Author - Clay Corvin

10/1            Mark 7:1-2
One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to confront Jesus.  They noticed that some of Jesus’ disciples failed to follow the usual Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating.

RITUAL
We can get sidelined by rituals.  We forget that the Lord is interested in a real relationship.  We let ourselves live on auto pilot-we read the Word, say our prayers, recite our memory verses and forget to talk with the Lord.  We don’t stop long enough to hear His response.  A growing Christian life includes time to let the Lord guide us.  Rituals give us control of our life.  Our daily goal is to let Jesus have control of our life.

10/2            Mark 7:3-4
(The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions.  Similarly, they eat nothing bought from the market unless they have immersed their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to – such as their ceremony of washing cups, pitchers, and kettles.)

CEREMONY
Ceremony replaced relationship for the Pharisees.  Ceremony can be controlled.  Relationships are alive and require sacrifices and decisions.  The religious leaders had opted for ceremony-it framed life in a way they could control.  We strive to grow.  We seek to be filled with the Lord so that our life will be like His life.

10/3            Mark 7:5
So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old customs? For they eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.”

NEW
Jesus brought a new ethic in the flesh.  They didn’t see it.  He was the One they had been looking for and they missed it.  Be careful what customs you call your faith.  We must be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit and the clear guidance of the Lord as we spend time in His Word each day.

10/4            Mark 7:6-7
Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said,  ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God’s commands with their own man-made teachings.’

HEART
The Lord looks upon our hearts.  He wants to know if we have accepted Him by faith and believe in our heart that He is Lord.  His call to us today is to let Him have control of our life.

10/5            Mark 7:8-9
For you ignore God’s specific laws and substitute your own traditions.”  Then he said, “You reject God’s laws in order to hold on to your own traditions.

SUBSTITUTE
Are you living your life with a substitute god?  Is there something other than Jesus that has your heart?  Set them aside and give your heart, your life to Jesus.  Jesus is first for there is no other way for us to be saved than Jesus Christ.

10/6            Mark 7:10
For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.’

TRADITION
Strict adherence to the Scribal law made it impossible for a person to follow the Ten Commandments, God’s law.  Jesus is beginning this passage with an example to show how foolish this kind of thinking is.  We are responsible to God which makes us responsible to the people we live with in this world.  God is not mocked nor can we absolve ourselves by some rule we made no matter the intention.  Following Jesus is based on His Words not our tradition.

10/7            Mark 7:11-13
But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you.  For I have vowed to give to God what I could have given to you.’    You let them disregard their needy parents.  As such, you break the law of God in order to protect your own tradition. And this is only one example. There are many, many others.”

COMPLETION
This is the completion of Jesus’ example.  How foolish of us to figure out how we are going to get out of being honest and use our law based on our interpretation to invalidate the obvious meaning God had by His Word.  Be careful.  Pay attention to the things you do.  Serve the Lord.

10/8            Mark 7:14-16
Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand.  You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do! “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand.

DIRECT
This was a revolutionary idea.  It wasn’t a parable.  It was straightforward.  What we think about controls us.  The trappings of our life do not create our ethics.  We are to be careful about the people that we listen to and follow.  That is why Christ gives us a new heart when we come into the family of God.  Jesus helps us to get it.  Kingdom thinking is the key to right living.

10/9            Mark 7:17-19
Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowds, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the statement he had made.  “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that what you eat won’t defile you?  Food doesn’t come in contact with your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then comes out again.” (By saying this, he showed that every kind of food is acceptable.)

VALUE
Our life is useable and useful.  We determine how useful we will be by the way that we think.  Do we let the Lord control our heart?  Do we think about spiritual things all the time?  Where is our head?  We cannot change by being in the world and visiting in the church.  One or the other and it is our choice.  Jesus is Lord.

10/10          Mark 7:20-23
And then he added, “It is the thought-life that defiles you.  For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God.”

CLOTHES
Clothes are important.  Dressing up at church and when we go out is viewed as important.  We can see clothes.  We can’t see a person’s heart.  Jesus says what is important is our heart.  Sin is a product of an unclean heart.  Jesus can cleanse our heart.  He gives us a new heart when we come into the family of God.  Our new heart can and should reject evil.

10/11          Mark 7:24
Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre.  He tried to keep it secret that he was there, but he couldn’t. As usual, the news of his arrival spread fast.

SPEAKER
When Jesus went somewhere the people crowded around to hear Him speak.  He worked physical miracles in their presence.  They knew this and they were desperate for any glimmer of hope in their life.  Jesus knew this and He was deeply moved by their need.  Do you have a need today?  Take it to Jesus.  He will not turn you away.

10/12          Mark 7:25-27
Right away a woman came to him whose little girl was possessed by an evil spirit. She had heard about Jesus, and now she came and fell at his feet.  She begged him to release her child from the demon’s control.  Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should help my own family, the Jews.  It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

RESPONSE
Did she just want healing or did she really believe in Jesus.  Our relationship with Jesus the Son of God is a heart relationship.  He gives us life.  Whatever it takes for us to get that life is important for us to do.  The woman knew that she wasn’t a Jew but she also knew that Jesus was Lord and she wanted Him.

10/13          Mark 7:28-30
She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are given some crumbs from the children’s plates.”  “Good answer!” he said. “And because you have answered so well, I have healed your daughter.”  And when she arrived home, her little girl was lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.

JESUS
What are you lacking to accomplish God’s plan for your life?  Talk with Jesus about that need.  Let Him know what you think and move forward with confidence that the Lord will answer you.  The joy will be the journey of experiential awareness knowing that His way of answering you will create a joyous experience in you.

10/14          Mark 7:31
Jesus left Tyre and went to Sidon, then back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns.

PURPOSE
Jesus wants us to see that He like the Father is moving with purpose.  This was a predominantly Gentile area and Jesus would do some unique things here.  As you think about your life think about the opportunities that you have had to do what the Lord has called you to do.  Most of them probably started as ordinary, normal events maybe so much so that you weren’t even thinking about doing God’s work.  But, when you were aware of His activity in the event you also became aware of what the Lord had done leading up to that event.  Jesus is Lord life including the things that transpire in our life.

10/15          Mark 7:32-34
A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.  Jesus led him to a private place away from the crowd. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting onto his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue with the spittle.  And looking up to heaven, he sighed and commanded, “Be opened!”

