Tag: Jesus

Your Brother

*Deuteronomy 21-22

Psalm 29

Mark 13

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            I’m very partial to and fond of the book of Deuteronomy for a couple reasons.  First and foremost, Jesus quoted out of this particular book religiously (no pun intended).  When Jesus was tempted, every single one of his responses was from the book of Deuteronomy (go ahead and verify that if you like, per temptation: hungry? Deut 8:3, test God? Deut 6:16, worship Satan? Deut 6:13).  When Jesus said “It is written…”, this is usually the book that he’s quoting from that it was written in; which tells me it was probably pretty important.

            When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “The Shema”: 4“Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one! 5You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (LSB Translation).  If you don’t have that one memorized and know it by heart, you really should, because according to Jesus it’s the greatest commandment; see Mark 12:29-31.  It’s one of the primary reasons that many of us understand our God in the manner in which we do, since it was given in such a clear manner.  This passage alone should have prevented a number of the innacurate understandings (but clearly didn’t, starting in about the 4th century and persisting to this very day).

            When I was younger and read some of the Old Testament statutes given to the Israelites, I thought some were just weird.  I didn’t really understand that this is because the statutes were given to an entirely different culture, in an entirely different time and place, and that they make much more sense when read holistically and with a more “macroscopic” lens.  When you take a step back most of these laws had to do with respect; respect for your community, respect for your fellow creation, and respect for your God.  The thing that I didn’t understand the most at the time was that respect for my fellow creation WAS respect for my God, or at least one aspect of it.

            Looking at just a few of these today from our reading, there is one specific point I’d like you to consider, and take away from this reading: (Deut 22:2 LSB ) “And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall be with you until your brother searches for it; then you shall give it back to him.”.  This is the key question I’d like for us to think about today:  Who is our brother? We see from the above passage that they don’t need to be near us, and that we don’t even need to know them.  I would suggest that based on these two simple criteria that our brother (or sister, or “sibling” if you’d rather) is any other human being (which God created) that is sharing this planet (which God also created) with us (see also Luke 10: 25-37 for a more complete understanding).  Your brother is everyone, just as your sister is everyone, just as your neighbor is everyone.

            So when Jesus gave us the second greatest commandment in Mark 12:31, “…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (quoting Lev 19:18), it sets a pretty high standard for this type of love.  I mean, let’s be honest: while most of us like our neighbors plenty, do we really love them as much as we love ourself?  Do you regularly think of how much food others have when you’re buying groceries for your family?  When you buy new clothes for yourself, are you also concerned about what the guy down the street is wearing?  When you get a new car, do you ever stop and consider how the next door neighbor’s vehicle is working?  I’d say that (speaking for myself at least) while I try to be a good Christian I tend to think about myself a lot more than I think about other folks, and the further out they are from me the more that is the case.   I could say that a lot of this is due to the wealth driven society that I grew up in here in America or the “current evil age” that we’re in, but then Christ came to save us and gave everything he did while we were still in our sin.  We should remember that when we consider how we act towards others, even when wronged.

            Applying the verse above we see that people that we don’t even know are our brother, our neighbor.  So what about their needs?  What about that homeless guy, or the addict, or that guy who goes to a different church that doesn’t believe the same thing, or that guy/gal that uses weird pronouns? Can we truly say that we love them as much as we love ourself?  If we did, we’d think about all of them every time we thought about doing something for ourself, and we just don’t.  It’s an almost impossibly high standard and one in which I personally fail almost constantly, if I’m being honest.

            I believe that a very, very important thing to remember is that God created us in His own image so that we would have dominion over the things on the earth (Gen 1:26), which comes with some privilege and some responsibility.  We have been placed here on this earth with our fellow creations, and allowed to have the resources and wealth that we currently possess by the grace of God, in order to reflect the character of God.  God is the most gracious, the most merciful, and being created in His image means that we should be reflecting that graciousness and mercy as well.  Think about how patient God has been with you. Do you show that same patience to others?  Think about how generous God has been with you.  Do you show that same generosity to others?  Think about how forgiving God has been with you.  Do you show that same forgiveness to others?  Think about it for a moment.  Now consider that even with all of the offenses that humanity has committed against God, from the beginning of history, He STILL sent us Jesus.  Sober reflection on this will show us that we have a long way to go if we are going to accurately reflect God’s love.

            Have you ever been watching TV or listening to the radio and hear a loud alarming series of beeps which are followed by a “This is a test.  This is only a test” message?  Well, we don’t get that loud annoying sound in life, but I’d like you to consider that this life that you have been given is also just a test.  God has strewn seeds all along the road, and the ones that grow and develop fruit in the manner which He desires will be brought into the storehouse and saved (The Kingdom).  Those that do not grow in the manner He desires and bear the proper fruits will be discarded.  If you are ever so focused on yourself that you do not stop to consider “Am I my brothers’ keeper?”, then please stop for a moment and understand fully that the answer is a resounding YES, because God made you that way, as His representative.  So, child of God, represent.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

How can I better reflect the character of God…

  • With my interactions with others?
  • With the wealth and other resources that God has given me?
  • With my time and attitude?
  • With my patience?
  • While bearing the fruits of the spirit?

When was the last time you…

  • Bought a homeless person a meal?
  • Offered a stranger a ride?
  • Stopped and helped a stranger who was broke down?
  • Offered to do a physically difficult task for an elderly person?
  • What are some things that you CAN do/WILL do for a “sibling”/neighbor?

