Read the Bible in a Year (18OCT19

DAILY REMINDER – Today, October 18’s Bible reading is Mark 8-9.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, October 19’s Bible reading is Mark 10-11. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

MARK MOMENT – (18OCT19) “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’” (Mark 8:34). Jesus had been preparing the disciples for ministry all throughout His time with them. They listened to His teachings, received personal instruction, and He mentored them in such a way that they would be able to follow His example once He left. At the time, they did not fully grasp all that He would have to go through even though He explained it to them. So, when Jesus told them that they would have to pick up their cross to follow Him, He was not saying that they had not already left everything behind to do so, but He was letting them know that their cross would become even heavier in their walk with Him. Those who had not yet made the decision to follow Christ needed to know that by no means was it going to be an easy journey. Jesus was going to die a horrible death, but prior to that, He would be mocked, spit on, slapped, beaten, and utterly humiliated for doing the will of his Father, and yet, He was willing to lay His life down for the sake of mankind. Therefore, those who followed Him would be persecuted because of Him as well. They had to consider such things before deciding to become a disciple for Christ because the journey would be no cakewalk. Nevertheless, all who remained faithful would receive a crown of life in the end.

Many Christians around the world watch their favorite Christian networks, look at their pastors, and mistakenly think that serving God will be a means to glamor, fame, and wealth. This, however, is not the life that Jesus led nor that of His disciples. The prophets of old were not well liked but were oftentimes persecuted unto death for the message that they delivered. John the Baptist, Jesus, the disciples and others were killed because of their message and the life they lived. Throughout history, countless people were persecuted and martyred just so the Word of God could be read in their own language and taught so that the average person could understand. There have been holy wars, persecutions, and executions of those who decided to follow Christ, and there are still many Christians being slaughtered in today’s times. Nevertheless, we must not back down from our message, but allow for it to become even bolder as we declare the Good News for Christ’s sake. There is nothing to be lost that truly matters in this life for carrying our cross, but we only have Heaven to gain. The Bible says: “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:9-14). Something to ponder….

QUESTION OF THE DAY - (18OCT19) “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’

They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah.’ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him’” (Mark 8:27-30). Some may view this question as Jesus being overly concerned about the opinions of others but that was not why He posed this question. Jesus never asks a question that He does not already have the answer to. This question was asked in order to start a dialogue in regard to them understanding who He was. So, when Peter said that Jesus was the Messiah, he was indeed correct, for it was not him who answered, but the Holy Spirit. Jesus wanted them to know without a doubt the One whom they had been following all that time. He was not just a prophet, nor was He the reincarnation of John the Baptist. Jesus was the Son of God who had come to take away the sins of the world. He had come to do a work that no other person on earth could do. The disciples needed to understand this fully so that they would be able to teach it to others when their time came. For a long time, Jesus would not allow His identity to be known even when the demons He cast out of people would try to say who He was. Jesus would silence them. Nevertheless, Jesus was opening up about who He was so that the disciples could know His Father through  Him.  

Who do you say that Jesus is? Has He become a personal Savior in your life? Do you have a relationship with Him in such a way that you can describe on a personal level to others who and what He means to you? Are you able to tell of His goodness and all the mighty things that He has done through you and in the lives of others? Who have you said that Jesus is? Has He been you Healer, Provider, Counselor, Parent, Friend, Spouse, Teacher, Deliver, etc.? Who is Jesus to you? What will you tell the world? Something to ponder….

MARK MOMENT – (18OCT19) “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42). The people were bringing their children to Jesus and He had compassion on them. Jesus told the people that it would be better for them to place a milestone around their neck than to harm His children. Jesus used the analogy that it would be better for a person to cut off a limb if it presented itself as a stumbling block. In other words, whatever would be the cause for someone losing out on Heaven, it would be better to dispose of it rather than miss out on the kingdom. To lose out on Heaven means going to hell for eternity where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. There is no water to quench the thirst and the worms that consume the person do not die nor does that person get relief. Therefore, nothing is worth losing our souls for to obtain temporary satisfaction.

Jesus’ affection is not just for the little ones, but He also extends His compassion to those who are babes in Him spiritually. When a person becomes a new believer, they need seasoned Christians to mentor them in the ways of God. Should we do something to spiritually harm these babes in Christ, God will hold us accountable. It would then be better for us to put a milestone around our necks and drown than to harm those who are babes in Christ. How do we prevent from harming new believers? We are to model Christ in all that we do and take great care to show them the love of Christ. Sometimes, Christians can be the most judgmental creatures on the planet due to their jealousy, laziness, and lack of zeal that new Christians have not been predisposed to. For example, the disciples wanted to rebuke a man who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name because he was not following Jesus with them, but Jesus told them to leave the man alone because whoever was not against them was for them (Mark 9:38-40).

We sometimes forget that everyone has a starting point in Christ. We should not allow a superiority complex to cause us to run new babes in Christ away. For example, there has been much to say about Kanye West and Justin Bieber’s switch to Christianity. Here, you have two former secular artists who are going around using their gifts to now lead praise and worship. Kanye West is also preaching and trying to win souls for Christ. A lot of Christians, however, are throwing stones at both of these young men for what they know about his past lifestyle, questionable musical lyrics, and in Kanye’s case, an all-out mockery of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, we must be very careful, however, to not judge unrighteously when it comes to GENUINE new converts, so we do not pluck up wheat thinking they are tares because if God can change Paul who killed the Christians, He can change anyone. The Bible says: “Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn" (Mathew 13:30).

Unlike Snoop Dog, the rapper, who was in a choir robe one week and calling for the president’s assassination the next week, we are never to support ungodliness regardless of whatever form it comes in. At the same time, we must watch and be guardians of the fruit for those who are showing sincerity of the heart. God is going to use some of the least likely to win souls for Him. Therefore, we must PRAY and ask God’s guidance in judging all matters and never be stumbling blocks to His new babes, but help them to grow, develop, and mature in the things of God. Something to ponder….