HEALING
Jesus was willing to heal those who came to Him.  Do you want to be healed?  Go to Jesus.  Spend time with the Lord.  Tell Him you problems.  Ask Him what to do.  Pray for the weak.  Ask Him if you need healing.

10/16          Mark 7:35-37
Instantly the man could hear perfectly and speak plainly!  Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news, for they were completely amazed. Again and again they said, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even heals those who are deaf and mute.”

WONDERFUL
Do you feel that everything Jesus does is wonderful?  I do.  I do because I have spent time with Him to know Him.  I do because He is worthy of all honor and praise and glory.  Do you know Jesus?  If you do, keep growing in knowledge of Him.  Ask the Lord to guide you into all knowledge of Him.

10/17          Mark 8:1-2
About this time another great crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat.

LESSON
The disciples didn’t get it.  His examples weren’t gelling in their mind.  They didn’t think of Him as the consummate Lord and Savior.  They saw Him as only a man.  Jesus is Lord.  Until we see and understand that we too will fret about issues and decisions to be made instead of throwing ourselves at His feet.  Jesus help me with my unbelief.

10/18          Mark 8:3
And if I send them home without feeding them, they will faint along the road. For some of them have come a long distance.”

PEOPLE
People were willing to pay a great price to hear everything Jesus said.  He was hope for them.  He gave them a ray of change.  Christ in turn felt deep compassion for them including their need for food.  When you look at those around you that are hurting do you feel contempt or compassion?  Your answer to that will give you an insight on your relationship with Jesus.  Jesus had compassion for the multitudes.

10/19          Mark 8:4-8
“How are we supposed to find enough food for them here in the wilderness?” his disciples asked.  “How many loaves of bread do you have?” he asked.”Seven,” they replied.  So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, broke them into pieces, and gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd.  A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to pass them out.  They ate until they were full, and when the scraps were picked up, there were seven large baskets of food left over!

FEEDING
Although a quick reading of this passage would tend to lead us to think only of the feeding.  Jesus fed all of them.  The key focus is for us to see that Jesus is able.  He is able to save us.  He is able to use us.  He is able to make His plan for out life come to fruition.  Our prayer is simply thy will be done in me.

10/20          Mark 8:9
There were about four thousand people in the crowd that day, and he sent them home after they had eaten.

REALITY
The reality is that we have to deal with flesh and bone issues each day.  God’s Word to us is that He knows the reality of life that each one of us faces.  Therefore, He is able to meet our need.  No matter how great or how small Jesus is able to meet our need.

10/21          Mark 8:10
Immediately after this, he got into a boat with his disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha.

ACTION
The Lord Jesus works hard.  His Word to us is that we should be busy about our master’s work but making sure that we have balance in our life.  All of his travel had purpose.  Jesus was striving to help the people and train His disciples.  They didn’t understand what Jesus was trying to do but they would.  Spend time with Jesus.  Get to know Him.

10/22          Mark 8:11
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came to argue with him. Testing him to see if he was from God, they demanded, “Give us a miraculous sign from heaven to prove yourself.”

PHARISEES
They were always trying to discredit Jesus.  Jesus was a threat to their authority.  They liked standing before the people as God’s only representative.  They loved their rules and regulations and had a high level of disdain for Christ.  They really were not seeking to know Jesus.  They wanted to destroy Him.

10/23          Mark 8:12
When he heard this, he sighed deeply and said, “Why do you people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I assure you, I will not give this generation any such sign.”

SIGN
They were simply seeking a way to discredit Jesus.  They had no faith in Him or the Father.  They were close minded on matters of the Gospel.  They didn’t believe Jesus and there was nothing He could say or do that would change that.  Faith in Christ is the key to knowing and growing in Jesus.

10/24          Mark 8:13-16
So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.  But the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any food, so there was only one loaf of bread with them in the boat.  As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”  They decided he was saying this because they hadn’t brought any bread.

MISSED
The disciples missed His point again.  We are so much like them.  This world is not our home.  We are called to missionary zeal in proclaiming the Gospel-Messiah has ransomed us from sin and He has come that we might have life.  Believe in Jesus.

10/25          Mark 8:17-21
Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said, “Why are you so worried about having no food? Won’t you ever learn or understand? Are your hearts too hard to take it in?  ‘You have eyes – can’t you see? You have ears – can’t you hear?’  Don’t you remember anything at all?  What about the five thousand men I fed with five loaves of bread? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?” “Twelve,” they said.  “And when I fed the four thousand with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” “Seven,” they said.  “Don’t you understand even yet?” he asked them.

SIN
Sin blinds us to the things of the Gospel.  Jesus is Lord and yet we continue to struggle with actualizing that in our life.  Let Jesus lead you.  He will not turn you in the wrong direction.  Let Him have control of your heart and walk in His peace and power moment by moment.  Jesus is Lord.

10/26          Mark 8:22-26
When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch and heal the man.  Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”  The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”  Then Jesus placed his hands over the man’s eyes again. As the man stared intently, his sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.  Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t go back into the village on your way home.”

FAITH
Jesus tells us that our faith lets His power work in and thru us.  Believe in Him.  Life is right now.  Today is the time for our faith to grow.  Live in the present not in the maybe.  Spend time with Jesus right now.  If only a few minutes take time to talk with Him.

10/27          Mark 8:27-30
Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”  “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.”  Then Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”  But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

REVELATION
God reveals spiritual things to us.  They are never counter to His revealed will in His Word.  His revelation never calls us to do evil.  Be careful how you dream things up for there are many deceiving spirits.  Read the Word, do the Word and grow in Christ.

10/28          Mark 8:31
Then Jesus began to tell them that he, the Son of Man, would suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and three days later he would rise again.

JESUS
Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for you.  He did it while you were still dead in your trespasses and sin.  He did it because there is no other way to the Father than Jesus.

10/29          Mark 8:32-33
As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and told him he shouldn’t say things like that.  Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then said to Peter very sternly, “Get away from me, Satan! You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

REVELATION
We must be careful as we live our lives.  Sin so easily finds us and so often we are such willing associates.  Stay with Jesus by spending time with Him in prayer, reading the Word of God and immediate obedience.

10/30          Mark 8:34-35
Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen. “If any of you wants to be my follower,” he told them, “you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.

JESUS
We are called to follow Jesus.  He is the focus of life and our life.  He gives us everything we need to lead an abundant life.  We walk with Him, we talk with Him, we read of Him and we obey Him.  Life is simple when we are focused on Jesus.