PRAYER

Father God, help me to circumcise my heart, and to reflect Your character to all of my brothers and sisters, to each of the other beautiful and unique humans which You have created, to glorify You.  Please grant me the ability to show the same patience, mercy, and generosity that You’ve shown to me.  Father God, thank you most of all for Jesus.  Amen. 

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The Temple

Deuteronomy 19-20

Psalm 28

*Mark 13

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            There are some landmark buildings and monuments that make you feel small when you’re standing next to them, and give you a sense of wonder and awe when you see them.  The Statue of Liberty,  the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hagia Sophia, etc.  The first temple of Israel (built @ 966-959 BC) was one of those types of buildings, only more so,  until it was destroyed at the onset of the Babylonian captivity, around 587 BC.

            The importance of the Temple structure to the Jewish people can’t be overstated.  The entire culture of the ancient Jewish people was centered around this structure.  Jeremiah warned the people in Jeremiah 7:4 that just living by the temple (the First Temple) wasn’t going to keep them safe, particularly since the people were living an idolatrous and sinful life, but it had become so ingrained in the cultural psyche that “this was where God was” that it was inconceivable that it, or by extension they, would ever fall…despite clear warning from all of the prophets to turn away from idolatry and wickedness and return to God OR ELSE.

            When the first temple fell, the Jewish people were in captive exile for 70 years, it was devastating to the national identity.  Daniel 9:2 details the moment when Daniel, in his captivity and exile, discerned that the time of the desolation of Jerusalem, namely 70 years, had been fulfilled (he was reading from the book of Jeremiah 29:30, look it up).  Thus began the return to Israel and specifically Jerusalem as detailed in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah after being exiled and captive in a foreign kingdom for 70 years, as spoken by YHVH through the prophets.

            The second temple was built in 516 BC, you can see from the timeline that it was one of the first things restored (after the protective walls).  This marked the triumphant return, the temple rebuilt, the restoration of the people to God.  Keep in mind, the temple was at the very center of the ancient Jewish religious experience.  Without the temple you couldn’t offer sacrifice, couldn’t fulfill the Law, couldn’t talk to God in the manner in which they’d become accustomed.  For over 70 years, the Jewish people were orphaned from both their land and their God.  It truly can’t be overstated; the importance and significance of this structure to the Jewish people.  Can you imagine the joy and cultural pride of seeing it rebuilt again, after so long in captivity?  The answer is no, you can’t even begin to imagine; unless you were a Jew living in that time and living through those events, you can’t even begin to comprehend how big a deal it was.  We can get the glimmer of an idea when reading through the Old Testament, but to actually feel what they felt is beyond our ability, we can only imagine.  It was EVERYTHING to the Jewish people.

            Now, after the Temple has been rebuilt (called “the second temple”), it stood for over 500 years and is now once again the cultural and religious center of the Jewish people.  It’s ingrained in the culture and daily religious life of the people, generationally.  “A disciple” pulls Jesus aside to proudly point at the temple, and to marvel at it’s construction and stones.

            Jesus tells the disciple that “not one stone will be standing on top of the other“.  Can you imagine the sidelong looks?  Immediately his inner circle begins to question him privately: what are you talking about? When is this going to happen?  Why won’t the temple be standing? The account in Mark 13: 1-2 is paralleled in Matt 24:1-2 and also Luke 21: 5-6.  Each account has slightly varying details which is to be expected from different viewpoints (this is actually a “proof of veracity” by detectives when investigating and taking statements from witnesses, by the way, if they are all too closely aligned then collusion has usually occured).  I want you to take note that this conversation saved numerous early Christian lives.  Because they listened.

            The 2nd Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, by Roman forces (led by Titus) that had besieged Jerusalem.  This was a particularly brutal event.  Before the Roman forces ever arrived Jerusalem had been engaged in what was effectively a 3-way civil war which destroyed most of their food supplies, and then the Romans came.  This is an extremely well documented event; and is exceptionally horrifying and morbid.  I will spare you some of the gory details of starvation, famine, and cannibalism (such as Maria of Perea), but if you are interested look up “Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)” on wikipedia.  There will be more information there than you can scour from your mind about the horrors of this terrible war that are well documented by Josephus (who was conscripted and spared for this purpose) and others. The Arch of Titus still stands as a testament in stone to this event.  It’s truly terrible, and horrific atrocities occurred. 

            Do you know who didn’t suffer through this horror, though? The early Christian church.  The parallel account in Luke 21: 20-22 is the clearest reading of this warning: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that it’s desolation is at hand.  Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains…because these are the days of vengeance…“(LSB).  Vengeance for what, you may ask? Well, think about it, Jesus was crucified about 30 years prior.  It is well documented by early church historians (including Eusibius of Caesarea, Remigius, and Epiphanius) that the  early church fled Judea to Pella (in the Decapolis region east of the Jordan River),  around 66-69 AD…as the Romans were coming and began surrounding the city of Jerusalem.  To understand the tribulation they avoided by doing so I really recommend you read that article mentioned above,  but the thing to note is that they listened to Jesus, and then they acted.

            When we read all of Jesus’ words in Mark 13, let’s be honest: it’s pretty ominous.  It doesn’t paint a pretty picture.  It says that as believers, we will probably have to go through some unpleasantness to put it lightly.  Pay special note to Mark 13:13 though, because in this is our promise: “…but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” (LSB).  We as Christians need to listen, our very lives depend on it.  If you want to see the kingdom of God, we must endure to the end.  One of my favorite bible verses is Zeph 2:3: “Seek Yahweh, All you humble of the earth who have worked his justice; seek righteousness, seek humility.  Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of Yahweh’s anger.” (LSB).

So what can we, as followers of Christ, do to protect ourselves?

