Mark's Daily Reading Journal

You may remember the TV show, Kids Say the Darndest Things.  Here is what Kenny, age 7 said about love, "It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble."  Clearly Kenny does not understand love!  The painful reality is that most people that call themselves Christians don’t understand love either.  You may say “wait a minute Mark I thought that this was the very thing you were wrestling with… what does it mean to love God.”  I am not sure how to put this simply other than there is a huge difference when you come to the place where you understand that you don’t understand, or you understand how limited you are in your understanding.   My point in all this is simply as I listen to people pray or hear them sing I hear them say things like, “I love you Father, we love you LORD” or sing songs with beautiful lyrics of praise worship and adoration, but the next day they are living lives that reflect that they love the world!  I’ve started listening to my own prayers too!

What does the life look like that joyfully walks in love and obedience to God out of the overflow of HIS love in their heart?  The Greatest Commandment commands us that “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind … You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37–38). If we love God, we will obey his commandments (1 John 5:3) and do what is pleasing to him. We will love God, not the world (1 John 2:15), and we will do all this because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).  This is not out of our own effort, it is not a strained duty, but it flows freely from new creatures in Christ as God pours His Spirit into our hearts, enabling us to cry, Abba Father (Rom 5:5).

??????????One of the most glorious truths in all Scripture is that just as God’s love involves His giving of himself to us…the price, His Son, we can in return give of ourselves to Him and bring joy to our heavenly Father. Isaiah promises God’s people, “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5), and Zephaniah tells God’s people, “The Lord, your God, is in your midst … he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival” (Zeph. 3:17–18).
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“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).  It is our love for others within our faith family, overflowing from Christ, that the world recognizes us as His.  “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35, 15:13, Rom. 13:10,  1 Cor. 13:4–7,  Heb. 10:24). God gives us His love to enable us to love each other (John 17:26; Rom. 5:5). The highest form of this love is demonstrated when we love our enemies!  It takes my breath away when I meditate on our LORD saying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).  In Colossians 1:17 we learn that in Jesus all things consist or all things hold together.  So as He hung on the Cross Jesus kept their hearts beating, Jesus gave them breath to mock and abuse Him, Jesus sustained and kept alive those who killed Him.  Our love for our enemies must flow from the heart of God through us (Matt. 5:43–48).  Apart from Him this love does not exist in me!  Loving our enemies is the most beautiful form of sacrificial love.

Isaiah 53:10  Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Staying on Target, pursuing HIM together!

In late May of this year I began thinking and praying about our mission statement in anticipation of Pastor preaching through it again this August.  I began spending time meditating on Matt 22:34-40, the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission.  The interesting thing is that I never got past “Love God.”  In my prayer time I came to the conclusion that if I truly love God, the kind of love that flows from HIM, I WILL love people, share Jesus and make disciples.  Thinking back to the last to posts…if I am spiritually broken and humble, if HIS Spirit dwells within me THEN I will love HIM and I will love what HE loves and I will hate what HE hates and my life will overflow with joyful obedience to the one who saved me, keeps me and sustains me…Christ in me the hope of glory!

The painful question for me is why don’t I love HIM the way I should?  Why do I fail so often?  Why do my affections run after other things so easily?  The words “prone to wander LORD I feel it, prone to leave the one I love, take my heart LORD take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above,” these words pierce my heart because I do feel it.  That tension set me on a journey of pursuing HIM with a greater passion, diligence, discipline…with a white hot passion to understand what it means to love God.  I understand that if I am to experience HIM more intimately, that if I am to know HIM with a deeper understanding I am absolutely dependent on HIM for that to happen!  So far I believe that it flows out of a broken heart, a surrendered heart, a humble heart, a repentant heart…I believe that only those that are new creatures in Christ can truly love God, but this side of eternity the love is still imperfect.  This is where I found Paul very helpful.  Paul in Phil 1:9 says, "I pray that your love may more and more abound in all knowledge." In other words I love God but I could love Him more perfectly and so there ought to be in life a reality of love toward God that my whole being loves Him, and yet there's a continuing development of my love for HIM.

