Embracing Christ

Good morning,

Can you imagine how embarrassed the disciples were when Jesus asked them,  "What were you arguing about on the road?"  They had actually been squabbling in Mark 9:30-41 about who was the greatest. And this is not the only time it happened. At least they were up front about it, not just playing mind games like we do.

So, we do well to remember Jesus' visual lesson to them on how a servant really is in first place. "He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, 'Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me.'"  (The Message)

God truly values and rewards servant-hood. Welcoming children gives an embrace that Christ so appreciates.

Blessings,

Ouida

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Jumpin' In

Oh, Peter did it again! And he got a holy hand-slap in Mark 9:2-29 for this one. Elijah and Moses had just shown as the closest friends are at their dazzling mountain retreat. Peter blurts out, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

Hey, it's good hospitality. Only natural. But what we all need is supernatural. God overshadows them with, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"   Whoa!

Maybe it's wise to get priorities and even directions in order before jumping into a plan. 

Yes, Lord, remind up to listen to You before we jump in.

Jesus' Recipe

Want to know how to save your one life?  In Mark 8:22-9:1 Jesus says,  "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it."  In other words we need to let Jesus be in charge - even in suffering.

In fact we are called to embrace suffering (take up our cross) instead of running from it.  As we follow Jesus, He will show us how. 

Jesus goes on to say that self-help and getting everything we want is not help. But self sacrifice is the way to saving our one life. 

Losing all for Jesus is a recipe that cannot fail. Only He has the ingredients for our one good life.

Amnesia?

Those disciples had amnesia! Here they are again ( Mark 8:1-21) with a large crowd that is very hungry (three days on the road with no food). Jesus is feeling sorry about  the great need, and these disciples reply, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" Hmm...  They seem to have totally forgotten what happened with the 5,000 plus hungry guys as they took up 12 baskets of leftovers.

Anyway, Jesus asks what they have available (seven loaves and a few small fish) and then blesses and gives these to be served to all. This time there is some 4,000 fed with 7 baskets of leftovers.

Soon after the disciples were in a boat realizing they had forgotten to bring bread as Jesus brings up the "leaven of the Pharisees". He replies, "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?"

Hmm...    I think He's speaking to me. It's really me that has the amnesia.

Lord,  please forgive me for worrying about "bread' and whatever else I need today. Thank you for your rich provision so many times - for so many years.

He Has Done...

They got it right at the end of today's chapter (Mark 7:14-37). "They were utterly astonished, saying, 'He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.'"

But did you notice how Jesus did it? He took the guy aside and "put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva."  Hmm....  How is that for personal involvement!

Our Lord truly does all thing well, but how He does it may be way "out of our box". 

Father, help us to be open to Your unique ways of answering our prayers and doing things. May we see more and more how You do all things well.

Where's Our Hearts?

Good news can sometimes be unsettling.  In Mark 7:6:53-7:13 it was to the Pharisees. They had come to Jesus so burdened and blinded by rules (numerous washings and things to check off in order to be right). But as they came into the light called Christ, it was all exposed as "traditions of men". In fact, they had focused on the traditions and neglected the commandments of God, such as loving and honoring.

Jesus called them hypocrites and said Isaiah was right: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules."

But I find traditions comfortable. They make me feel secure. It is the way we have always done it. People don't get upset or offended. 

Then I hear the Lord saying, " Where is your heart?"  May we be women who honor God with our lips and especially with our heart.

Broken Bread

The friends are tired and hungry. In Mark 5:30-46 they have been too busy to even stop and eat. So Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." (The Message)

But when they got across the lake to their retreat, the crowd had beat them there. But Jesus "had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." Well it got quite late and His friends said enough - send them away so they can buy something to eat. But Jesus comes back with,"You give them something to eat." Hmm....   They reply, "That would take more than half a year's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"

Now comes the clincher. In essence Jesus asks them what did they have.  As they give Him the five loaves and two fishes, He looks toward heaven and blesses it.  And then He did what he always did with blessed bread - He broke it.

He gave and kept giving it to His disciples to feed the people (5,000+). It sounds reasonable with bread to break it to feed many. It is harder with what we give Him to bless and use for others. 

Lord, give us grace to be grateful for even the breaking part.