  • Seek Yahweh. Listen to Him, and those whom He sent to instruct us (particularly the Christ).
  • Pray, fast, work His justice upon the earth.  (See that homeless guy? Feed him.  See that elderly widow? Go ask if she needs help.  Go and visit the jails or the hospitals, offer the orphan hope, turn the other cheek when offended, freely give to those in need, work His justice upon the earth!)
  • Ask our Mediator, the Christ, to intercede for us.
  • Seek Righteousness, seek Humility.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Do you regularly “work His justice upon the earth”?
  2. How can you improve in that area, in both frequency and implementation?
  3. How can you listen better, to both the written words and spirit of, our God?
  4. What are some ways that we can build up our endurance to prepare?

PRAYER

Father God, thank You for life, breath, and all things.  Thank You for sending us Your son to teach us the way to the kingdom.  Please help us to humbly acknowledge You in all things, in all of our ways, and to listen when You speak to us.  Please instruct us, lead us, and keep us safe.  Grant us the endurance that we will need in order to please You.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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Outside the Box

Deuteronomy 13-14

Psalm 27

Mark 11

-Devotion by Emilee Christian (MO)

The story of Palm Sunday is one of my favorites. Christ’s triumphant entry is a story about how God is greater than our expectations. The people of Jerusalem expected one thing, but God had a better plan in store. 

As Jesus rode through the city, the crowds chanted “Hosanna” which means “Save us.” Right then and there, the people of Jerusalem were expecting Jesus to gloriously lead a battle to rescue them from the Romans. Except, that is not at all what Jesus or God had planned. Not long after, some of these same people shouted, “Crucify him!” Sadly, they did not see what was right in front of their noses. That Jesus was saving them. Just not in the way they had wanted or thought. They limited God. They put the Messiah in their own little box of expectations.

We are no different.

So many times do we allow our expectations to limit God. I’ve done it. I’m guilty of telling God how He can fix a problem. Throughout my young adult life, I was constantly giving God suggestions on how to give me a boyfriend. It was ridiculous, I know. The God of the Universe did not need me to offer advice on how to write my love story and thank goodness He did write it! I will be happily married six months come Friday. The man God had chosen for me was certainly worth the wait – even if it all came about in a way I wouldn’t have expected or chosen.

I’ve also found myself limiting God. In college I suffered from hip alignment issues that caused intense nerve damage. Due to this, I wasn’t able to dance like I used to do (I was trained in classical ballet for ten years). During this time, I never really relied on God for healing. Sure, I prayed about it, but I didn’t ever actually believe anything would come of it. Somewhere during the early months of my diagnosis, I had just decided that God wasn’t going to heal me. It was not that I believed he couldn’t, but rather, I thought he had bigger issues to deal with than me. I was not dying of cancer nor was I paralyzed. There were people worse off than me that needed God’s healing. I knew that wasn’t the way God operated, that He is big enough to care about all His children, but, I had allowed my bitterness to blind me of the truth. After about three years of this, a woman from church took me aside to remind me that God can heal me. I started to put in the work, got back into doing my physical therapy. I began dancing again – even if it wasn’t to the same extent as before. The following summer, I took my first dance teaching job. Since then I have worked for three different dance studios, taught countless classes, and helped produce four Nutcracker performances. I nearly lost out on the chance to do any of this because I had put God into a box. I limited His power with my own expectations.

It is amazing what can happen when we open our eyes to the vast power God has. He is an incredibly creative problem solver. Instead of having Jesus vanquish the Romans on the day of his triumphant entry, God had him enter the city on a lowly donkey. Since it wasn’t what people were expecting, they were easily led into believing that Jesus was not the promised one after all. It wasn’t what they wanted at the time they wanted it, and so, they turned away.

This week I encourage you to open your eyes, to look for the ways God is working in your life – outside the box.

Questions:

  1. Are you limiting God?
  2. Is there an area of your life where you’ve allowed your expectations to prevent you from seeing God’s answers?

Prayer 

Dear God, 

Thank you for being bigger and greater than I can imagine. Thank you for sending your son, not just to save the people of Jerusalem, but all people, including me. Open my eyes and help me see your work in my life. I don’t want to be blinded by expectations that I miss something amazing. In Jesus’ name,

Amen. 

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Jesus in Jerusalem

Deuteronomy 11-12

Psalm 26

*Mark 11

–Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

One of the things taught in most of Christianity is that Jesus came into Jerusalem only one time and it was a great celebration of his kingship and carried out by all who were so glad to see him.  It is commonly called “Palm Sunday”.  The people  calling him the “Son of David” is the same as calling him “king” by the people there.  They wanted him to come to the capital there and throw out the Romans and Greeks and then set up his kingdom on earth right then and there.  This record in Mark 11 is about the first day before Passover that Jesus comes into the city.  I took the reading from the Revised English Bible (REV) on the Spirit and Truth’s website.

Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem on this day is one of rejoicing and great celebrations by the people.  “Hosanna” is literally “God save us”.  They are saying “God save us by the one who comes in the name of Yahweh”.  Heady stuff and sure to make both the secular leaders of the Jews (mostly Sadducees) and the Romans soldiers and administrators very unhappy.   The Jews didn’t want to upset the cozy formula they had worked out to go along and get along.  Also to keep the money train going in the Temple and with the tourists coming there.  They had the money-changing tables where whatever money the people had would be exchanged for the official money to be used in the Temple, with a large profit margin going to the changers.  The other commerce area set up was to sell sacrificial animals and was also in the outer court. The outer court was called the court of the Gentiles where all nations could come into the Temple area.  This is why Jesus says to them that the Temple was designed to be a blessing for all nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.