It is interesting that Paul prays that “love may more and more abound in all knowledge.”  So there is a knowledge that puffs up, a knowledge separated from love, but love abounding in knowledge of God leads to more love for HIM.  What kind of love would lead us to “more and more abound in all knowledge.”  Once again Paul through the Holy Spirit comes to help us in Ephesians 5:2.  We are commanded to “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  What kind of love is it?  It is a sacrificial love!  The author of Hebrews teaches us that we are saved from dead works to serve the living God in Hebrews 9:14.  “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” 

I believe that the answer is in Galatians 2:20, the problem is that most of us can quote the verse, but we don’t really know what it means!  Do you know, really know what it means to say “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Here is the haunting question for me…if Christ lives in me, Christ in me the hope of glory…will my thoughts be dominated with thoughts about myself or will my thoughts be filled with Jesus and thus my life overflowing with sacrificial love for others?  When you are tired, worn out, in difficult circumstances, all alone…where do your thoughts go? 

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Staying on Target, pursuing HIM together!

In Jeremiah 31:3 God tells HIS people that, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”  In Jeremiah 31:31 we learn of the New Covenant God will make with HIS people and in Luke 22:20; and 2 Cor. 3:6 we understand that we are included in the New Covenant!  Today we know that the everlasting love was fully revealed in Jesus, God incarnate, God with us, and the price to immerse us in His everlasting love was the death, burial and resurrection of His Son.  On the Cross Jesus drank the Cup of God’s Wrath on sin and declared “it is finished.”

As we place our hope, trust and faith in Jesus Christ we become new creatures and as a part of our new nature we are richly blessed with a new mind, 1 Cor. 2:16, to know HIM, a new heart Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26 and Rom 5:5 to love HIM and a new will, Rom 6:13, to obey HIM. 

In Ephesians 3:17 Paul teaches us that not only are we new creatures with a new nature, but that Christ Himself dwells and abides in His children through faith.  “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love.” 

So we see that He has loved us with an everlasting love, He has adopted us as His children and given us a new nature to know Him, love Him and obey Him.  In addition to being new creatures in Christ with a new nature He abides in His children, we are His temple and we are rooted and grounded in His love.  It is our new nature, it is His divine love continually being poured out in His children that enables us to obey the greatest commandment to love God and love people!  It is only “because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” that we are able to fulfill this commandment.

In his Confessions St. Augustine wrote, “For he loves you insufficiently who loves something else with you which he does not love for your sake. O love, ever burning, and never extinguished, charity, my God, set me on fire! You command continence. Grant what you command, and command what you will."

1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 

Pursuing HIM, staying on target together!

“Love God,” it is simple, easy to remember, works very well in our mission statement…it is foundational to what we believe and what we do as followers of Christ!  What does it really mean to love God?  What does the life that loves God look like?  What are the characteristics of a life that loves our great God?  If loving God is the heart of our target, it should be, what does it mean to stay on target?  How do I know when I am on target and how do I know when I am off?

In Matthew 22:37–40, Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy,  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Often times the simple and short answer that is given is taken from John 14:21a, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.”  The short answer could be if you obey you love God, but this is dangerous, because the Pharisees obeyed, but they did not love God from their heart.  If you obey with a begrudging obedience that is not loving God!

There is a beautiful picture in 2 Samuel of the love that Mephibosheth had for King David.  In 2 Samuel 19, the kingdom is being restored to David after the rebellion of Absalom. In verses, 24-30, through Mephibosheth I believe that God reveals the heart HE desires. As David returns he asks Mephibosheth why he did not go with him, Mephibosheth explains that he was deceived and then slandered by his servant Ziba. In 2 Samuel 16:1-4, Ziba meets David with supplies for his family. Ziba tells David the reason Mephibosheth stayed behind was because he thought he would receive control of the Kingdom, in response David gives Mephibosheth’s land to Ziba. David, faced with two conflicting reports, decides to divide the land between Mephibosheth and Ziba. I don’t know about you, but my first thought was…that’s not fair! The amazing thing is Mephibosheth’s heart toward David is revealed. His response is amazing and convicting! “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.” Mephibosheth cares nothing for his material possessions, he gladly parts with them, let Ziba “take it all.”

