Day 14 – Forty days in the Word

Mark 7:31-37

Having healed a Syrian woman’s daughter after she convinced him that even the dogs deserved the crumbs under the table and displayed her faith and humility, Jesus heads away from Tyre and Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and the Decapolis. “There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and who could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.” (verse 32)

The reputation that Jesus was healing people spread quickly, and as he traveled people heard he was in their area and it spurred them to action. In this case “some people” (friends of the man?) brought him to Jesus. Often it takes the strong encouragement, even accompaniment of friends to move a person to a place where healing and wholeness is offered. A few weeks ago I had a friend strongly encourage me to telephone a famous pastor and he gave me the personal cell number. I had thought about calling this pastor, but my friend’s strong encouragement led me to do so, and a very helpful conversation ensued. These friends are similar to the friends of the lame man who lowered him down through the ceiling of a packed house in order to be near Jesus.

Jesus took this man aside, away from the crowds and ministered to him. Jesus used touch and even spit along with prayer and the command “be opened.” The man’s ears were opened and his tongue loosened, and he began to speak plainly. With the power of the living God, Jesus brought wholeness to this man. I can only imagine what this must have been like for the man, to have the son of God touch his ears, apply spit to his tongue and look up to heaven as he spoke the command “Ephphatha.” How long had he struggled with deafness? My mother lost most of her hearing as a young teenager, and struggled a lot. In her late 30s she underwent surgery with a new technology that restored most of her hearing. I remember how excited she was, and how it changed her life. This (unnamed) man receives this gift from the hand and the word of Jesus. If only we could track the rest of this man’s life, and see how it ended up!

“People were overwhelmed with amazement, ‘he has done everything well’ they said.” (37a) It was obvious to the people who were present that a miracle had occurred. They saw it, experienced it, spoke with the man and were amazed. In April and May I will preach a series of messages on “Miracles”, beginning with the resurrection, and continuing into Miracle May. I believe that in the presence of Jesus miracles occur, and when we can bring our friends into His presence, their lives will be changed for the good, with new possibilities and potential. During "Miracle May" we are asking people to give to Wesley from their financial resources Which will enable the church to pay down its debt in order to begin construction on new children's facilities that will make possible bringing more children to Jesus at Wesley!

Guide me Holy Lord as I walk with you during these 40 days, and experience the miracle of your presence and the gift of your Spirit leading my way. Use me as your shepherd this week. 

Day 13 – Forty Days in the Word

Mark 6:45-51

Jesus sent his disciples into their boat as He stayed behind to see off the multitudes. He departed to the mountain to pray. I can picture the miraculously fed multitude departing. Did they realize the extent of this miracle? Were they reluctant to leave, thus Jesus sent his disciples away as an example? What did Jesus pray about as he went to the mountain? What was it like for the disciples to leave, not knowing what Jesus would do next, how he would get across the lake?

Jesus saw the disciples straining at the oars at about the 4^th watch of the night. “He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were frightened. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, ‘Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.’” (verses 48-50)

This incident of Jesus walking on the water is one of the most vivid of the New Testament. The disciples were stressed by the weather, and they were frightened at the sight of Him. He tells them to “take courage.” This instruction was given to Joshua, David, and so many down through the scriptures. It is needed today – courage. Jesus confirms His identity – “It is I.” Confirming the presence of God among us is vital. When the winds of adversity blow, and human effort seems ineffective, practicing the presence of God is crucial. Hearing Jesus say “it is I” to his disciples echoes down eternity, and for me in the quiet of this morning I hear Him say “Bruce, it is I” was my day dawns and the tasks at hand loom large.

Jesus got into the boat with the disciples, they were greatly astounded, “for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.” The insight they could have gained was that God would supply their needs. They could have realized that Jesus was in the center of God’s will and was doing the work of the kingdom as He ministered. They could have realized that Jesus included the participation of the disciples in distributing the bread to involve them in the miracle, and He has their best interests at heart.

Guide me Holy Lord as I recognize Your presence in every aspect of life. Guard me from a hard heart and any lack of insight from your miracles and your provisioning. I want to see you more clearly!

