156th Week, Mark Chapters 12-15

-

Click on Title for Video Introduction


Monday, Mark Chapter 12A  (Verses 1-27)
Mark 12A
Verse 17
Bart Strayer

Verse 17:  Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

THOUGHT
I must admit, paying taxes used to put me in a pretty bad mood. It is still no picnic, but over the years this verse has helped me understand a couple of things.  

God knows that I have to pay taxes. He knows how much I need to pay and when. (Which can be valuable information all by itself) He is not surprised by tax liabilities.  And more importantly, according to Mark 12:17 he wants me to pay my taxes.

These two points have helped me as I continue my mission project. They helped me understand that it is not God and I against the government. And more importantly, the government is not trying to steal what is God’s.  Obedience to our governmental authorities is a Godly act.

I would submit to you that the most important part of this verse has nothing to do with taxes. It has to do with giving to God what is His.  How often do we as the church properly pay the government and not tithe to our church?

Here ends the abnormality.

PRAYER
Lord, help us be Godly people in this nation.  Help us to submit to our authorities. Help us to give back to You all that You deserve.  Use us to bring glory to Your Name. AMEN


Tuesday, Mark Chapter 12B (Verses 28-44)
Mark 12B 
Verse 30
Bart Strayer

Verse 30:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

THOUGHT
It is easy to see why Jesus said this was the greatest of all the commandments.  All the other commandments seem to stem from this one command.  As I think about it, most of the application of the Christian faith stems from love.  Saints, our love for God should be far and above the love that we have for anything else in this world.  We owe Him our love from the depths of our soul to the intellect of our minds.

PRAYER
Lord, we thank You for the love that You have for us. The least we can do is love You back.  We ask for Your forgiveness for the times when our love for other things has gotten in the way of You. Help us to keep our hearts pure for You. AMEN


Wednesday, Mark Chapter 13
Mark 13
Verses 22-23
Matt Strayer

Verses 22-23:   For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-if that were possible.  So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

THOUGHT
I have thought about this verse before a number of times. My personality tends to question things a little too much. It is my hope that as time marches on that this questioning within me leads me to the right decisions in Christ.

Our Study Bible does help us with questions to ask ourselves if and when we are confronted with the deceptions that are to come.

1. Have their predictions come true?
2. Does their teaching neglect the whole Bible and only use a small section of it?
3. Does their teaching contradict what the Bible says about God?
4. Are the practices meant to glorify the teacher not God?
5. Do they promote hostility toward other Christians?

So how can I ask the pointed questions that need to be asked in times of deception?  Well, I must be in the Word each and every day. I have all of you Salt Shakers to thank for that. It is God’s Word that is our sword, our offensive weapon to defend against the evil things to come.  It is also great to have fellowship with other Christians. Once again we as Salt Shakers will unite to make good decisions, helping and encouraging each other along the way.

PRAYER 
Dear God, we thank You for Your Word.  We thank You for the time and the freedom that we have to use the Word You have given us to educate and prepare ourselves for the possible deceptions that are to come. Please continue to allow us to unite, encourage and help one another along the way.  AMEN


Thursday, Mark Chapter 14A (Verses 1-26)
Mark 14A
Verses 4-5
Matt Strayer

Verses 4-5:  Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?  It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

THOUGHT
There were a few things in these two verses that I found interesting and just wanted to bring into question and discuss.

The first word of the two verses says “some” of those present had a problem with this.  There were two different types of people at this gathering.  Who were the some?  What was their motive behind bringing into question this great act of worship?  Were they jealous?  Would I have joined in with the group who rebuked her?  This was their Lord and Savior.  Were they really worried about money that could be given to the poor?  My interpretation is that their selfish human nature came into play during this act. Someone thought they could really use this money.  It could be given to me instead, and we would have plenty to eat and places to stay.  A year’s wages could really help me out.  Because of this sinful nature they missed the point of this beautiful act of worship.  The people who rebuked her immediately took the act of worship and transformed it into dollar signs.  I must really be careful with this.  The above is an example of “The love of money is the root of all evil”.  It’s not the money, it’s the love of it that is evil.  Those who rebuked her definitely need a change of heart.

Secondly, it’s obvious that this anointing was very sacrificial on the part of this woman.  A year’s wages is awesome.  How are we living sacrificially each and every day?  Would and are we behaving the way that this woman did?  I have improved in this area over the years yet I still have a long way to go. I pray for us as Salt Shakers and our acts of worship.  Let’s try and find our way of acting like the woman here and not the people who rebuked her. 