Jesus on this entrance to Jerusalem comes into the Temple and looks around and then leaves and goes back to where he is staying in Bethany (probably at the house of Mary, Martha and Lazurus). 

Mark 11:1-26 THE MINISTRY OF JESUS IN JERUSALEM (REV)
The Triumphal Entry

1And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
 2and said to them, “Go into the village that is in front of you, and immediately as you enter into it you will find a colt tied there on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.
 3And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will immediately send it back here again.’”
 4And they went away and found a colt outside in the open street tied at a door, and they untied it.
 5And some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
 6And they responded to them just as Jesus had said to, so they let them go.
 7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their outer garments on it, and he sat on it.
 8And many people spread their outer garments on the road, and others spread branches that they had cut from the fields.
 9And those who went in front of him, and those who followed after, were crying out, “Hosanna!a Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!b
 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
 11And he entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. And after he had looked around at everything, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve because the hour already was late.
 

The next day he gets up early in morning and for the second time goes on the road going to Jerusalem.  On the way he sees a fig tree and because he is hungry goes to the tree expecting to find figs.  The record says that when he gets to the tree it has no figs, but Mark also says curiously that the time of figs is not yet.  He then curses the tree, and it dries up from the roots, also not the way that trees normally die.  This is a picture of how Israel has failed in God’s purpose at this time.  See this explanation from the REV commentary attached here.

Mark 11:12-14 Barren Fig Tree Cursed

12And on the next day, as they were leaving Bethany, he was hungry.
 13And seeing a fig tree in the distance that had leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. But when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves (it was not the season for figs).
 14And he answered and said to it, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples heard it.

(REV Commentary )  “seeing a fig tree.” The fig tree was one of the trees in the Bible that symbolized Israel. This particular fig tree was a fitting parable of Israel. It was in full leaf and looked very promising, even ahead of the rest of the trees. It should have been a source of great blessing for those who looked for early sustenance coming out of the winter months. Instead, it was a liar, promising much but delivering little, deceiving weary travelers and giving them false hope. Jesus cursed it, foreshadowing the curse and destruction that would come upon Israel.

“it was not the season for figs.” The question this verse poses to the average reader is, “Why would Jesus curse the fig tree for not having figs if it was not the season for figs?” The answer to that question lies in understanding that, although there were a couple varieties of fig trees in Israel, the common variety produces two crops of figs per year. An early fig grows on the old branch stock that grew the preceding year. This early fig often begins to grow even before there are leaves on the fig tree, although sometimes these early figs and the leaves start to grow at the same time. These early figs usually start developing in March, but may be a little earlier or later depending on the climate, and the circumstances of any given tree (Israel has many different climates, usually somewhat depending on elevation). These early figs mature in June, and the leaves grow and mature along with them. A second crop of figs starts on the new tree growth that sprouts that year, and they generally ripen in August.

Since Mark is recording events around Passover, Jesus would have approached the fig tree in April. Although it was not yet the season for figs, Jesus noticed that this particular tree was in full leaf. If the leaves were fully formed, that meant he could expect the figs of this particular tree to be early too, or at least be far enough along to be somewhat satisfying to eat. This should not surprise us. It often happens in horticulture that a plant is a few weeks earlier than the “regular season.” However, when Jesus got to the tree, the situation was not just that the figs it had were not yet ripe, it did not have any figs at all!

Jesus then cursed this tree and it died overnight. Jesus would ordinarily never curse a tree of any kind for not having fruit or buds. Often, trees go through hardships that keep them from bearing fruit in a given year. Jesus said he did what he heard from his Father, God, and this is an example of that. God gave Jesus the revelation to curse the tree, so Jesus cursed it and it died overnight, which was a miracle. Thus, this tree became a twofold teaching example: it showed that Israel was going to be cursed (which it was for rejecting its Messiah), and it also taught the apostles that when God gave you revelation, no matter how unlikely it seemed, if you trust God and believe and act on what He says, the revelation will come to pass (this is the manifestation of trust, 1 Cor. 12:9). (REV Commentary on Mark 11)

Mark 11:15-19 Jesus Cleanses the Temple(REV)

15And they came into Jerusalem. And he went into the Temple and began to cast out those who were selling and those who were buying in the Temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves,
 16and he would not allow anyone to carry merchandisec through the Temple.
 17And he began to teach them, saying, “Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?d But you have made it a den of robbers.”e
 18And the chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and began looking for a way to destroy him because they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.  19And whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.
 

The withering of the fig tree is a symbol of the judgement of Israel and its leadership. The fig tree and olive tree are used in scripture as symbols of the nation of Israel in several places.

Mark 11:20-25 Barren Fig Tree Withered(REV)

20And as they passed by the tree in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had withered away from the roots up.
 21And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
 22And Jesus answered and said to them, “Have trust in God.
 23Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.
 24For this reason, I say to you, all the things you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and they will be done for you.
 25And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you for your transgressions.
 26[[But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.]]

What a lesson in believing and faith for us to learn.  We need to have “faith” which is our believing in accord with the Word and Will of God.  When we confess the Word, believe it and act on it God is able to help us accomplish His purposes in life.  What are the important elements of miraculous deliverance and help?  We see here God’s will for us to operate as His agents here in the world today.  Don’t discount His help and direction that He willingly gives us when we ask by faint heart or disbelief in spiritual help.  Have a great day today in Christ.

QUESTIONS:

  1. What do you learn about Jesus in Mark 11?
  2. What does your faith look like today? What have you seen that has increased your faith? What have you heard that has increased your faith?
  3. Where would you like to have more faith?