10/31          Mark 8:36-38
And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?  If a person is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in the glory of my Father with the holy angels.”

ETERNITY
This world is a veil of tears.  Life isn’t fair and none of us will get out of this world alive.  Therefore, it makes sense to follow Jesus.  He gives us wisdom for living no matter what we face.  He is our life and in Him we find life.  Follow Jesus and you will never perish but have everlasting life.

9/1              Mark 6:1-2
Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown.  The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They asked, “Where did he get all his wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?

DOUBT
Doubt is difficult to deal with.  We doubt anything and everything.  The evil one knows this and uses doubt to trip us up.  We do not have to doubt Jesus.  He is worthy of our confidence.  He is committed to us and has our best interest at heart.

9/2              Mark 6:3-6
He’s just the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.  Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”  And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went out from village to village, teaching.

LIMITATION
The only limitation on Jesus is the limitation that we place on our faith.  We must remember that the Lord uses weak people for it is in our weakness that He is strong.  He is Lord of all and of all things.  Let us surrender our life to Him and trust Him to use our life with our best interest in mind.

9/3              Mark 6:7
And he called his twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two, with authority to cast out evil spirits.

VICTORY
We live in victory Jesus has already won the battle.  The victory is not based on perishable things, like wealth and position and honor and things of that ilk.  Victory is based on the saving work that Jesus did on the cross.  He has saved you.  He has conquered death and hell.  Now, walk by faith in the victory of Jesus Christ.

9/4              Mark 6:8
He told them to take nothing with them except a walking stick – no food, no traveler’s bag, no money.

JESUS
Jesus is all we need.  He is sufficient.  Are you trusting Him for your needs today?  This was an important mission for the disciples.  He has called you to an important mission.  His plan for your life will require your trust.  Trust Jesus with all of your heart and He will lead, guide and direct you now.

9/5              Mark 6:9-11
He told them to wear sandals but not to take even an extra coat.  “When you enter each village, be a guest in only one home,” he said.  “And if a village won’t welcome you or listen to you, shake off its dust from your feet as you leave. It is a sign that you have abandoned that village to its fate.”

DETAILS
The Lord of all was concerned with the details of the disciples’ trip.  His instructions to them were specific and direct.  They knew their message was important.  They also knew that many would not accept what they had to say.  We must be careful when we are at work serving the Lord.  People count with Jesus so much that He will permit them to make a mistake.  Don’t you make a mistake.  Make sure that your actions do not detract from your message.

9/6              Mark 6:12-13
So the disciples went out, telling all they met to turn from their sins.  And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.

JESUS
Jesus is in the healing ministry.  People count with Jesus.  He knows their need and will meet that need.  Let Jesus heal you.  Ask Him to show you how to live in Victory.  Name it…Jesus is Lord.  Claim it…He is Lord of me.

9/7               Mark 6:14-15
Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because people everywhere were talking about him. Some were saying, “This must be John the Baptist come back to life again. That is why he can do such miracles.”  Others thought Jesus was the ancient prophet Elijah. Still others thought he was a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.

JESUS
He was then and is now a stumbling block to those who are opposed to God.  Evil declares Him to be ineffective.  The world demands that Jesus show it who He is.  Jesus is Lord and the world denies it.  Jesus is the Messiah and the world keeps looking for One to come who will dance to their tune.  Evil is always trying to create a god it can control.

9/8              Mark 6:16
When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.”

JESUS
Herod was the King and he didn’t know who Jesus was.  He could have known but he was so focused on doing life his way.  What a tragedy not to know Jesus.  I pray that today you will let someone know about your relationship with Jesus.

9/9              Mark 6:17-19
For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her.  John kept telling Herod, “It is illegal for you to marry your brother’s wife.”  Herodias was enraged and wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod’s approval she was powerless.

EVIL
John the Baptist was killed for proclaiming the truth.  He told about Jesus the coming Messiah.  He warned people about evil and called them to repentance.  Even today people are dying for their faith.  More than 65,000 were put to death last year for simply telling about Jesus.  What a wonderful right we have.  We can talk about Jesus and not face any fear for our life.  Tell everyone you know about Jesus.

9/10            Mark 6:20
And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, so he kept him under his protection. Herod was disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

LISTEN
Do you listen to the call of ministry?  Are you connecting with the Lord or simply passing bye?  The spiritual life isn’t a sometimes thing, it is all the time.  Be sure you are serious with your faith and are not a tourist.

9/11            Mark 6:21-23
Herodias’s chance finally came. It was Herod’s birthday, and he gave a party for his palace aides, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee.  Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased them all. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.”  Then he promised, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half of my kingdom!”

JESUS
Jesus is alive.  Following Christ is a full time activity.  There are no sabbaticals in a Christ like life.  The Christian life isn’t a hobby.  Daily time with Jesus and a full surrender of our actions is required to stay close to the Lord.  Follow Him.

9/12            Mark 6:24-25
She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”Her mother told her, “Ask for John the Baptist’s head!”  So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”

EVIL
When we choose to plot our own course in life we always run into evil.  Be careful how you live.  Be careful when you make decisions.  Life is hard and harsh.  Without Jesus you will make wrong decisions.  Herod made a terrible decision which gave an opening for evil.  Be strong in the Lord and do the next right thing.

9/13            Mark 6:26-28
Then the king was very sorry, but he was embarrassed to break his oath in front of his guests.  So he sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.

SAD
Yes, the king was sad but self focused.  He knew what he should do and then didn’t do it.  How sad if we when we do the wrong thing and know we are doing the wrong thing.  Stay close to the Word of God and spend time with the Lord God and you will have the strength to make right decisions.

9/14            Mark 6:29
When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came for his body and buried it in a tomb.

REALITY
Some days are tough.  All we can do is what we can do.  The disciples were stunned but they did what they could.  There may be a day in your life when things are overwhelming and when it is just do the next right thing.  One step at a time with the Lord will get you to the right place.

9/15            Mark 6:30
The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and what they had taught.

MINISTRY
Ministry involves people.  We are an important part of what the Lord is doing in the world today.  He uses us to connect with people.  We are proclaimers, encouragers, prayer warriors, servants and many other things as they relate to people.  People count with the Lord and He is using us to make sure they know Jesus.

9/16            Mark 6:31
Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.