PRAYER
Dear God, it is our true desire to want to worship You in many ways. However, at times our human nature is selfish, and the things of this world become much too important.  Please give us the wisdom to discern what is right and wrong when it comes to money.  Allow us to truly worship you sacrificially.  AMEN

Friday, Third Year Anniversary for Biblical Shaker Blog 
Prayer for our blog
Jeanie

Jesus is the sun that gives us light.  Thank You for all my Blog subscribers who follow me weekly and all those who visit the Blog Spot.  Bless their lives.  May this be a helpmate for people to learn more about the Word of God.  

Jesus, the water that nourishes us and the bread that feeds, thank You for the direction You have given me as I weekly post our scripture to study and our devotion to read.  May the devotions bring more meaning to the chapter read.  

Jesus, the solid rock on which we stand and the captain who defends us against the enemy, thank You for the technology that makes this weekly Bible study available to anyone who is called to read the Word.  

Jesus, You are the wisdom that we need, blessing us with insight of the truth.  Thank You for the authors who were Holy Spirit led to write the devotions and pray daily with each thought.  

Jesus, the Lamb that bore the penalty for our sin and our High Priest who daily brings our case to the Father, we seek Your direction for continued success for the blog and any changes that would fit into Your Will and Way for it.  

Jesus, You are our faithful friend who will not forsake us even in our worst moments.  May this blog be a faithful support for anyone who relies on it.  

Jesus, You are the giver who blesses us with spiritual riches that we could never earn, so we ask that You bless this blog and enlarge our territory.  

Jesus, You are the Shepherd who sees us when we have wandered and are lost, and brings us back to the fold of  Your care.  Please direct anyone searching for a solution to be in the Word more to reach out to Biblical Shakers.  

Jesus, my heart is full of the blessing of the 3-year blog study.  All praise, honor, worship, and service go to God and God alone.  He sought us.  He birthed us.  He sustains us.  He matures us.  He protects us.  And He will finally deliver us.  To Him be the glory.  AMEN





















Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

210th Week, Song of Songs Chapters 5-8 (Click on Title for Video Intro)

-
Image
  Click of Title for Video Intro Monday, Song of Songs Chapter 5 Song of Solomon 5  Jane Jones THOUGHT The Book of Song of Solomon is really a truly amazing, love story. Solomon was very much in love; and just the fact that it is in the Bible, I think is truly amazing. It is a for sure fact that God definitely wants love to be first and foremost in our lives, first of Him, secondly for our spouse, and thirdly for our children. Chapter 5 tells us about a bad dream that Solomon’s lover had. Part of it referred to reaching out to her lover in the night, and he was gone. It was like a nightmare to her.  I’m sure we have all experienced nightmares at one time or other about our marriages, partners, or children. No matter what the nightmare, we do wake up in the morning to find that things are okay. That God has not left or forsaken us. We all have been praying so often, so hard, and so much for the Ruden Family. Our hope was that their house would sell soon, that Alan would fi...
Read more

3rd Week, II Thessalonians

-
Image
Week Three, II Thessalonians  Monday, Introduction II Thessalonians Intro Jeanie Boldt THOUGHT This letter was written by Paul about 2 months after he had sent the first letter to Thessalonica. Many in the church were confused about the timing of Christ’s return. Many thought that He could come at any moment so they stopped working for the Lord and just waited. Adding fuel to the fire was the continued persecution of the church. Many felt that indeed this must be the “Day of the Lord”. Responding quickly, Paul sent a second letter to this young church. In it he gave further instruction concerning the second coming and the day of the Lord. The letter begins with Paul’s trademark greeting. He mentions their perseverance in spite of their persecution and trials and uses this situation to broach the subject of Christ’s return. Paul shared that at this time Christ will vindicate the righteous who endure and will punish the wicked. We are closer to Christ’s second coming than the Thessal...
Read more

201st Week, II Kings Chapters 5-9 (Click on the Title for Video Introduction)

-
Image
  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, II Kings Chapter 5 II Kings 5 Verse 13 Jane Jones Verse 13:  But his servants caught up with him and said, “Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’?” THOUGHT Why do we think that everything great that comes from God is huge, impressive, hard and heroic? Obedience to God begins with humility. These first five chapters have been such great lessons on humility. We must believe that His way is better than our own. We may not always understand His ways of working, but by humbly obeying, we will receive His blessings. We must remember that (1)God’s ways are best; (2)God wants our obedience more than anything else;  (3)God can use anything to accomplish His purposes. The only thing that Naaman had to do to have his leprosy washed away is similar to what we must do to have our sin washed away -- humbly accept God’s mercy. We need to be humbl...
Read more