His great works. I encourage you to read Psalms more like a guide and praise Yahweh as He is praised in Psalms and pray through the Psalms.

Psalm 147 is also a good reminder that it is ok to ask for and thank Yahweh for restoration and prosperity.

Psalm 147

Praise for Jerusalem’s Restoration and Prosperity.

     1Praise the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.

      2The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.

      3He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

      4He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.

      5Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.

      6The LORD supports the afflicted;
He brings down the wicked to the ground.

      7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre,

      8Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who provides rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

      9He gives to the beast its food,
And to the young ravens which cry.

      10He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.

      11The LORD favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.

      12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!

      13For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your sons within you.

      14He makes peace in your borders;
He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.

      15He sends forth His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.

      16He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes.

      17He casts forth His ice as fragments;
Who can stand before His cold?

      18He sends forth His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.

      19He declares His words to Jacob,
His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.

      20He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His ordinances, they have not known them.
Praise the LORD!

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Discerning / Judging, Healer, Miracles, Miracles, Purposeful / Intentional, Submitted / Servant

Focus on the Father’s Mission Even When Criticized By Others

Great multitudes were following Yeshua. He went up on a mountain with the twelve disciples, trying to escape the crowds somewhat who were pursuing Him for healing. When he returned home, the crowd was so relentless that Yeshua and His disciples could not even eat a meal. People did not understand Him attending to the crowds as much as He did, so they started imagining that He lost His senses or worse.

Likewise, if we go “all in” for the Father, many people, even those who claim to believe in and follow Christ, will not understand. They will try to guide us to do things the way they expect or may mock us. We should take care not listen to godly counsel, but not to be pulled away from the Father’s mission for us by others who do not understand what it means to be fully invested in and submitted to the LORD.

Mark 3:20-27

      20And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” 22The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 23And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26“If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! 27“But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.

We see today as we see in scripture, that the way people are willing to stretch beyond logic to rationalize their view when they see something they do not understand is amazing. What sense would it make for Satan to use his power to cast out demons through someone? Similarly today we could ask, what sense does it make that everything in this universe sprang into existence by itself with no creator from literally nothing, a void. I don’t care how many millions of years someone imagines, if I have nothing it can not become something, let alone organize and evolve on its own. It requires a divine creator.

I invite you to pray:

Father, please lead and guide me and help me to focus on You and the mission You have chosen for me. Help me to have wise and godly counsel and courage and discernment to stand firm when others, even those claiming to follow You, try to stop me or change my full submission to You and Your work. Help open the eyes of the people to see and understand Your glory and turn from cultural norms to Your ways. Help the people fully submit to You. Amen.

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Guide, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant

What an Honor to be Chosen, Let Us Answer the Call

Do not assume that all of us are called with the same authority and purpose as the twelve. However, it is an honor to be called by our LORD no matter what our mission may be.  Let us seek to joyfully and consistently answer when He calls us.

Mark 3:13-19

The Twelve Are Chosen

      13And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15and to have authority to cast out the demons. 16And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), 17and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); 18and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.

It helps me to remember that He does call me to change my life and to follow Him. I am called to seek Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I am called to put Him first in my life. I am called to be a light to others to lead them to Him. I am not just called to continue living my life the way I was before He called me and squeeze time with Him in once a week for an hour or two. I am to be transformed over time to His image more and more.

The rest of the details may vary for each of us based on what gifts and abilities and specific mission He has called us to pursue, but we all have a common mission identified above.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for calling me and thank You for Your Spirit and Your written word that guide me. Help me to be a good and faithful servant, focused on joyfully carrying out whatever mission You choose for me. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Guide, Healer, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Miracles, Miracles, Teachable

Did Yeshua Really Heal Everyone Who Came to Him?

It is interesting to pause and reflect on Yeshua’s ministry, that it was very demanding on Him. We don’t usually think of it that way, because He is God. However, He was also man. He slept, ate, drank, got tired, rested, etc.

As Yeshua healed people, His reputation spread and people came from farther and farther around. To be clear, it appears that most of these came for selfish reasons, for personal healing or healing of friends or family. They did not come seeking to hear His teaching. The miracles brought them in and then He was able to teach them while they were with Him.

Mark 3:7-12

      7Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, 8and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him. 9And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him; 10for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him. 11Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.

This scripture also sheds light on the incorrect understanding that Yeshua came to heal everyone or healed everyone who came to Him. Some people take this to mean God wants everyone to be healed of all illness. It is not the case. Yeshua wanted to be able to get on a boat to keep distance from the crowds pressing in to touch Him and be healed. It is not that He did not have compassion, but rather that He was there to teach and guide people. He was not there to heal everyone. They were crowding so tightly they were impacting His teaching ministry.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to fully appreciate the tireless and difficult work that Yeshua did during His earthly ministry. Let me not take for granted the physical and emotional demands on Him personally. Help me in my life to seek You through Yeshua for who You are and what You teach and not just for my own personal healing or that of those around me. That said, thank you also that You invite us to come before You with our requests or personal needs and wants, including healing. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassion, Compassionate, Healer, Kindness / Gentleness, Loving / Kind, Slow to Anger, Teachable

Do Not Grieve Yeshua With the Hardness of Your Heart

Sometimes we can get very focused on certain ways of dong things. We can be sure we are right. In fact, we may be so sure we are right, that we lose track of what is most important. We may miss Yeshua working through or in someone we do not expect. We may look past miracles or the opportunity to help someone, because we are so focused on following the rules.

In fact, if the rules in question are Yahweh’s commands, we may indeed be right to want to follow them. However, we still need to take care that we don’t get so focused on someone obeying the rules that we let our hearts grow hard and miss out on something that may be even more important. Mark 3 records an example we should pay attention to. Think beyond the miracle and beyond the perspective of the man who is healed. Focus for today on Yeshua’s anger at the hardness of their hearts in focusing more on “getting” Yeshua and less on a man being healed.

Mark 3:1-6

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

      1He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. 2They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” 4And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me have a love of obeying Your commands, but also help me to keep focused on loving others and helping them. Let not my heart grow hard. Help me to be loving and kind.  Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.