Prayer: 

Father, we look to you today to give us understanding and wisdom in Your Word and intentions.  We thank you for being part of the “God Story” you have made each of us.  Give us today the bread we need daily and help us in our times of need.  Heal our minds, hearts, and bodies in accordance with Your will.  We thank you for the sacrifice of Christ that gives us life today and in the future. We pray in the Name above all Names, Jesus Christ.

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The Question

*Deuteronomy 7-8

*Psalm 25

*Mark 10

“…Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)

            I suppose that this question directly and pointedly asks the question we all wonder at in our heart.  Hebrews 11:6 clearly states “…for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.“.   God doesn’t require blind and unthinking obedience, he is a God of reason, and wants you to understand that there is a reward for your obedience and faith; there’s a reason you should want to do what God tells us. 

            If this was not the case, this would have been the perfect opportunity for Jesus to say “Hey man, why are you being so selfish?”, but Jesus recognized the sincerity of the man’s question and answered him equally sincerely by saying, “…Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’” (Mark 10:18-19 LSB).

            There are 2 very important bits that we need to take away from this response.  Firstly Jesus said “Why do you call me good?  No one is good except God alone.”.  This is (yet another) clear delineation between our King, the Christ (anointed one),  and God Himself.  If you have a more “complex” interpretation of God than is explicitly stated biblically, this verse creates complex issues, if you’re being honest.  There’s a simpler reading.  Secondly, Jesus’ first “go to” response is “what do the commandments say?” (Exodus 20, for reference).

            Jesus then goes on to say the man should sell all that he has, and give to the poor.  Keeping the commandments alone isn’t enough.  This makes the man sad because it seems as if his priority is wealth.   If you like, do a study on the Jewish concept of “tzedekah”; it’s a great understanding of how we should view worldly wealth conceptually (and most Christians have never even heard of it).  We’ll have a devotion that focuses on that concept later.

            In this present evil age, it is very difficult to keep our priorities straight.  We are constantly bombarded with imagery and concepts that are intentionally designed to divert our attention from our Creator and towards…anything and everything else.  Jesus gave us our priority, and told us to actively strive for our reward in Matthew 6:33  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (LSB).  Our entire life should be focused on seeking God’s kingdom, and striving to have and exhibit the character of God.

            The word here used for righteousness is δικαιοσύνην and could be more accurately translated (as most places that righteousness is used) as “equity”, and I prefer that translation as it’s more accurate and has more depth and nuance to it.  Here’s a handy definition of equity as a refresher:

Equity (noun): (from the American Heritage Dictionary of Common Language, 5th ed)  

1.      The state or quality of being just and fair.
  • Something that is just and fair.
  • Justice achieved not simply according to the strict letter of the law but in accordance with principles of substantial justice and the unique facts of the case

            So we are to seek the Kingdom of God AND His (God’s) righteousness, or equity.  To be just and fair, not just by the letter of the law, but in our entire character and intent.  Note that this latter command to seek the righteousness of God is not only a job, but is in itself a reward, and is a necessary component to entering His Kingdom.  This character reflects not only how we are supposed to act, but how we are supposed to be, deep down inside where people can’t see.

“For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God…You shall know therefore that Yahweh your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His  loving-kindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments…Therefore, you shall keep the commandments…”(Deut 7:6&9-11, LSB) So, is it important to keep the commandments? Well, according to Jesus our King, it is.  Then after we submit to this foundational obedience we must go even further, not just obeying the letter of the law, but actually modelling the character of our amazingly wonderful Creator, Yahweh God.

            We’re easily misled, as humans.  Sometimes by people, sometimes by traditions that people have elevated, and sometimes even our own hearts can lead us astray. We know from scripture that “the heart is more deceitful than all else” (Jer 17:9 LSB), and that we are to “Trust in Yahweh…lean not on your own understanding” (Prov 3:5-6 LSB).  God gave us His word, the scriptures, to be our guide.  All of the scriptures.  In our reading of Psalms 25  today, we have some of our promises and instructions for being “qodesh”, or holy: “Make me know your ways, O Yahweh, teach me your paths…Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore He instructs sinners in the way…and may he teach the humble His way...for Your name’s sake, O Yahweh, pardon my iniquity for it is great…the secret of Yahweh is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.” (Ps 25:4,8,9,11-14 LSB)  This tells us clearly that even in this present evil age when we are so easily confused and misled, God Himself will instruct us, if we humbly and obediently seek Him.

            When Jesus was tempted, after fasting for 40 days in the wilderness, the first thing he was tempted with was food.  Have you ever fasted for more than a day or two?  Towards the end did you find that you were pretty focused on getting something to eat?  Jesus’ reply to the Accuser was to quote the scriptures, “…man does not live by bread alone, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh” (Deut 8:3, LSB).  Interestingly, every rebuttal that Jesus gives while being tempted was from the book of Deuteronomy.  Jesus seems to have thought Deuteronomy was pretty relevant; when asked what the greatest commandment was, he quoted Deut 6:4-5 (The Shema, that story is found in Mark 12) first as the greatest commandment. Is the Old Testament relevant to Christians? Well, to the Christ, it was.  Is a servant greater than his master?  When you are tempted, follow Jesus’ example; quoting the scripture not only chastens our enemy, but edifies ourselves with our intent.  Memorize some key verses to help you in defending yourself.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Jesus saw the 10 commandments as basic foundational requirements.  Do you obey all 10 of the commandments, as they are explicitly written?  Why, or why not?
  2. We are to seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness (or, “equity”).  How is that going for you?  What can you specifically do on a daily basis to more accurately reflect the magnificent love and character of God to your fellow creation?
  3. We are all tempted in a manner that is specific to our weakness(es).  Do you have at least 3 key scriptures memorized, to defend yourself from your specific temptations?  What are they?  If not, why?

