Category: Uncategorized

Mark 2:24
   The Pharisees may indeed have been following Jesus around. Or, at the least, it may have been some of the disciples of the Pharisaic rabbis. Either way, their question is intended here to be not just an inquisition, but a condemnation of the disciples of Christ. Comparing other passages from Matthew and Luke, we can see that it was said with a disdainful tone, and they assumed that they were right beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Bible Reading: Acts 3:1-4:37

Scripture Memory: James 5:19 “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we think of so many things as our valuable commodities. Our time, our money, our possessions, our opportunities, they all mean so much to us. Yet the truly important thing is our relationship with you. Father, may we never lose sight of that! We can be doing well in all of these other areas and be far from you. May we value our walk with you above all that is in our life. May our attitude towards you be the central focus of our hearts. To bring you praise and to rely on you in our hearts, rather than being full of our own selfishness and our own plans, is absolutely vital to our spiritual health. I praise you today, Father, for the ever-present blessings that we have through Christ. What you have given us never goes away. Please accept this day as a gift to you to honor you and glorify you. I will honor you as you enable me to do it. If you had not already given me a mouth to praise you, and feet to serve you, I could not. But, I will use what you have given me for your service. Thank you, dear Lord! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a woman with a bad cold. Pray for a man with Alzheimer’s and for his family as they care for him. Pray for a young girl who is sick.

Journal Entry #15054

Mark 2:23
   Here we enter upon a beautiful passage of Scripture. In it Jesus helps us to understand the true weight and significance of the law of Moses. First of all, we find the Lord and his disciples travelling on the Sabbath day. This itself could be seen as an infraction by the narrow definitions of the Pharisees. However, they do not mention it because they themselves would have needed to travel to catch them in this activity.
   Next, we find the disciples taking the liberty to grab a bite to eat along the way as they went through this field. There was nothing unlawful about taking food from someone else’s field, by the way. That is why the Pharisees said nothing about that part of it. The disciples were doing this because they were hungry and were headed to another location without any extra provision. It was a needful thing. They had no intention to profane the Sabbath, nor were they being careless.

Bible Reading: John 21:1-Acts 2:47

Scripture Memory: James 5:18 “Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we seem to get things backwards so much. We ask to be used, you ask us to serve. We seek to be empowered, you have already enabled us. We think you will ask us to sacrifice big things to you, you ask for the small things every day. We want to be obviously yours, you desire to be obviously ours. We think we must be devoted, you remind us that to this world we are dead. We commit to a voluntary obedience, you ask for complete service. May we learn to wait on you, dear Father, hand and foot. For then we may be the feet and hands of Christ on this earth. Thank you for your service to us in your Son. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for the pastors today. Pray for missionaries all over the world. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Journal Entry #15053

Mark 2:22
   Now I am sure that putting newer wine into much older wine bottles is a bad idea. However, unless those bottles would be exceedingly old and brittle, the wine would likely not make the bottles break. So, what is Jesus talking about? Well, they most likely did not use bottles for wine in Jesus’ day. Any bottles produced in that day would be nothing like what we think of as a bottle today. They would be made of clay or some other handy material of that time.
   The most likely solution here is that Jesus is speaking of wine skins. This is the meaning of the Greek term used here as well as in Matthew and Luke. Old wine skins could not be filled with newer wine without the risk of bursting. Either way, whether you prefer to read here bottles or skins, the meaning is the same. Jesus is giving a simple illustration to point out the incompatibility of trying to add the new into the old. The new was a complete replacement for the old. Jesus had not come to do away with the old law, but to fulfill it.

Bible Reading: John 19:1-20:31

Scripture Memory: James 5:18 “Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we never devalue our lives to the point that we think we have no time for your Word! May we always sit before that golden spout that Mary left the side of Martha for. Give us a sense of the importance of it in every situation as Paul had. Make us run to the familiar sound of your voice in its pages, which was such a blessing to Peter and John, James and Jude, Timothy and Titus. We could have no better company than those throughout history that have been given wholly to dependence upon your holy Word. Thank you for it! You are truly wonderful and your book shows us your glory. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for travelling safety for those in the snow and ice today. Pray for our upcoming revival.

Journal Entry #15052

Mark 2:21
   There was to be great difficulty for even believing Jews to accept the truth of the church age. For the Jews, the nation of Israel is the only hope for righteousness in the world. Though God has indeed blessed the Jews, and though they are most clearly a part of his plan for the future, God’s plan is bigger than any one nation. The same God who found Abram the Syrian and chose him for his friend has sent his own Son to Jew and Gentile alike.
   So, Jesus here uses an illustration, trying to help these men understand that they must not force their ideas upon the truth, but must let God reveal the truth just as it is. The person of Christ was the key to the transition between the old and new testaments. But he was the element that the Jewish leaders would not except.

Bible Reading: John 17:1-18:40

Scripture Memory: James 5:18 “Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I never fail to praise you! You are worthy of all of our devotion. You alone can fulfill our deepest needs. Because you are so wonderful, we find all that we can ever be in you. You bring our existence to fullness. Thank you for caring for us! I praise you and lift high the name of the Christ! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for several children that need salvation. Pray for the leaders of our nation.

Journal Entry #15051

Mark 2:20
   Fasting is appropriate at this time. However, as Jesus goes on to explain, the reasons for fasting differ somewhat from before. In this day, fasting shows our dependence upon the Lord. Believers have the Spirit in them, but fasting is an outward manifestation of an inward dependence and faith.