Here is a man who lost his father and grandfather at the age of five, at the same time he was crippled. He lives in fear for his life until he is found by David and invited to eat with the King. Now he is falsely accused of betraying the one he loves. His life is filled with tragedy and yet you detect no bitterness, no thought of himself, to the contrary he is oblivious of himself, he is only delighted to see the King safely home.  HIS WHOLE HEART IS TOWARD THE KING!

If you read the story carefully you will see at least 5 things that mark his attitude toward the King.

1. A heart filled with awe for the King… “my lord the king is like the angel of God” v. 27
2. Absolute surrender to the will and wisdom of the King… “do whatever you think best” v. 27b
3. Amazed at the King’s grace… our “entire family deserves death…but you set your servant among those who eat at your table” v. 28
4. Understanding that we have no rights or claims… “what further rights do I have…?” v. 28
5. Profound sense of unworthiness… “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?” (2 Sam. 9:8)

We are worse than dead dogs before a Holy God.  I am slowly learning that there are many things that destroy my love for God.  In my limited experience nothing can make me more anemic, emaciated, sickly and weak than when I am filled with thoughts about ME!   There are a number of things that can hurt our ministry for the LORD JESUS, there are many things that can render us useless in the ministry, there are many things that can leave us spiritually weak; a root causes of both is a lack of deep brokenness and humility. While I was rereading The Calvary Road (Hession) I was reminded that when I feel that I deserve something better, better car, home, ministry or maybe I feel like I deserve to be treated better the effect is spiritual weakness and an erosion for my love of Jesus. 

As HIS adopted children you and I have been invited to the King’s table, we are HIS heirs and joint heirs with Christ, we have been given new hearts to see HIM, know HIM and love HIM.  Being on target means that my heart attitude lines up with these 5 truths…the thought of King Jesus takes my breath away, I am filled with awe, I am surrendered to HIS will, I am blown away by HIS grace to me, I know that I have NO rights, and I know that I am an unworthy sinner made righteous by HIS saving grace.

Staying on target together!

All of God’s precious Word is “God breathed,” is given by the inspiration of God…it is all perfect, infallible and absolutely true and right!  While it is all inspired it is not all equally inspiring!  I’m sure that that has to do with user error, meaning a problem with my heart, but reading through the genealogies and reading John 17 impacts my heart and mind in a radically different manner.

When I read in John 17:10 that Jesus prays to the Father, “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them,” I am moved deeply and my soul is nourished.  I am stunned when I read in the same prayer that Jesus asks the Father to “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth,” and a few verses later that Jesus prays the same thing for us today, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”  When I read these words, when I meditate on these precious promises from God’s Word, my breath is taken away, my soul soars, and my only right response is to worship my glorious King, Lord and Savior.

Equally breathtaking is Paul’s stunning portrait given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 2 Thessalonians where we see Jesus glorified in the saints.

when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ2 Thessalonians 1:10–12 (ESV) .

I hope this takes your breath away, I hope this blows your mind!  The only appropriate response to this truth is genuine Worship.  It is awe striking

that on “that day” Jesus will come “to be glorified” in HIS children and to “marveled at among all who have believed,” that is for all who have loved HIM and loved the truth of HIS Word.

Macus Rainsford wrote in Our Lord Prays for His Own, “It is in redeeming sinners Jesus is most glorified; it cost Him but a word to create the worlds, but to redeem a sinner’s soul cost Him all that He had, including His tremendous stoop from heaven’s glory to earth’s wilderness, the cross, and the curse.  It is in regenerating sinners that the Lord Jesus manifests His glory.”

