Mark 3:9
   We find ourselves again asking, what is he worried about? What does this mean? Jesus did not want to be taken by the crowd. Mobs of people have a mind of their own and generally do very unwise things. Jesus didn’t want to have to protect himself on this occasion. Those who needed healing unfortunately failed to realize that it was not necessary to touch him to be healed by him.

Bible Reading: Romans 6:1-8:39

Scripture Memory: Jude 1:6 “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for another day that you have made. Just forgiving us and saving our souls would be enough to praise you for forever. But, you also have a plan for each of our lives. And you are actively working to see that plan carried out. This is so wonderful! You are involved in our lives and care about what goes on. Thank you for that! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for several people who are sick.

Journal Entry #15066

Mark 3:8
   Many of these followers were looking to see more miracles. But, we must not think that this would be the only reason for people to follow him. Some were genuinely looking for the Messiah. Others were checking out his teaching, hoping that he would help overthrow the Roman empire. Still others were just curious. But, in this mixed group, there were those who would become faithful followers of Christ.

Bible Reading: Romans 3:1-5:21

Scripture Memory: Jude 1:5 “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we never forget your holiness! You are so holy, just, and pure. You have never done the least thing wrong. You have made the good path available to us. We have no excuse for sin. Any attempt to marginalize sin is just a practice in self-justification. Seeing sin for what it is is liberating. We see the way to freedom made possible by the blood of Christ. Only through his worthy sacrifice may we be in your presence. We will fall on our faces and worship before you, oh Father! You are worthy! Let us not quickly forget your mercies and your great grace. May we have them ever before us and be dependent upon your faithfulness. May our lives be found totally in you! We praise you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for revival in Rhea County. Pray for several people who are sick.

Journal Entry #15065

Mark 3:7
   Jesus purposely avoided certain locations at certain times. This does not mean he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. But, instead, it shows that there was a specific timing to God’s plan about his crucifixion. The betrayal of Judas was the selected time, not at this early date.

Bible Reading: Acts 28:1-Romans 2:29

Scripture Memory: Jude 1:4 “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for faith. Though sometimes we hesitate to go on faith alone, we really must realize that faith is what you have given us to go on. You have made it the certainty that we need to move forward. Thank you for giving us all that we need for this life. We will praise you with our mouth, and with our lives. You are worthy! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a woman in the hospital. Pray for a woman recovering from surgery. Pray for revival.

Journal Entry #15064

Mark 3:6
   The Herodians here mentioned cannot be easily identified. However, it seems the most likely scenario was that they were a sect of the Sadducees. These had some special connection with Herod, being funded, approved, or simply recognized by him. Herod did see himself as a model Jew, though we was anything but.

Bible Reading: Acts 25:1-27:44

Scripture Memory: Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your tremendous truth! Your Word is so applicable to our lives! How can we ever mine the depths of what we find there? Give us your wisdom so that we may see your truth for our lives. Thank you for being so wonderful. Thank you for Christ! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man who is sick. Pray for a woman who is sick.

Journal Entry #15063

Mark 3:5
   Many people would like to tell us that Jesus doesn’t get angry. Well, that’s obviously not the case. What was he angry about? Hardness of heart. What exactly does that mean? Jesus has already given us a good idea of it in the previous verse. These men would rather see the traditional interpretations of the law followed than to see this man healed. What coldness! What self-righteousness!

Bible Reading: Acts 22:1-24:27

Scripture Memory: Jude 1:2 “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for us. You do have our best interests at heart. Everything you have ever done is good, holy and just. You have chosen to love us in spite of our sin in that you have made a way of escape. You have given us the path of life through your Son. May we never forget your grace! We will praise you daily for your loving-kindness. Your truth is a mercy, and your love is overwhelming. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man who is having trouble with his diabetes. Pray for a woman with a sore throat.

Journal Entry #15062

Mark 3:4
   This is one of those questions of Jesus that just flabbergasts his detractors. They have no way of responding to this because they don’t want to illustrate their error any further. The obvious answer, and their resistance to it, just shows the evil of their own hearts.

Bible Reading: Acts 20:1-21:40

Scripture Memory: Jude 1:1 “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for another wonderful day to serve you! You have given us all that  we need in this life. May we live to worship you each day. We will praise you with our mouth. We will serve you with our hands. May every part of our life be yours! To live for Christ is such a joy. May we make a difference in this world by living for him before others. Give us a love for others by our love for Christ. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man who is not well. Pray for a man with bad knee pain.

Journal Entry #15062

Mark 3:3
   Jesus was evidently teaching, or sitting in a place of prominence. Thus, he asks the man to ‘come forward’ so to speak. Jesus was not interested in a show, but he wasn’t about to avoid this conflict. Most everyone present probably knew the man was there, and to avoid healing him would be an admission of the sentiments of the Pharisees regarding healing on the Sabbath.

Bible Reading: Acts 18:1-19:41

Scripture Memory: Beginning tomorrow I plan to go through a quick review of Jude, 1 John and James.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for Christ! It is all about him. Through our whole lives he is what matters. How we live for him is the measure of our existence. You have set him before us all as the answer. He is the One for us to look to , to trust, to worship, to serve. The lost man must ask himself what he will do with Christ, and the saved man must ask what he will do for Christ. We must lift his name high. The first Adam has no solutions for us, and so we must rely on the second Adam. Thank you for life in him! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a woman going to the doctor this week to have her lungs and heart checked. Pray for a woman who is not feeling well.

Journal Entry #15061

Mark 3:2
   They were purposely waiting to see if Jesus would do anything. This reveals the rebellion in their hearts. They wanted Jesus to slip up, to be caught in something. Why? Jealousy. Ignorance. Worldliness. Their system was finely tuned and perfected, they didn’t want anybody rocking the boat.

Bible Reading: Acts 16:1-17:34

Scripture Memory: James 5:20 “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for this great day to worship you. You have given us so much! How can we thank you enough? The security we find in Christ is wonderful. May we live to find all we need in him, not the things of this world. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for pastors today. Pray for a man in the hospital.

Journal Entry #15060

Mark 3:1
   Mark gives us many examples of the love of Christ for people in contrast to an empty religiosity. This is really quite an applicable message. Jesus’ teaching transcends the traditional approach of mankind. He is totally righteous, while at the same time not being even a step out of touch with reality. He needs no monastery, temple, mountain, or other sanctuary to make him holier. He is God in the garden just as much as he is in the Jewish temple.

Bible Reading: Acts 14:1-15:41

Scripture Memory: James 5:20 “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for faith. Faith gives us that rock-solid assurance that the Christian life revolves around. It gives us a sure footing for our lives. How can we overestimate the importance of faith in our lives? Knowing you is the most vital thing for any of us, and we do this by faith. You are so wonderful to know! I am glad that you have made faith possible and have revealed the truth about yourself. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for many who have cancer. Pray for the lost.

Journal Entry #15059

Mark 2:28
   As Jesus had recently established the fact that he had the authority to forgive sins, he also lets these men know that he has complete authority over the Sabbath. It would properly be a day set aside to worship him, as God, anyway. Thus, he could indeed allow anything he wanted on the Sabbath. The disciples really didn’t need any special permission to do what they had done, but if they had, he would have been more than in the right to give it to them.

Bible Reading: Acts 11:1-13:52

Scripture Memory: James 5:20 “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for today. You give us so many blessings! How can we ever thank you or praise you enough? You help us in every area of our lives. Thank you for the Lord Jesus! Knowing him is the most important thing to us. Help us to remember your faithfulness and to be faithful servants to you because of it. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for our national leaders. Pray for the persecuted church around the world.

Journal Entry #15058