REST
Rest is important for all of us.  Someone once said that lack of rest will make cowards of us all.  Be sure you do all of your ministry work, and personal work and that you do not forget to rest.  Be strong in the Lord and do not fear for He is with you.

9/17            Mark 6:32-33
They left by boat for a quieter spot.  But many people saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and met them as they landed.

JESUS
The presence of Jesus will turn a wilderness into a paradise.  He welcomed the people.  Jesus set about to minister to them.  The people were attracted to Jesus.  When you meet Jesus you will want to be with Him all the time.  Loving the Lord changes our reference point for what we will do with our life.

9/18            Mark 6:34
A vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.

JESUS
There is no one like Jesus.  He has our best interest in mind.  He knows us and knows what we need.  Here, He began to teach them many things and the people were grateful for His teaching.  They needed help and Jesus gave them the help they needed.

9/19            Mark 6:35-38
Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and it is getting late.  Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy themselves some food.”  But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “It would take a small fortune to buy food for all this crowd!”

SUPPLY
Jesus knew that He was sufficient to meet the needs of the people here in the wilderness.  They trusted Him.  In fact, the people believed in Jesus as much as or more than the disciples probably because they saw Him in a different way than the disciples did.  When Jesus is all you have He will be the only one you trust.  Jesus cares about us individually and corporately.  He is able to see what we need.  He can see what you need.  You may not even know what you need right now but Jesus knows.  Talk with Him.  Jesus is Lord.

9/20            Mark 6:38-39
“How much food do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”  Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred.

SUPPLY
Jesus is adequate to meet our need.  He is an abundant supply of God’s grace and will exactly fit every need we have.  Do not discount the Lord’s abilities.  His Word to you is that He is Lord of all.  Ask Him for exactly what you need and He can exactly meet that need.

9/21            Mark 6:41-44
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God’s blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people.  They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish.  Five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves!

JESUS
Jesus is able to meet our need.  He is the creator.  He is the living Son of God.  He can do what He needs to do to accomplish the Father’s purpose.  He loves us, you and me and He is seeking our best good.  Where are you in your spiritual journey?  Do you need a miracle to accomplish what the Lord has called you to do?  Talk with Jesus.  He will meet your need.

9/22            Mark 6:45
Immediately after this, Jesus made his disciples get back into the boat and head out across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home.

JESUS
He meet their need before He sent them home.  He cares for you and me.  He will never leave us alone.  He will never fail to accomplish His purpose.  He is always glorifying the Father.  Now is the time to surrender your all to Jesus.  Now is the time to let Him heal your heart.  Now is the time.  Jesus meets our need now.

9/23            Mark 6:46
Afterward he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

JESUS
Spend time with Jesus.  Do not forget to discipline yourself to spend time with Him.  He is waiting to hear from you.  Whatever it is that is sidetracking you set it aside and spend time with Jesus.  You will never be sorry for the time you spend with the Lord.

9/24            Mark 6:47-49
During the night, the disciples were in their boat out in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land.  He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning he came to them, walking on the water. He started to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost.

JESUS
Jesus can do what you need done.  He is the creator.  He is not bound by the restrictions that we are.  He has defeated death.  He seeks to build a relationship with us so that we can build relationships with others.  Do not fear.  Jesus is Lord.

9/25            Mark 6:50
They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “It’s all right,” he said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.”

JESUS
His Word to you today is do not fear.  Whatever you are facing, Jesus can handle it.  What do you need?  Take it to Jesus.  What has you stopped?  Jesus can give you the strength to see it through.  He is Lord of life.  The Messiah is involved in this life with you.

9/26            Mark 6:51
Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were astonished at what they saw.

JESUS
You will be astonished at your perspective when you consult Jesus.  He brings calm and peace to us.  He will give us the strength to stand in the face of the world.  If you are feeling stampeded and overwhelmed talk with Jesus.  Open the Word of God and read Scripture that is relevant to your situation.  Most often you will find the Psalms will speak to the current crisis.  Jesus will speak to you and bring God’s Word alive in your heart to deal with the crisis.

9/27            Mark 6:52
They still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the multiplied loaves, for their hearts were hard and they did not believe.

BLIND
The disciples were blind to many of the spiritual teachings of Jesus.  So are we.  Ask the Lord to give you wisdom to deal with your life.  He will give it freely and in abundance.  Our goal is to live from victory to victory and we can only do that when Christ is always in control of us.

9/28            Mark 6:53-55
When they arrived at Gennesaret on the other side of the lake, they anchored the boat and climbed out. The people standing there recognized him at once, and they ran throughout the whole area and began carrying sick people to him on mats.

FAITH
The people were overrun with disappointment and had lost hope.  Jesus brought them hope.  His healings overcame much disappointment.  Today the situation for people hasn’t changed much.  A modern writer said that most people were living lives of quiet desperation.  Don’t let that be you.  Spend time with Jesus.  Experience His healing touch.  Let the Lord Jesus have your heart and control of your life.

9/29            Mark 6:56
Wherever he went – in villages and cities and out on the farms – they laid the sick in the market plazas and streets. The sick begged him to let them at least touch the fringe of his robe, and all who touched it were healed.

JESUS
When we turn to Jesus He brings healing into our life.  The world honors and commands.  Jesus serves and helps.  What do you need today?  Take it to Jesus.  What are you struggling with even this very moment?  Stop where you are and ask Christ to help you deal with it.  He will and will be with you every step of the way to healing.

9/30            Psalm1:1-5
A psalm of thanksgiving. Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth!  Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.  Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.  For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

AMEN
The Lord is true.  He loves you.  He will not desert you.  He will stand with you as you struggle day by day to live your life and be yourself.  Many spend their whole being something they aren’t.  Ask the Lord to make you whole and holy.  His actions will make you yourself.

8/1              Mark 4:1
Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. There was such a large crowd along the shore that he got into a boat and sat down and spoke from there.

JESUS
Jesus was concerned for people.  His ministry was focused on people.  He died for people, you and me.  His love for us is immeasurable.  Spend time with Him for He cares for you.  Getting to know Jesus will be the best investment you can ever make.

8/2              Mark 4:2-9
He began to teach the people by telling many stories such as this one:  “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.  As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.  Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plant sprang up quickly, but it soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil.  Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so that it produced no grain.  Still other seed fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted.” Then he said, “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!”