PRAYER

Lord God Yahweh, please, teach me Your ways.  Straighten my paths before me, Father, and lead me along the path that leads to Your kingdom.  Circumcise my heart, and let me humbly seek your will through obediently following Your word and Your will, as given to us in scriptures and in the teachings of the Christ.  Father, forgive me for when I fall short, please be merciful and loving towards me, and help me to reflect that mercy and love to all of Your creation.  Thank you, Father, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Little Children

Deuteronomy 5-6

Psalm 25

Mark 9

-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

What is the simplest way to draw closer to God? To receive our children and teach them about their Lord.  Whether it is our blood, our church, or our villages, the relationship our Heavenly Father has with us is best understood when we become the loving adult meeting the spiritual needs of kids.  Invite them to talk about God. Remind them of His commands, His promise, and their purpose in Him.  Pray in the car. Read devotion at the dinner table. Take them to church.  Hold them in your arms while you worship. Admonish and acknowledge God in front of them in all your struggles and victories.

I think these thoughts are best shared today in seeing the through-line in our reading listed below.  Additionally, I have shared the words of a song recently inspired by these scriptures, which has acted as a daily reminder to the role I serve in my family, my occupation, my village, and my church.  I have also attached a link of a generated version of this song that you are welcome to listen to as you contemplate the fulfillments of the challenge in today’s reading.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord Your God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”- Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’  He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,  ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’” – Mark 9:35-37

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.  Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,  and my hope is in you all day long.  Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.” – Psalm 25:7

The Only One

God is not a man that he should lie

Every promise He has made, he will supply

If we wander through the desert

And our walk is filled with strife

We can look to the heavens

For the coming Bread of Life

Come sing with me, oh God we believe

You are the Only One

Here this old and young, He’s still not done

Til every battle’s won

Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart

Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart

His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One

God is not a man to change His mind

From beginning to the end there’s Jesus Christ

Though like sheep we’ve gone astray

He’s still searching for us now

Turn your eyes to God, ev’ry idol disavow

Come sing with me, oh God we believe

You’re the Only One

Here this old and young, He’s still not done

Til every battle’s won

Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart

Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart

His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One

Here is the link if you would like to listen: https://suno.com/s/tKPiG0mCfWYUqZnU

Reflection Questions

  1. What happens when we don’t live out Deuteronomy 6:4-9? Whether you are a parent or not, how can you improve the way that you live out this passage?
  2. Give some examples of what it could look like to “welcome a child”. From Mark 9:35-37 and your own experiences, what are the benefits of welcoming a child? When was the last time you welcomed a child? In what additional way(s) can you practice welcoming a child this coming week?
  3. How do you allow God to teach you, so that you in turn can share with others? How do you hold God’s words in your heart? What else can you do to be more teachable? What happens when we don’t let God teach us?

Prayer

Dear God, the One and Only god, that makes You worthy of our praise and of my love with all my heart, soul, and strength. Thank you for sharing Your precious words with us. I want to learn from You, God, more and more. Help me to be teachable. Open my ears and my mind to lessons from You. Help me hold Your words – not my own, and not the world’s – but Your words – in my heart, throughout my home, and spilling over into every conversation. Show me how you want me to welcome the children so they receive a bit of Your words and the love of You and Your Son through me.

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Addition and Subtraction

Deuteronomy 3-4

Psalm 24

Mark 9

–Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

Many people know I love to write. I hope that is apparent as you read through my devotions when I have the opportunity to share with Seek Grow Love. Additionally, I love science and history. Having taught both of these subjects, I love the story that each tells about creation and humanity. A fact that fewer know is that I’m pretty good at math and love Excel with extensive formulas—in fact, that was my job at one point: building elaborate spreadsheets to compute cubic feet, pricing, man hours, and profitability. Consequently, I know that a single piece of punctuation or an added numeral can set off a chain of poor computations that completely miss the mark.

“You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God.” — Deuteronomy 4:2

Moses reminds the people of Israel of this principle long before spreadsheets. Do not add anything to the commands of God. Do not take anything away from them. Keep them. Jesus gives us a similar warning in the Revelation to John—addition and subtraction have a direct impact on judgment (Revelation 22:18–19). Let me say this clearly: God’s Word is not a suggestion. To knowingly misinterpret it or treat it without the greatest care—molding it to fit our preferences, our culture, or our experience—is to lose sight of God.

More often than not, we fall into the temptation not to change the Word itself, but to reshape its practice. We ignore what is divisive or costly and choose to emphasize what is comfortable and easier to manage. In the age of preference, our faith is on the line. Instead of forming our lives around God’s discernible commands, we cling to standards set by ourselves or the world. These can become idols—hedged assurances of our ego, stature, time, wealth, or sacrifice.

Who is the one who ascends the hill of the Lord? Whether it is David as he brings the Ark of the Covenant to Zion or the disciples witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus, the question remains (Psalm 24:3–4; Mark 9:2–7). The call is not based on effort alone. You cannot add to or subtract from your efforts to receive lesser or fuller reward as an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. Because of this, purity is a whole, never a part. It is not achieved through addition or protected through subtraction, but through alignment with what God has already spoken.

Apart from the warning of Jesus—that judgment follows when we distort His Word—we will naturally drift. When we add, we place burdens, red tape, and elevation onto a grace that was freely given, though it still calls for obedience. When we subtract, we remove what is essential, lowering the standard and risking a faith that cannot hold. In trying to soften truth, avoid conflict, or live without conviction, we find ourselves living in tension—or worse, in the comfort of denial and ignorance.