In Revelation 5:9 John points to this glory by teaching us a new song that we will learn in heaven, it goes like this…”And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

I believe that all of this helps us gain an understanding of Hebrews 12:2… “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

What is the joy set before our LORD? It is HIS glory going on display from “that day” through all eternity “in HIS saints”.  It is the Father ultimately answering Jesus prayer in John 17:24, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” 

If you are wondering “so what?”  You might be thinking that these are nice ethereal vapors but “so what?”  Let me answer with a question and I will stop.  If you belong to HIM, if you are one of HIS own, is your daily life transformed by these truths or are you held bondage by your past?  Do you live in the light of your future or do you walk in the darkness of your past?

Walk in the light and love God and delight in genuine worship…this is what you were created to do!

Pursuing HIM together,

m

Colossians 1:13  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

This beautiful and simple story is filled with some awe inspiring complexities for everyone, complexities that will bring the brilliant to their knees in worship of our great God .  Consider that in 1 Samuel 2 we learn that Saul was much taller than his counterparts in Israel.  How in the world could this man who was anointed king in chapter 10, who received the promise that he would deliver his people from their enemies allow David (a youth) to go fight this giant, a giant that was a champion warrior?  Why was Saul “dismayed and greatly afraid?”  Take a few minutes and go back and look at what happened between chapters 10 -17.  What happened that would leave king Saul, a man great in stature, a man anointed as king, “dismayed and greatly afraid?”

On the other hand what do we see in the verses below that help us understand why David had such confidence to face Goliath?  Think about this for just a moment…I am not a UFC, Ultimate Fighting fan, but I have stumbled across the channel a few times.  The thought of a young man, say 14-16 years of age, looking at the Ultimate Fighting Champion and saying “you’re going down and I’m going to cut your head off and feed it to the birds.”  I don’t know, but I’m thinking that something supernatural was going on inside David and David knew it!  How else can you explain David running headlong toward the Ultimate Fighting Champion, Goliath?  Look back at 16:13 and I think you will see the answer.

1 Samuel (17:11, 32-37, 45-46 )11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

1 Samuel 17:32-37  And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. If he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him…this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

1 Sam 17:45-46 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

1 Sam 17:47 that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

What is your battle of Elah?  What is the giant you are facing?  What are the circumstances you are facing in your marriage, job, with your family, finances, health?  All of God’s children face Ultimate Fighting Champions!

• Why was Saul filled with fear and David filled with courage, confidence and faith?
• What was it that angered David about Goliath?  Why was David confident that Goliath would be delivered into his hand?
• What was David’s purpose in winning this victory?  1 Samuel 17:46b
• What was the difference between David’s view of God and Saul’s view of God?  (Read Psalm 29 for a sample of David’s view of God)
• When the world watches us (God’s children) live in fear of our circumstances, just like they do, what do they learn about our God?
• When the world watches us (God’s children) walk by faith in the promises of our God, REGARDLESS of our circumstances, what do they learn about our God?

Everything that was available to David is available to God’s children today!  David was filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the promise of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  David walked by faith and trusted in the promises of God.  David’s passion and purpose what that “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”  Paul reminds us in 2 Cor 10:4 that, “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”  In 1 Cor 10:31 Paul teaches us that, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

What was the primary difference between David and Saul?  Quite simply I believe that it was that David had a right view of God, a right understanding of the awesome, Holy, mighty, matchless King of kings and LORD of Lords.  How can I say that?  Just look at the Psalms that David wrote.  Why was David able to walk by faith, trusting in the promises of God with absolute confidence?  David had a right view of God and he knew God, he was chosen by God and filled with the Holy Spirit...God's presence and power changed everything!

What is your battle of Elah?  Are you trusting in your abilities and resources or are you crying out to God in desperation?  How big is your battle laid out next to our great God?  

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