LISTEN
Do you understand this parable?  If you will listen you will.  For many people Jesus is just a name they know.  They go to church, quote some Scripture and even act as if they are followers of Jesus but they don’t know Jesus.  When we listen to Christ He will permeate every aspect of our lives.  All of our decisions will be discussed with Him.  He will give us Godly advice and direction.  Our path will not waver nor will we go the wrong way.  Listen to Jesus and He will guide you in the way you should go.

8/3              Mark 4:10-13
Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him, “What do your stories mean?”  He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret about the Kingdom of God. But I am using these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘They see what I do, but they don’t perceive its meaning. They hear my words, but they don’t understand. So they will not turn from their sins and be forgiven.’  “But if you can’t understand this story, how will you understand all the others I am going to tell?

SURRENDER
Give your life to Christ.  Call out to Him and ask Him to forgive your sin and to come into your life and guide you.  Believing this we are changed by the indwelling Spirit of God.  He will nurture and guide us.  When we are faced with fear He will give peace.  Nothing can take us out of His hand.  Jesus is here and He is here in us.

8/4              Mark 4:14
The farmer I talked about is the one who brings God’s message to others.

PROCLAIM
Tell everyone you know about Jesus.  When we are filled with the Spirit we cannot hold it in.  We will tell about Christ and what He is doing in us.  We will tell others that this same Jesus that owns us can do the same thing for them.  Our life is different when we are filled with the Spirit and we let that light of God in us shine before man.

8/5              Mark 4:15
The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but then Satan comes at once and takes it away from them.

JOYLESS
A hard heart that is wakened by revival returns to its cold, hard state when the individual leaves the presence of God.  The one who was singing the loudest and proclaiming his fidelity the most quite often is the one who didn’t ask Jesus into his heart, he was simply caught up in the moment.  Ask the Lord to quicken your heart, to give you a soft heart filled with the Lord Jesus Christ.

8/6              Mark 4:16-17
The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy.  But like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word.

JESUS
We start with Jesus.  He is the Savior.  We stay with Jesus, we want to know Him in every way we can.  We grow with Jesus.  One day we will spend eternity with Jesus.

8/7              Mark 4:18-19
The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced.

JESUS
If a person starts off without Jesus they will not have experienced new life in Christ.  The only way to the Father is through the Son, Jesus Christ.  A person trying to live a Christian life without Christ will soon flounder.  Jesus is life and His Spirit in us give us life.  We cannot fake new life in Christ.

8/8              Mark 4:20
But the good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s message and produce a huge harvest – thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.”

JESUS
When we give our heart to Jesus, He will never leave us.  A relationship with Christ is an eternal relationship.  Accept Jesus and He will accept you.  He will give you the wisdom, mercy and grace that you need today and everyday forever.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sin and take over your life.  He will.

8/9              Mark 4:21
Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed to shut out the light? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.

JESUS
When Christ comes into our heart we will tell others about it.  We cannot hide Jesus.  We will be different.  We will have life.  We will want to tell others, indeed we will tell others what Jesus has done in us.  We have a new life in Christ.  It is a life that will be pleasing to God and attractive to others.  The world is dead in its trespasses and sin.  People are looking for God they just don’t know it.

8/10            Mark 4:22-24
“Everything that is now hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!  And be sure to pay attention to what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand – and even more, besides.

JESUS
We do a lot of talking in our daily life.  Time with Jesus will cause us to stop our incessant chatter and listen.  We need to listen as we read the Bible.  We need to listen as we spend time with Jesus.  Getting to know Him is critical for our daily abundant living.  The world is always attacking us emotionally.  Listening to Jesus is the only way we can grow in Christ likeness.  When we listen carefully to Him we will hear what He calls us to do.  We will know peace.  We will experience growing in spiritual strength.  We will know the Lord.

8/11            Mark 4:25
To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them.”

JESUS
Do you every take time to ask Jesus a question and listen for the answer?  Do you seek answers to issues and listen for direction?  It is important that we understand that our relationship with the Lord is not a one-way street.  Jesus wants to give us direction for our life but if we are always talking and never listening we will never hear what Christ is saying.

8/12            Mark 4:26-28
Jesus also said, “Here is another illustration of what the Kingdom of God is like: A farmer planted seeds in a field, and then he went on with his other activities. As the days went by, the seeds sprouted and grew without the farmer’s help, because the earth produces crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.

GROWTH
There is no magic way to grow.  The process takes time.  We spend time with Jesus in Bible reading and study.  We spend time with Jesus in prayer.  We need to spend time with Jesus just listening.  Listen for His voice.  Listen for His gentle hand of guidance.  Listen for His presence.  Jesus loves you.

8/13            Mark 4:29
And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle.”

GRAIN
We are created by God.  He has a plan.  We cannot fathom the activity of God in the world nor are we able to comprehend how the Lord is going to finish His creation plan.  We never have enough information to judge others.  With just this in mind we need to realize that the Lord will determine when the end comes.  That applies to individuals and time itself.  We know that Jesus loves us and that we are going to be with Him.  We know that for sure.

8/14            Mark 4:30-32
Jesus asked, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?  It is like a tiny mustard seed. Though this is one of the smallest of seeds, it grows to become one of the largest of plants, with long branches where birds can come and find shelter.”

JESUS
Our tiny exercise of faith, Lord forgive me, is the beginning point of our growth to become like Jesus.  Spend time with Him and He will make you to become the person you were created to be.  We want to be like Him and He will help us to accomplish that.

8/15            Mark 4:33-34
He used many such stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they were able to understand.  In fact, in his public teaching he taught only with parables, but afterward when he was alone with his disciples, he explained the meaning to them.

JESUS
Jesus will teach us the things we need for living a holy life.  He knows what makes us tick and will fix and equip us in those areas that are in need of fixing and equipping.  We can trust Jesus.  We can trust Him with our life.  We can live daily knowing that He wants to give us the things we need for real life.  Rejoice for the Lord loves you and is seeking your best good!

8/16            Mark 4:35-36
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”  He was already in the boat, so they started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).

TIME
We need time to prepare for life.  We need time to grow.  Our preparation and growth will be in direct proportion to our time with Jesus.  We need to pull away from the madding crowd.  We need to establish a habit of spending time every day quietly before the Lord.  Lord what would you have me do and then sit quietly while He answers.

8/17            Mark 4:37-38
But soon a fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water.  Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are going to drown?”