The truth is this: God does not ask more than we can bear, but He also does not ask any less. The formula is not complicated, but the math is not easy. An errant doctrine is not the solution to humanity’s problem of sin. We may come to God through wandering, in our watching, or as a witness—but we are never called to customize the truth.

Reflection Questions

Consider these questions as you read today and place your obedience before the Lord:

Where have I added expectations for myself or others that God has never given?

Where have I subtracted or omitted truths that feel too difficult to hold?

Where is God inviting me to search His Word more deeply—and to truly listen?

Prayer

Dear God,

I praise you for being a righteous and holy God. There is none other. All your words are true and right. Thank you for the gift of the Bible where You reveal yourself and all truth, goodness, and the way to salvation. Help me see any errors I have committed in adding to or subtracting from Your perfect Word. May I stand alone on Your words which give life, never seeking to conform Your Word to my way, but always, always, always, changing and molding myself to reflect You and Your Son. May Your Spirit guide me in all things!

In Jesus’ Name I pray,

Amen

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At the Edge of Promise

Deuteronomy 1-2

Psalm 24

Mark 8

Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

As an educator of a dozen years, I find that I have a handful of what I call “pocket TED talks” that I return to time and time again as a way of conveying convincing life lessons to students. These are well-practiced insights that I return to most upon hearing a common signal word or phrase. For example, one cue is the word “just,” which minimizes any role or behavior, demonstrating our belief in its importance. The second, and more relevant to today’s topic, is “what if…” I have heard this opening phrase almost every single day as a history teacher and a principal. “What if World War 3 started today?” “What if there was a real fire in the building?” While I might provide a framing or a forecast, I say you cannot predict the future, but you can look to the past as a tell of what is most likely to happen.

At the opening of Deuteronomy, we find Israel still moving, but now at the edge of the Promised Land. From both a literal and figurative mountaintop, Moses pauses to look backward. He recounts their journey; the victories, the failings, the wandering, and the waiting are all part of his retelling. It is the spiritual season recap for God’s people, who have the tendency to forget.

“The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” — Deuteronomy 2:7

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.” — Psalm 24:3–6

Below is a list of some of these important reminders we find in today’s reading. Reflect on the history that is presented to us and consider your own. As we stand at the edge of the coming Kingdom of God, take a moment to survey from the mountaintop.

– God gave manna when there was no food in the desert. Jesus duplicates this in the feeding of thousands while the crowd waited for spiritual sustenance. Reflect on your own blessings of daily bread and how God has given you what you need to live today.

– God directs Israel’s path, guiding them as a cloud by day, fire by night, and through his direction to Moses. Jesus duplicates this when he asks each of us to bear our cross and follow him, showing us the way to live. Reflect on your own walk with God and the path He has you on, and the people he has brought alongside you for the journey.

– God remained faithful to the people of Israel even when they worshiped other gods and disobeyed direct instructions. Jesus remains faithful to his disciples even when they gripe about not having bread shortly after watching the very same miracle performed. Reflect on the faithfulness of God to you. Remember how God has shown up in the most difficult seasons.

– God was on the side of his people in battle, bringing them victory. The death of Jesus, as God’s design, is a battle that Jesus came to fight on our behalf once and for all. While it might be easy to reflect on your current battle, reflect instead on God’s gift of Jesus Christ as a sacrifice of love, restoring us to Him.

If you are “just” waiting for an answer in the present, or you are reeling in “what ifs” about the future, pause to remember the Lord. The wandering has not been wasted. He has made a path with a purpose. No doubt, we are not out of the wilderness, but we are also at the edge of promise.

Reflection Questions

See bold faced reflection above

Prayer

Dear God Almighty – I praise You for Your faithfulness and mercy. Over and over again You provide for me and You show me which way to go. I thank You for being such a GOOD GOD to me, every day in my past, all day today, and every day in the future. Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son and the Kingdom You are preparing for those who accept and follow Jesus. Everyday, it is getting closer. Everyday, help me move closer to You, too.

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Miklat

Numbers 35-36

Psalm 23

Mark 8

-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)

On any given day in Israel, the sounding of an alert can send an entire city scrambling toward a miklat—a bomb shelter—seeking safety from the enemy’s incoming attack. While this would not be commonplace for most of us, this is just another routine feature of Israeli life, a reality woven into the mandated architecture of homes, hospitals, and schools. These shelters stand as silent witnesses to the real persistent threat, offering all within its walls refuge from the destruction.

We can find the use of this word in Ancient Israel too, describing again, protection from harm, although the enemies are more likely to be within the same walls. In Numbers 35:6–15, God commands the establishment of six cities of refuge, places where those guilty of involuntary manslaughter could flee for safety. These cities were not loopholes for the guilty, but lifelines for the vulnerable—spaces of mercy in the midst of justice. Without them, the accused would face certain death at the hands of an avenger. With them, they were given time, protection, and the hope of appeal and even restoration. God used the physical space to deliver a message of hope for his people.

That truth echoes in Psalm 23:4–6, where the psalmist walks through “the valley of the shadow of death” yet fears no evil. Why? Because refuge is no longer merely a place; it is a presence. “For you are with me.” In seasons of fear, sorrow, or struggle, our instinct is often to run—to escape, to deny, or to despair. Yet the Shepherd leads us differently. He guides us to green pastures and still waters (Psalm 23:2), even though it may look more like scorched earth than scenic mountain hike.  A family singing hymns in the dim light of a bunker, the shared hope in a friend’s embrace as we grieve, a desperate flight from addiction that leads you back to the Word of God, all can be reminders of a present, working God.

