Mark's Daily Reading Journal

I believe that if I attempt to add something it will only take away...behold and be blessed!

2 Co 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

2 Co 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The Power of the Cross"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend 
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.
CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.
Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.
Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.
FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

The Memphis Passion Play opened this past Friday evening and I was delighted to be in attendance with my family.  I had the joy of baptizing my 7 year old son, Kyle, this past summer, so this was his first time to watch the Passion Play with new creature eyes.  It was so cool to watch him transfixed on everything that was happening.  Like every other meddling father I was constantly leaning over and trying to explain what everything meant:)  Finally, I left him alone and allowed him to be consumed with the story of Jesus.  What an incredible joy and blessing to watch your children filled with wonder and awe at the old, old story, the story of Jesus and HIS Cross and the story of the empty tomb.

As I was thanking God the Father for the experience with my Bride and children I was overwhelmed with the nature of our great God that would move HIM to shed HIS own blood on the Cross so that we might know HIM, love HIM and Worship HIM in spirit and in truth.  As we contemplate the Great "I AM," as we contemplate that the LORD is our Shepherd and we see that this is Jesus and Jesus is "the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  There is only one appropriate response for my heart...WORSHIP!

Think of it this way...the NCAA Basketball championship game is tonight, let's say the game is a nail bitter to the end and with 1 second on the clock...Michigan St., down by 2 launches a 3 point shot from mid-court and you hear the wonderful sound of the ball catching nothing but net...perfect shot and the crowd goes...on like nothing happened...everyone is carrying on in little side conversations unaware of what just happened...:o  What!  Are you insane?  No, but our culture is!

How is it possible for us to see the truth of the Gospel, the truth of Jesus death, burial and resurrection and not go wild?  When you see this truth, when you see HIM, when you see who HE is and what HE did for us on the Cross you can't help but be filled with awe and Worship...what is worship?  I love how William Temple put it.

"Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His Beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose - and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin".

Let this be the response of your heart this Easter and every time you see HIM revealed in HIS awesome Word!  A time is coming when the Universe will see HIM coming and HE will receive the appropriate response from every created being.  I want to practice NOW!

love,

m

As I understand it this video was viewed by Sony executives at a meeting in 2008. I watched the video 3 times, the first time I admit I was awed by the information, the second time I was amused and the third time I thought...we may be living in exponential times, but let our knowledge experience exponential growth for the next millennium and when it is laid next to the perfect knowledge that Jesus holds of God the Father it would appear as the tiniest dew drop clinging to a spider's web laid next to an infinite ocean. In Jesus alone are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The question is not "did you know?" The real question is DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

Consider for a moment that you are staring at a whiteboard, as big as a wall, and that whiteboard represents PERFECT KNOWLEDGE of the universe.  Now ask the question in 1,000 years with the exponential growth of knowledge and information how much of that PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF OUR UNIVERSE WILL WE HAVE?  Let's be generous to ourselves and say the equivalent to a regular sheet of copy paper.  Can you see the contrast?  Perfect knowledge of the entire universe represented by a huge wall and humanities exponential knowledge represented by a sheet of copy paper.

HANG WITH ME FOR ONE MORE STEP...sure enough Jesus has perfect knowledge of the universe...but HE also has perfect knowledge of God the Father!  If perfect knowledge is represented by a large wall and human knowledge is represented by a sheet of copy paper...what could we use to represent perfect knowledge of God the Father?  An infinite ocean, infinite space...whatever it is, it has to be infinite.  If you can hold those images in your mind do you see why it is silly to be impressed with our little tiny exponential growth in information wh

Please don't miss understand...I am absolutely for technology as long as it is simply viewed as a tool to help us do that which we were created for:)  Glorify God!  It is far too easy for technology to become an American idol in the church:)

What does this have to do with knowing God and understanding God as HE is revealed to us in scripture?  Everything!  If you have a low view of God you will too easily fall prey to idolizing human achievement.  You will be in awe of the exponential times we live in and not in awe of HIM!

Colossians 2:2-3, 8-9

I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

It is astonishing how relevant God's Word is regardless of the kind of times you live in:)

Are you amazed at the tiny advances we humans are making or are you amazed that the sovereign God of the universe, creator, sustainer came in human form...suffered, died and was buried, rose on the third day, ascended to the right hand of the Father and now prays for those who come to HIM for eternal life?  NOW THAT IS MIND BLOWING!  THANK YOU JESUS!

love,

m

As HIS children, made alive together with Christ Jesus, we celebrate that we are HIS sheep, that we have been bought at a price, a great price...remember 1 Cor 6:19-20?  "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."   If you are not clear concerning the price that was paid for you, it is put in simple terms in Acts 20:28, "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."