LIFE
Life happens everyday.  The Lord knows the end from the beginning and He loves us.  Do you think that He is going to lead us into a dead end?  Faith is not based on our know in detail what is going to happen.  Faith is our confidence that the Lord who loves us is leading us in the right direction from this moment unto eternity.  God is good.  All the time.

8/18            Mark 4:39
When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, “Quiet down!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

LIMITATIONS
The Lord is not limited.  He can do anything.  We are limited in every area of our lives but we know Him and He loves us.  We are not alone nor are we at the mercy of the world, the flesh or the devil.  God is in control and He is in control of our life.

8/19            Mark 4:40-41
And he asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?”  And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?”

FAITH
Faith is a gift from the Lord.  He gives it to us as we give ourselves to Him.  Work at your relationship with Him.  You will discover that your faith is growing.  You have a choice whether you will live courageously by faith or not.

8/20            Mark 5:1-5
So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes.   Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him.  This man lived among the tombs and could not be restrained, even with a chain.  Whenever he was put into chains and shackles – as he often was – he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to control him.  All day long and throughout the night, he would wander among the tombs and in the hills, screaming and hitting himself with stones.

JESUS
We sometimes forget that Jesus came for each one of us.  That person that is hurting you, or mistreating you Jesus came for them.  As you struggle day to day dealing with the ups and downs of life, purpose to pray for those who hurt or abuse you or maybe someone who has just been difficult.  Pray for the lost.  Everyone needs Jesus.

8/21            Mark 5:6-9
When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him. He ran to meet Jesus and fell down before him.  He gave a terrible scream, shrieking, “Why are you bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God’s sake, don’t torture me!”  For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”  Then Jesus asked, “What is your name?” And the spirit replied, “Legion, because there are many of us here inside this man.”

JESUS
The demons know Jesus and tremble.  He is the ruler.  The universe is under His authority.  One day He will come back and take His children out of this world and will sit in judgment of sin and the world.  Victory was predetermined.  Christ is in control.  When we know Jesus as Lord we do not have to fear for we belong to Him.

8/22            Mark 5:10-14
Then the spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.  There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.  “Send us into those pigs,” the evil spirits begged.  Jesus gave them permission. So the evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of two thousand pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned.  The herdsmen fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. Everyone rushed out to see for themselves.

JESUS
Jesus spoke and the evil spirits had to leave the man.  He can speak to our biggest need.  What do you need?  Ask Him to help you.  He will help you and will not ever leave you.  Spend time with Jesus so that you can make sense out of your life.

8/23            Mark 5:15-17
A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, but they were frightened when they saw the man who had been demon possessed, for he was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane.  Those who had seen what happened to the man and to the pigs told everyone about it, and the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

JESUS
Jesus healed people who were in great need.  His healing was at the direction of His Father and by the power of His Father.  Jesus is alive and well.  He continues to serve by the power of the Father.  Do you have a great need for healing?  If you are not saved you need healing.  Ask Jesus to come into your heart and forgive you of your sin.  He will.  Then you will be a member of the family of God.  Do you have another need?  Ask Jesus and He will help you.

8/24            Mark 5:18-20
When Jesus got back into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too.  But Jesus said, “No, go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”  So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

WITNESS
The formerly demon possessed man simply told others what Jesus had done for Him.  He believed it and could show physically what Christ had done for him in his healing.  You too can share with others what Christ has done for you.  The more you know Him the more you have to tell.  Spend time with Jesus and get to know Him.

8/25            Mark 5:21-24
When Jesus went back across to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him on the shore.  A leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and fell down before him, pleading with him to heal his little daughter. “She is about to die,” he said in desperation. “Please come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live.”  Jesus went with him, and the crowd thronged behind.

BELIEVE
Jairus believed that Jesus could and would heal his daughter.  Do you believe that Jesus can heal your life?  If you do He can.  If you don’t then you will continue to struggle to come to grips with your life.  Jesus gives us a guide for living and a plan for our life.  Get to know Jesus.  Follow Him and believe in Him and grow your relationship.

8/26            Mark 5:25-34
And there was a woman in the crowd who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal from many doctors through the years and had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she was worse.  She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched the fringe of his robe.  For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his clothing, I will be healed.”  Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel that she had been healed!  Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”  His disciples said to him, “All this crowd is pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?'”  But he kept on looking around to see who had done it.  Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done.  And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed.”

HEALING
Do you need healing so desperately that you are willing to do whatever it takes?  Go to Jesus with that kind of desperation and you will find Him healing you.  Give Him your heart and He will help you to grow your faith.  Believe in Him and He will direct your path.

8/27            Mark 5:35-36
While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus’s home with the message, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”  But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.”

JESUS

Trust Jesus.  He is concerned about you and your life.  The future belongs to Him.  You can be confident that your future will only improve for one day we will stand with Jesus as He bears testimony of our relationship to the Father.  He is in control and will never let us go.

8/28            Mark 5:37
Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter and James and John.

JESUS
Jesus knows what is going on.  You are never out of His sight.  He is trustworthy and faithful.  What you are doing and want to do are important to Jesus.  Ask Him for the wisdom, mercy, and grace that you need to grow.  He will give you what you need.

8/29            Mark 5:38-39
When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the weeping and wailing.  He went inside and spoke to the people. “Why all this weeping and commotion?” he asked. “The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep.”

TRUTH
Jesus is the truth.  We can find our way with Him.  We can find out where we should go if we will ask Him.  Do not be fooled.  Jesus has your best interest at heart.  Let Him have your loyalty.  Believe in Christ and He will make you an eternal member of His family.

8/30            Mark 5:40
The crowd laughed at him, but he told them all to go outside. Then he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying.

JESUS
Jesus is never confused about what to do.  He knows what is needed and how to do it.  What do you need fixed?  What is out of sync in your life?  Take it to Jesus.  Get to Know Him.  He will fix you.

8/31            Mark 5:41-43
Holding her hand, he said to her, “Get up, little girl!”  And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! Her parents were absolutely overwhelmed.  Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what had happened, and he told them to give her something to eat.

MIRACLES
A miracle is a supernaturally caused event-an even different from what would have occurred in the normal course of events.  Jesus will do what needs to be done when we are in need.  He will intervene in your life if that is the need.  I encourage people to keep a daily diary of their time with the Lord.  I also ask them to keep a list of answered prayer.  Your answered prayer list is where you will see His divine activity in your life.

7/01            Mark 2:1-3
When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home.  Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.