In the same manner, we find this constant companionship in Jesus Christ. As the fulfillment of the Law, He becomes our ultimate miklat, both the bearer and redeemer of our sin. In Mark 8:1–9, Jesus feeds the four thousand, revealing Himself as the true Bread who satisfies not only physical hunger but a far greater spiritual need. Just as those awaiting the Gospel message outside of the boat, we neither have the strength to stand judgment nor the ability to walk to the next town over. Our miklat is built in the foundation of salvation’s careful plan, so let us be constantly reminded we can run to His refuge at any moment.

Reflection Questions

  1. When and where have you experienced God’s refuge?
  2. What might God’s refuge look like in a current situation you face?
  3. How can you be a part of offering God’s refuge to someone who feels like they are in a dark valley?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, giver of all life and true refuge, thank you for providing refuge and giving the gift of Your Son and salvation. Help me see and feel that You are near. Even when my situation doesn’t change, Your presence calms and shelters me. Show me where and how I can share You, Your strength, Your guidance, and Your peace with others. In Jesus’ name I pray.

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The Heart of the Matter

Numbers 33-34

Psalm 23

Mark 7

-Devotion by Emilee Christian (MO)

We’ve all heard the saying, “it’s the thought that counts.” Intentions matter. That’s what Jesus is getting at in today’s scripture reading in Mark 7. 

Jesus tells the Pharisees actions without heart mean nothing. He quotes Isaiah 29:11 saying, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (NLT). It got me thinking about how easy it can be to practice routine spiritual disciplines without our hearts being fully present. The spiritual disciplines I’m referring to include tithing, regular church attendance, praying before meals, communion, prayer, worship, and reading of scripture. These are the things that easily become mundane for the longtime practicing Christian. It’s important to find ways to mix things up once in a while. We can easily get stuck hamster wheeling through the motions without taking the time to really consider what it is we’re doing. Taking a break from your normal routine can reignite your passion. When we feel like we’re going on autopilot, switching things up, practicing our spiritual disciplines in different ways, helps us refocus on the task and approach it with a renewed attitude. 

I understand not everyone’s mind works like this, so I’ve created a list of suggestions. This week I encourage you to choose one discipline to switch up. See if the task means more to you. If you get more out of the experience. Or, perhaps you’ll learn just how much you enjoyed doing it your way, which will hopefully renew your heartfelt intentions. The goal of this challenge is to bring yourself back to the heart of why we do what we do, by pausing and re-evaluating your intentions. 

Tithing 

  1. Write your check at a different time than normal. If you’re always doing your check right before the plate is passed, try preparing it at home first. If you always come with your check prepared, try writing it during the worship service. I personally really enjoy tithing during services. To me, there’s something intimate about listening to the worship music, getting on my phone and checking my pay stubs, doing quick math on the back of a bulletin, then placing my check in the offering box. 
  2. Include your children in tithing. This may be by encouraging them to put their own money in the plate, or giving them something to put in the offering. I still remember the feeling of importance I got as a little girl whenever I dumped my change into the offering. It felt good to give to God and made me feel part of something bigger than myself, even if all I contributed were pennies. 

Church Attendance 

  1. Go to service at a different time if your church offers multiple services. 
  2. Sit somewhere else during the service. 

Praying Before Meals

  1. If you typically pray silently, pray aloud.
  2. If your family is the fold hands type – try holding hands to pray. 
  3. Put your hands in a different position. 
  4. Start your prayer off with thanking Him for one specific blessing you experienced since your last meal. 
  5. Have your family take turns saying the prayer. 

Communion 

  1. If you know it’s communion Sunday, sit somewhere else during the service so you are taking communion in a new environment. 

Prayer

  1. Pray aloud.
  2. Pray at a different time in the day.
  3. Put your hands in a different position.
  4. Start a prayer journal. Or just simply write down your prayers. 
  5. Create a prayer chart with a white board. 
  6. Pray when you are bored or waiting. This is how we learn to pray without ceasing and be in constant conversation with God. 
  7. Take yourself to a quiet place and pray on your knees.
  8. End your prayer time with a worship song. 
  9. Pray with your children.
  10. Pray with your spouse.
  11. Pray in public. Without being the annoying guy in Luke 18:9-14. For example, you could end your coffee date with your friend by praying for her right there in the shop, quietly in the corner taking a private moment together. 

Worship

  1. If your church is a standing and singing church, sit down during a song, bowing your head in prayer. 
  2. Don’t sing. Listen to the words. 
  3. Do sing! Even if you are no good and you think no one wants to hear your voice – God does. 
  4. Do a mini worship session in the car on the way to work. Turn on the local Christian radio, or play some of your favorite worship music. 
  5. Take a Sunday off from leading worship if you’re part of the worship team. Sometimes it can be nice to simply be a part of  the service instead of leading it. This also may give the opportunity for others in your church to step up and serve. 

Reading of Scripture

  1. Sit someplace else in your house for your quiet time.
  2. Take a break from what you are currently reading. It’s okay to flip to a different part of the Bible, or a different devotional book. Doing it just for the sake of doing it and saying you completed something is exactly what Jesus was accusing the Pharisees of doing. 

Questions: 

  1. Which challenge are you going to choose? 
  2. Give yourself a heart check. Are there areas of your faith that have become mundane? 

Prayer –

based on the lyrics “The Motions” by Mathew West

Dear God,

I don’t want to go through the motions. I don’t want to go one more day without your all consuming passion inside of me. Let your love make me whole. 

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen. 

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