In light of HIS amazing grace and these stunning truths we celebrate that we have been purchased by Jesus, we have been purchased by the great "I AM," we are not our own...the contract was nailed to the Cross as HE cried out "it is finished."  In John 10:18 Jesus tells us that HIS life would not be taken, but that HE would lay it down willingly, that HE would lay it down to purchase HIS sheep for the glory of the Father.  This is both beautiful and astounding!  Jesus never steps out of the drivers seat...never!  Every step of HIS death, burial,  resurrection and ascension went exactly...exactly as planned!

Acts 2:22-24 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

NOW consider that if Jesus did this with HIS own life for the glory of the Father...do you think that HE will do anything less knowing that the glory of the Father will be displayed in HIS own?  There are many passages that teach this, but I believe that one will suffice...2 Thess 1:10 "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."

We get really excited when we think about sharing in HIS glory and what that will be like...right?  However, when we are told that we must share in HIS sufferings we typically think that God's Word is talking about someone else.  Remember Romans 8:17?  "if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Little sheep take great comfort in knowing that nothing will touch you unless it passes through the fingers of your great Shepherd...nothing!  Find great rest in knowing that HE makes us lie down, HE leads us, HE restores our souls...HE leads us, if we will follow, in paths of righteousness FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE!  Do you see the picture here?  Our great Shepherd is in charge, HE is in control and HE is directing everything, everything...not to make you happy, but to make you holy...to transform you to the image of Jesus.  Regardless of your circumstances find great peace in HIM little sheep!

love,

m

I firmly believe that several brilliant minds could easily devote their lives seeking to understand and unpack all of the rich meaning that is bound up in the name of our Great God...Yahweh!  I will confess and say that as I look back at the few posts on Yahweh...I believe that they are accurate, but they don't even begin to scratch the surface!

In Psalm 23 the first five words should move the child of God to fall prostrate on the ground and be filled with awe, wonder, praise and worship!  This is astounding and breathtaking news, this is really good news...Yahweh is my Shepherd!  Yahweh, all that is bound up in who HE is, HE is my Shepherd.  I'm afraid that these precious words are so familiar to us that we take them for granted..."The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack."  We have heard them so many times we do not hear or understand the phenomenal meaning loaded in these few words...this is astounding!

One thing about a shepherd, they stay close to their sheep and the wise sheep stay close to their shepherd for protection and guidance.  Check out Psalm 32:8, we see that Yahweh "will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel."  You must be physically close and personally intimate to be able to be directed by their eye!  Oh how I long to stay close enough physically and spiritually to be able to be directed by HIS eye.

I encourage you to read and reread John 10...Jesus tells us about the relationship HE, Yahweh, has with HIS sheep.  In Matt 11:28-29 28 we hear Yahweh tell us to, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  29 All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me,  because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves."

In John 10 HE tells us that HIS sheep know HIS voice and they follow HIM.  The question that is screaming out in my heart and mind is do you know HIS voice?  Do you know HIS voice?  Run to the lover of your soul, run to the guardian and shepherd of your soul, flee to the only one that can save you and give you rest, true rest.  Peter states it well in 1 Peter 2:25, "For you were like sheep going astray,  but you have now returned to the shepherd  and guardian  of your souls."

The awestriking, breathtaking and astounding thing about Jesus, our Good Shepherd is that HE laid down HIS life and shed HIS blood for HIS sheep...seek HIS face, pursue HIM, HE and HE alone is the great treasure!

The LORD is my Shepherd...GLORY!  

Adonai is the supreme Master over all authorities and over everything...yes EVERYTHING!  If you have been born from above, twice born then you belong to HIM and you are invited to an intimate relationship with our sovereign Lord.  Paul's words in 1 Corinthians come to mind, "Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary  of the Holy Spirit  who is in you,  whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought  at a price; therefore glorify God in your body" 1 Co 6:19-20.

As we recently noted Yahweh is typically translated "LORD," Adonai is most often translated "Lord."  Adonai is more of a title and Yahweh is God's name (Exo 3:15).  In Isaiah 6:1 Isaiah says that "In the year that King Uzziah  died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty  throne."  There is much that could be said about King Uzziah, he is one of the few kings that it is written in God's Word that he "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord," 2 Kings 15:3.  King Uzziah's life ended in tragedy because he became filled with pride...apparently from the prosperity that the Lord gave Uzziah.  We are told in 2 Chronicles 26:5 that "as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper."  Let that be a word of blessing and warning to each of us!