MIRACLES
The people of Galilee were seeking someone to make their life better.  They were convinced that God would destroy the Romans by force.  Their new king from God would provide the leadership for that force.  Jesus came as a servant.  He did not bruise even a reed.  The people of Capernaum saw Him as someone who could ease the discomfort of their life.  They didn’t recognize Him as the Lord.  Be careful in your life.  Are you surrendered to the Living Lord?  Or are you seeking only to get Jesus to do stuff for you that will ease your life?

7/02            Mark 2:4-5
They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

NEEDS
People who arrive as quickly as these folks crowding around Jesus come for one reason-the miracles that Jesus performed.  There were two types, those who needed healing and those who wanted to see Jesus heal.  He offers us His friendship.  Is Jesus your friend?

7/03            Mark 2:6-7
But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

CONTROL
These religious leaders thought they had God under their control.  Religion was their profession.  They were the pros.  They felt that they knew what offended God.  Of course they didn’t have a clue about the things that disturbed God.  The Lord is interested in our hearts.

7/04            Mark 2:8-9
Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?  Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?

KNOWLEDGE
Jesus knows everything about us.  Amazing and impossible for us to understand but the truth is that Jesus is never without perfect knowledge.  We however never have perfect knowledge, in fact we often don’t even have partial knowledge about what is going on in front of our eyes.  With that in mind, remember that when you go to Jesus to talk with Him about your daily life, He is the only one that knows what is going on.

7/05            Mark 2:10-11
So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

JESUS
Jesus is the creator of all things.  He knows what we need.  When we come to Him He will meet our need.  This man needed healing to walk.  Jesus did exactly what the man needed.  Speak your need to the Father and He will answer you.

7/06            Mark 2:12
And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

HEALING
The world cannot heal like Jesus heals.  The world is dead in its trespasses and sin seeking to go its own way.  The world seeks to supplant God and present itself as the power.  God in Christ is all power.  He knows all things and is victorious over the world, flesh, and the devil.  Jesus simply speaks healing and it is done.

7/07            Mark 2:13
Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him.

JESUS
Jesus felt deep compassion for the masses.  He knew they were struggling just to survive.  Jesus taught them that the Lord would meet their needs.  He taught that following the world always leads to death.  Follow Him and you will be led in a victorious life.  All power and honor and glory to the risen lamb, Jesus,  He loves us and would that we not be overcome by the world.

7/08            Mark 2:14
As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

FOLLOW
Jesus calls each one of us to follow Him.  We have to be His child to hear what He is saying to us.  Follow the Lord.  Spend time cultivating your listening skills.  Jesus will give you wisdom, mercy, grace and understanding and He will not leave you.

7/09            Mark 2:15
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.)

JESUS
Jesus loves each one of us as if there were no other of us.  You are loved.  When we discover His love for us we so desperately want to have it and keep it that we will gladly do whatever we must to be in fellowship with Him.  The mistake people make is that without Jesus we are all sinners and disreputable.

7/10            Mark 2:16
But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

PEOPLE
Jesus loves people most of all.  He came and lived a perfect life for us then willingly went to the cross and died for us.  On the third day He was raised from the grave by the power of God.  He is alive now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

7/11            Mark 2:17
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

SIN
Sin is rampant in the world.  We are surrounded by it and sin assails us at every opportunity.  We are at war with the powers and principalities of the air.  Christ is the one who saves us.  If we believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and ask Him to save you, the Word says He will save you unto eternity.

7/12            Mark 2:18-20
Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?”  Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them.  But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

QUESTIONS
The religious leaders always asked the wrong question.  They thought they controlled God.  They refused to listen to the Lord.  Jesus turned the tables on them.  They had just witnessed a great miracle and yet instead of bowing down and worshipping Jesus they were wasting His time asking questions for which they already had the answer.  The religious leaders were off track.  Jesus noted that they were outside the will of God.

7/13            Mark 2:21
“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

OLD ORDER
The world is dead in its trespasses and sins.  The way of the world is against the way of God.  Christ came into our world to save us from our sin.  His way is redemptive.  His way is totally different than the way of the world.  Christ calls us to surrender to Him and let Him give us direction for living.

7/14            Mark 2:22
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”

CHRISTIANITY
The world is committed to doing things without full knowledge and on its own.  The world is a place where the fittest survive.  Christianity is committed to everyone surviving and taking care of the needy.  When we come to Christ and serve Him we learn to love the unlovely.  Our life in Christ is a life committed to putting people first.

7/15            Mark 2:23-24
One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat.  But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

THINGS
The world only sees things.  It is committed to the those things that are passing away.  Christianity is committed to people.  People count with the Lord.  People have great needs and are always in need of direction for living.  Christ comes to us to give us the things we need and to teach us the ways of God.  When we are of the world we live a life of solitude and we are always striving to fill a need we can’t quite identify.  Christ touches us in that area of need and meets it.  Jesus is Lord and He will give us the very things that we need for real life.

7/16            Mark 2:25-26
Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?  He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.”

NEED
What is your need?  Christ is in the need meeting business.  Christ will meet you where you are and take you to where you need to be.  Let Jesus have control of your life and He will guide you on the right path.

7/17            Mark 2:27-28
Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

LORD
Jesus loves you.  He loves you because He chose you to be in His family.  When we accept His Word about us we will become part of His family.  God is at work in the world to find those who love Him.  Tell everyone about your relationship with Jesus.  Tell them about your answered pray.  Tell others about your sweet relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ for He is indeed Lord of all.

7/18            Mark 3:1-2
Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. Would he heal the man’s hand on the Sabbath? If he did, they planned to condemn him.

JESUS
Notice that Jesus was available and willing.  His enemies hated Him and Jesus knew this.  Jesus also knew that this man had a great need.  Christ is in the need meeting business.  Take your need to Him.  Jesus is not afraid to meet your need.

7/19            Mark 3:3-4
Jesus said to the man, “Come and stand in front of everyone.”  Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.

RELIGION
Religion wants you to meet its need.  Jesus came to meet the needs of people.  He shows the Pharisees how they could be useful in the Kingdom and they totally missed the point.  Their hatred for Jesus clouded their minds.  Jesus knew this man’s need and was willing to meet the man exactly where he was.

7/20            Mark 3:5
He looked around at them angrily, because he was deeply disturbed by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” The man reached out his hand, and it became normal again!

HEALER
Jesus the Creator is our healer.  He is serious about meeting our need.  Spend time getting to know the Lord.  Talk with Him about every need that you have.  You will be amazed at how important you are to Jesus.  He will meet your need.