Bible Reading: John 14:1-16:33

Scripture Memory: James 5:17 “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for being so faithful! We hear so much about waiting on you, but maybe you are waiting on us! We so often want what we don’t need and need what we don’t want. Thank you for teaching us the difference. Your ways are so much better than ours. You can give the best gifts and guide the right ways. You are altogether holy, and your authority is absolute. I want to honor you with my life. May the name of Christ be constantly in my mouth. May he be praised! Salvation is the most beautiful thing ever! You have made your glory apparent to all, dear Father. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a woman who is not feeling well. Pray for a man who has been in the hospital for a very long time.

Journal Entry #15050

Mark 2:19
   The Pharisees should remember John the Baptist calling Jesus the bridegroom. If these men had believed in Christ as the Messiah, this question would not have been asked. Note how Jesus says this, ‘they cannot’ fast. It would be wrong for them to do so at the time because fasting shows our patience and devotion in spite of our position as strangers and pilgrims in this world.

Bible Reading: John 12:1-13:38

Scripture Memory: James 5:17 “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, no matter what it takes to know you, it is worth it. You cannot be compared to anyone. You are beyond my fondest imaginations of you. Were it not for your Holy Word I could never conceive of the Great and Wonderful Person that you are. You are the Almighty God of all. And, you have made it possible for me to know you. All that I might ever have or need can be found in you. What a wonder is this relationship! For man to know God, that is a mystery! But, it is a fact that is possible by the blood of Christ. Thank you, Father! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for our missionaries. Pray for a woman having a spinal tap done. Pray for a man recovering from several surgeries.

Journal Entry #15049

Mark 2:18
   There were likely those among the Pharisees that were truly searching out the truth. Some of them came to belief in Christ, though precious few. The majority were concerned with discrediting Christ and justifying themselves. A question like this makes that obvious. They were going through their list of requirements and found Jesus wanting in this area.

Bible Reading: John 11:1-57

Scripture Memory: James 5:17 “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, May we always allow you to lead us to the next step in your plan. We want your way, and yet we often do not follow your lead. We will submit ourselves to your plans. We are not able to see what we need or know what we truly want. You alone can guide us the right way. Your wisdom is perfect. Your ways are right. Your power is limitless. Your holiness is wonderful. We will praise you and follow your ways forever! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a little boy who is not feeling well. Pray for a man having an arteriogram done.

Journal Entry #15048

Mark 2:17
   This answer on the part of Christ is really not all that radical when compared to the thinking of the scribes and Pharisees. However, it required the acceptance of his ministry as legitimate. This these Jewish leaders were not prepared to do. Their problem was not understanding the needs of the sinner, but identifying anyone but themselves as anything but sinners. To see Christ as righteous was being a difficulty for them. Indeed, in their thinking anyone who was not like them must not be truly righteous. And those who Jesus now sought to minister to were seen as so far from righteousness that trying to bring them to repentance would be a travesty.

Bible Reading: John 9:1-10:42

Scripture Memory: James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to keep our eyes on you. We often get so bogged down with the cares of this life. We may be waiting on certain things, or looking for something to change. But, all that we truly need can be found in you. So, as we wait we should depend upon you, because what we are waiting for may never come. We must trust you with the next step, because it may only seem to be the next step to us. You may have something altogether different in mind. Let us get our minds off of ourselves, and onto Christ. May his name be praised! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a family that just lost a loved one. Pray for a man awaiting a brain scan.

Journal Entry #15047

Mark 2:16
   And why did they ask the disciples and not Christ himself? Well, it may very well be that they had not the opportunity, or they did not want to get too close to him with these ‘sinners’ around. How then did they have access to his disciples? Maybe they caught a couple of them on their way to join the meal. We don’t know, but we can be sure that these men were beginning to try to draw his disciples away from him.

Bible Reading: John 7:1-8:59

Scripture Memory: James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, make us know the truth of your gospel. We seem to miss the significance of a relationship with Christ. We have so much in him! He is the fulfillment of all that we need in this life and the life to come. May we ever praise you for your glorious plan of redemption. You, Father, are perfectly holy, perfectly just, perfectly loving! Thank you for Christ! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man in the hospital. Pray for our upcoming revival.

Journal Entry #15046

Mark 2:15
   It has always been the case that hardened sinners will be drawn to the truth. Though they may be seem the last to be expected to convert, this is not always the case. And why is this? Well, the ravages of sin do take their toll on a person. Hardened sinners begin to see the futility of the sin-filled life. Though they are quite chained to it, if ever the Spirit may break through they are easily converted wholly. Thus the demon possessed, the drunkard, the drug addicted, the fornicator, the profligate, and the like. They may, many of them, be sold to their master for all of life. But, if they come into contact with the truth in the person of a genuine minister of the gospel, many of them will give up their wayward life and be truly converted. This is not to say that this level of service to sin is required to be a wholehearted convert, for it is definitely not. But, a familiarity with the emptiness of sinful life makes one the more in love with the abundant life in Christ. Hence John Bunyan, John Newton, and Billy Sunday.

Bible Reading: John 5:1-6:71

Scripture Memory: James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to realize what we have in Christ. The love that you have made available to us is limitless. We need not look to our fellow man to fulfill our deepest needs. But, as we learn to depend upon your love, we find the ability to identify love in the hearts of others. We feel more loved by our friends and loved ones, and more affinity even with our enemies, as we learn to lean upon your amazing love. This would seem backwards to our sentiments, but it is exactly how it works. Thank you, then, for not only loving us so much, but for teaching us what that love means. For, you offer your love with wisdom and understanding. As we grow in you, we not only feel your love more, but we know your love more. It grows inside of us. Thank you, Father! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a young girl with seizures. Pray for a woman having shoulder pain.

Journal Entry #15045