For Isaiah King Uzziah had proved to be a stabilizing force for most of his reign as  king...you and I might read it this way...in the year the stock market failed, in the year our financial institutions died, in the year my marriage failed, my health failed, in the year I lost my son or daughter...I saw the Lord seated high and lifted up!  Isaiah uses the title Adonai here...in the year my security failed I saw Adonai!  Sometimes Adonai is translated "sovereign."  How awesome to be in an intimate relationship with the Sovereign King of the universe and to know that when your world crumbles around you that NOT only is HE with you, but HE is in control and sovereign over everything that is happening.  In the midst of the crumbling world our responsibility is to KEEP OUR EYES ON HIM!  You can do no greater thing for yourself or for those around you...lead them to fix their eyes on Jesus!

Isaiah 6:1-8 In the year that King Uzziah  died, I saw the Lord [Adonai] seated on a high and lofty  throne,  and His robe  filled the temple. 2 Seraphim   were standing above Him; each one had six wings:  with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  3 And one called to another:

          Holy, holy, holy is the LORD [Yahweh] of Hosts; His glory  fills the whole earth.

4 The foundations of the doorways shook  at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said: Woe is me,  for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, ⌊and⌋ because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD [Yahweh] of Hosts. 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar  with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth  ⌊with it⌋ and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, and your sin is atoned for. 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord [Adonai] saying: Who should I send?  Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

Isaiah was transformed from his encounter with Adonai, we could say Moses was transformed, John, Peter...Paul, how did Paul put it in 2 Cor 3:17-18?  "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting  the glory of the Lord  and are being transformed  into the same image  from glory to glory;  this is from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Just who did Isaiah see?  Adonai?  Yes!  Yahweh?  Yes!  Jesus?  Absolutely, yes!

John 12:41-43 Isaiah said these things because  he saw His glory  and spoke about Him. 42 Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers,  but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men  more than praise from God. 

Yahweh, you and you alone are my Adonai...LORD Jesus thank you, thank you, thank you...for opening the way (you are the way) for me to know you and be transformed by being in relationship with you!  You and you alone enable me to gaze upon the very face of God and be transformed!    2 Co 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness” —He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge  of God’s glory  in the face of Jesus Christ.

I love you because you first loved me,

m

I want to take a look at Yahweh Jireh, the LORD will provide.  In Genesis 22 God reveals another name that reveals more of HIS nature to HIS children.  I hope you understand that with each name we are only looking at the tip of the iceberg!  The further I go into this study of the names of God the more I am filled with awe and wonder at I gaze upon HIS majesty, HIS glory, HIS power, HIS mercy, grace, faithfulness and love.  This awe striking God invites us to know HIM as Father!

In the text it is LORD, it is Yahweh Jireh!  Have you ever considered that Yahweh, I AM WHO I AM, simply is!  Remember HE is the one who was, is and is to come!  What does that mean?  It means that Yahweh is omnipresent in SPACE AND TIME...yes, space and TIME!  So Yahweh, the ONE WHO IS...Jireh...Jireh simply means "to see."  To God the past, present and future simply are HE sees and experiences and acts in space and time, but HE alone transcends space and time.

Why is this important?  HE perfectly sees every need you will ever have and has provided for you perfectly...not according to your wants:) but according to your needs.  Most striking and majestic is that HE saw and your need and my need for salvation and made provision by sending HIS Son to take my place and your place on the CROSS.

For a moment put yourself in Abraham's place and imagine the journey to the mountain, imagine kissing your wife good bye, imagine your heart swelling with emotions every you look at the face of YOUR son knowing what is ahead, imagine you are prepared to sacrifice the child you desperately love as an act of obedience and the moment you begin to slash the throat of your child God reveals HIMSELF to you as Yahweh Jireh and provides a substitute for your child.  How deep, how passionate will your love for Yahweh Jireh be?  How will that revelation impact the rest of your life as you walk with this great God?

As you watch the video below put yourself in Abraham's place...experience the joy of seeing the provision of the LORD!  God has done this for each of HIS children...HOLY IS THE LORD!

Each of us is called to walk in obedience to God's Word...we may not see God's provision, but we are not called to see, we are called to walk by faith in obedience to our heavenly Father WHO SEES EVERYTHING PERFECTLY BEFORE HAND!

Gen 22:1-18 After these things God tested Abraham  and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. 2 “Take your son,” He said, “your only ⌊son⌋ Isaac, whom you love,  go to the land of Moriah,  and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

3 So early in the morning  Abraham got up, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day  Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac.  In his hand he took the fire and the sacrificial knife,  and the two of them walked on together.

7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together. 9 When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac  and placed him on the altar,  on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.

11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.”

12 Then He said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me.”  13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram  caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 And Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide,  so today it is said: “It will be provided  on the LORD’s mountain.”

15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By Myself I have sworn,  says the Lord: Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son,   17 I will indeed bless you  and make your offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky  and the sand on the seashore.  Your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies.  18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed  by your offspring  because you have obeyed My command.”

  Let's Worship the LORD GOD our provider for the breathtaking provision of HIS Son, Jesus Christ!