Day 11 – Forty Days in the Word

Even as we set our clocks forward, and essentially lose an hour overnight, I got to bed early and feel rested at this extremely early hour (5 am). Last Sunday at this time I was on the phone with Bob Cassidy trying to decide whether or not to cancel church, which we eventually did and it was a great decision. That somehow makes this Sunday a little odd. Jesus’ words to the disciples after he calmed the storm in yesterday’s devotion continue to echo in my mind and speak to my heart “why are you so timid?” I will boldly proclaim the gospel this morning and lead with conviction the body of Christ called Wesley United Methodist Church in Springfield, Missouri.

Day 11 – Forty Days in the Word

Mark 5:21-43

Jesus, on the way to heal a twelve year old girl is touched by a woman with a twelve year hemorrhage. He feels power go out of him, and the woman confessed that she touched him. He states that her faith has made her well. He takes Peter and the brothers James and John into where the girl has been declared dead, speaks life to her and she gets up. I read this chapter in March of 1994, as noted in my Bible. Twenty years of ministry have transpired, and my children who were 9 and 5 are now 29 and 25. The power of Jesus to heal and give life is timeless, and I will walk in His power today.

Romans 12:1-2 (My text for today)

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Yield to God, do not give in to the world, but have your thinking renewed in order to know God’s will. Today, Lord, I yield to You, I resist the world, and my mind is shaped by your word and your spirit. Give me boldness today to minister in your name and according to your power.

Day 10 – Forty Days in the Word

Mark 4, especially verses 35-41.

The first 33 verses of this chapter contain Jesus’ teaching, in parables to the crowds, with explanation to his disciples. Most of the parables are agrarian. I was struck by one aspect of the familiar parable of the sower. What he is sowing is “the word.” As we spend 40 days in the word, the Wesley community is the soil being prepared and receiving what the sower has for each of us. In the midst of these parables, I remembered that I have baby plants sprouted in the basement and I need to water them. It is so easy for me to forget about them for 3-4 days, during which they can dry out. I must never go 3-4 days without God’s word watering my soul.

35-41 Jesus calms a storm – Picture it method of devotional Bible Study

After a long day of teaching the disciples took Jesus in the boat heading for the other side. I can picture the logistics of this, many of the disciples being fisherman, familiar with boats. I can picture its sail, and probably oars. There arose a fierce gale, and waves were breaking over the boat and it was filling with water. Jesus was asleep on the cushion in the stern. The son of God was also fully human, with an earthsuit that needed recharging with sleep, the same need that I have on a daily basis. The disciples roused him out of concern that they would perish. He rebuked the wind and said to the sea “Hush, be still.” The elements obeyed his word. Jesus said to his disciples “Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?” 

This question in the midst of a storm has impacted me this morning as if Jesus was in this room, speaking directly to me – Bruce, why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?  I will ponder this question all day, and into next week.   Guide me today, most holy Lord in all I do, say, prepare, plan, and confront. 

Day 9 – Forty Days in the Word

Mark 3:1-6

“And He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there with a withered hand.” (verse 1)

I am picturing a synagogue – the gathering place of faithful Jews who are apart from the temple in Jerusalem. It is a local expression of the Hebrew faith, with readings from the Torah, Sabbath worship, teaching and social interaction. The local church in the New Testament era resembled the synagogue in many ways. So Jesus enters again – returns to this weekly gathering. A man is present with a disability. He has a hand that is “withered.”

“And they were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, in order that they might accuse Him.”  (Verse 2) Jesus is clearly facing a crowd of people in which several are hostile to him, just waiting to accuse him. What a difficult place to be, where those gathered are not seeking a closer walk with God, nor listening for a word of hope, but are ready to pounce on the one who brings (and is) the Word of God.

“And He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Rise and come forward!’” (Verse 3) Jesus calls upon the man with the disability. Did he like being singled out? Jesus is clearly heading down a path that will lead to conflict. Whether he does or does not heal this man, he has proceeded right to the center of the issue at hand.

“And He said to them, ‘Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?”  (Verse 4) Jesus always asked good questions. As a disciple of His, I need to be framing good questions to ask the community, including those are hostile, those who are neutral, and those who are supportive. When facing hostility, the normal reaction is to build one’s own case, and to become defensive. Jesus provides an example here of being confident in who He is and what he does. This question is the turning point.

“And after looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.” (Verse 5) I am picturing what it would have been like to be present and to witness Jesus expressing anger in the way he looked at people. He is typically not portrayed with anger in His eyes. I can just imagine what this was like!

“And the Pharisees went out and immediately began taking counsel with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.” This points to the beginning of the religious leaders’ intentional plot to eliminate Jesus. They were stuck in the past, upholding the law. They could not see what God was doing in the present.

May I always be open to what God is doing now, and carefully guard against any internal resistance to what God is beginning to do through someone else, even if they do not have the proper credentials!!!!

Guide me today, most holy Lord in all I say, do, think, plan and with all the people with whom I come into contact.

Day 8 - Forty days in the Word

Mark 1, especially verses 40-45

Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist, and a voice “came out of the heavens: ‘you are my beloved Son, in you I am well-pleased.” The Spirit then impelled Him to go out into the wilderness, where he was tempted for 40 days. John was arrested, and Jesus “came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The rest of the first chapter of Mark describes the ministry of Jesus, including His calling the first disciples, casting out demons, healing Peter’s mother-in-law. Verses 40 – 45 describe His healing of a leper. Using the “picture it” method of devotional Bible Study I will put myself into this story.

“A leper came to Him”   This man who had been certified with a contagious and often fatal skin disease had heard about the healing power of Jesus, and took initiative to come to Jesus. As a leper, he was unclean, and anyone who touched him would become unclean. He took a huge risk, of being rejected, sent away, etc. We do not know how long he had been a leper, but he started out healthy like most people. I have come down with a cold these last few days, and I know I am contagious, and my sneezing and runny nose are a nuisance. Having a cold is nothing compared to leprosy. If there were a remedy for the common cold, I would go there.

The leper fell down before Jesus – he recognized the power and the authority in the person of Jesus

“If You are willing, You can make me clean.” The leper believed in what Jesus could do, and appealed to his generosity.

“And moved with compassion” Jesus was motivated, moved, with compassion – the sense of feeling another’s pain and struggle that motivates a desire to help. I am picturing the compassion of Jesus, not only toward this leper, but toward all people, even toward me, with this cold. I desire to grow in my own capacity to be moved with compassion (and always to avoid compassion fatigue.)

“I am willing, be cleansed.” Jesus states His willingness to heal, and then speaks the healing. This is a clear picture of the ministry of the savior, face to face with suffering, filled with compassion, speaking the words “be cleansed”.

There is more to this story, and I can picture it but have come to the end of my time for journaling. It is now on to the office for a day of pastoral servant leadership and ministry. Guide me holy Lord today as I follow you, filled with compassion. 

Day 7 – Forty Days in the Word

Philippians 4:14-23, especially the verse for this day:

“My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

The apostle Paul has affirmed in verse 13 that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him, and then he continues: “Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.” The participation of the Philippian believers in supporting the apostle was God’s way of supplying his needs. Paul observes that in supporting the work of Christ, the church and the individuals benefit through what is given. Paul describes this benefit in verse 17 “Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”

I will apply the “Pronounce it” method of devotional Bible Study to verse 19:

My God – Paul personalizes his relationship with God. He does not say “the God of my fathers”, or “the higher power”, or the “god of the universe” but he claims his position in Christ and with Christ affirms his personal relationship to God.

Will – future tense helping verb

Meet – supply, match, provide

All – not just some, not most, but all

Your needs – not your wants, not your excesses, but your needs, what you truly require. I have discovered that people who find themselves in tight places realize that their needs are so different that what they thought they were when everything was plenteous and there was abundance.

According to – based upon, in direct relationship with

His glorious riches – the resources of God are available for God to use in meeting my needs. The Almighty owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10). God is not limited by lack of resources.

In Christ Jesus – God is one, and the Son of God rules heaven and earth! The riches of God in Christ Jesus are abundant, tangible and real.

This verse reminds me that as I pursue the will of God, from the riches in Christ Jesus all of my needs will be provided. This gives me hope, guards me from worry, positions me with joy, and confirms that as I step forward in faith, God will provide what is needed.

Thank you most holy Lord for this promise, for this reality, for this insight from the life of your servant Paul. Thank you for your servant George Mueller who trusted you completely in his care for orphans in England. May it be borne out in the life of your servant Bruce Baxter today and everyday.