7/21            Mark 3:6
At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to discuss plans for killing Jesus.

FOCUS
Religion focuses on its needs.  Christianity focuses on peoples needs.  Jesus is concerned about you and your life.  He will walk with you as you face each day.  Jesus will give you wisdom, mercy and the grace that you need to do what the Lord has called you to do.  Grow in your relationship with Christ.  Spend time with Him.

7/22            Mark 3:7-8
Jesus and his disciples went out to the lake, followed by a huge crowd from all over Galilee, Judea,  Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far away as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him for themselves.

PEOPLE
People are dealing with a life that at times is overwhelming.  They seek to be independent.  They want their way from birth.  Jesus knows the way that we should go and He is able to deal with each individual life.  He will teach us the right way.  There is no “silver bullet” for living.  Life is a daily activity.  We have great needs and Jesus will meet those needs.

7/23            Mark 3:9
Jesus instructed his disciples to bring around a boat and to have it ready in case he was crowded off the beach.

DETAILS
Jesus deals with details.  Too often we think “oh, that is too much detail to talk with Jesus about.”  It isn’t.  Jesus is concerned about everything in our life.  He loves us so much more than we ever realize.  He is especially concerned about each one of us.  We are special to Him.  The details of our life are important to Jesus.

7/24            Mark 3:10
There had been many healings that day. As a result, many sick people were crowding around him, trying to touch him.

HEALING
Jesus could do miracles.  His miracles were to show the people who He was.  He was the King of all Kings and Lord of Glory.  All the people saw was the miracles.  It didn’t occur to them to think about who He was.  Instead they focused on the miracles.  Who do you think Jesus is?  Is He the Lord of your life?

7/25            Mark 3:11-12
And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, they would fall down in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!”  But Jesus strictly warned them not to say who he was.

DEMONS
The evil spirits know about Jesus.  They know who He is and they tremble in fear of Him.  Jesus wants a relationship with you.  He wants you to get to know Him.  Spend time with Jesus today and every day.  Claim Him as Lord and leader of your life.

7/26            Mark 3:13-19
Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him.  Then he selected twelve of them to be his regular companions, calling them apostles.  He sent them out to preach, and he gave them authority to cast out demons.  These are the names of the twelve he chose: Simon (he renamed him Peter), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the Zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

CHOSEN
Jesus chose the disciples and gave them a ministry.  He was very specific with what they were to do.  His instructions were to be carried out by them.  He has also chosen you and is calling you to serve.  Jesus has a specific activity that only you can do.  Surrender to Him today and serve the Lord.

7/27            Mark 3:20
When Jesus returned to the house where he was staying, the crowds began to gather again, and soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat.

MINISTRY
It is hard to minister to lost people.  They want us for what we can do for them.  They are not interested in ministering together with us.  Are you doing that for which you and only you were created?  Is Jesus filling you with the Holy Spirit so that you can serve in kingdom work?  All of us are called.  All of us have an opportunity to serve.  Ask the Lord what He wants you to do and He will tell you.

7/28            Mark 3:21
When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him home with them. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.

WORLD
The world and sometimes other Christians will fail to see the ministry that you are doing as God called.  Others will try to control us.  His call is easy but what makes it hard is our trying to do it on our own.  Jesus called you and He will direct you.  He will take you along a victorious path and you will be effective.  Give the Lord have your plans and then seek to listen to His plans for you.

7/29            Mark 3:22
But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”

EVIL
Evil always points at good and declares it evil.  Remember that the lost are dead in their trespasses and sin.  We must know the Word of God and we are charged with the responsibility of knowing good from evil.  It is important that we not mistake the evil things we do for good.  Also, that we not declare the activity of God as evil.  Know the Lord and He will instruct you in the proper way to go.

7/30            Mark 3:23-30
Jesus called them over and said to them by way of illustration, “How can Satan cast out Satan?  A kingdom at war with itself will collapse.  A home divided against itself is doomed.  And if Satan is fighting against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive.  Let me illustrate this. You can’t enter a strong man’s house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed!   “I assure you that any sin can be forgiven, including blasphemy; but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.”  He told them this because they were saying he had an evil spirit.

EVIL
It is easy to recognize evil.  It goes against God.  It claims its exception to the things of God.  Evil is always independent from the things of God.  It goes its own way.  It whispers in our ear that this time will be okay.  Listen to the Lord.  He will put His finger on sin and he will never give you a pass.  Sin is always sin.

7/31            Mark 3:31-35
Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived at the house where he was teaching. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them.  There was a crowd around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.”  Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”  Then he looked at those around him and said, “These are my mother and brothers.  Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

GOD’S WILL
Do God’s will.  It is easier to live right than to justify living wrong.  Today we are living in a nation that is calling sin good and good sin.  Be careful who you follow.  The world is always against the things of God.  People count with Jesus but in the world might makes right.

06/01          Mark 1:1
Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

JESUS
Jesus is the Good News from God.  He lived a perfect life.  He willingly died for us to pay the price for our sin.  He chose us even when we were dead in our trespasses and sin.  We didn’t come looking for Him, He was looking for us.  The really Good News is that God came for us.

06/02          Mark 1:2-3
In the book of the prophet Isaiah, God said, “Look, I am sending my messenger before you, and he will prepare your way.    He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare a pathway for the Lord’s coming! Make a straight road for him!’

EVANGEL
John the Baptist fulfilled this role.  He came declaring that Messiah was coming.  You and I are charged with the responsibility to tell everyone that the Messiah has come.  We tell it with our lives and our oral testimony.  Be busy about the Lord’s work, Jesus is coming soon and then He will come in judgment.

06/03          Mark 1:4
This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and was preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

OBEDIENCE
The Lord calls us to obedience.  Once we start to be obedient everything else falls in place.  Too many want everything to fall in place and then they will obey.  The Lord tells us to trust and obey Him.

06/04          Mark 1:5
People from Jerusalem and from all over Judea traveled out into the wilderness to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

CONFESSION
When we confess our sin Jesus forgives us.  The problem is that sometimes our confession is not so that we can change and do right, it is simply a passing act of religious fervor that leads on to doing things the way we have already done them.  Jesus calls us to a life of obedience to Him.  Confession includes our changing to become more like Jesus.

06/05          Mark 1:6-8
His clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey.  He announced: “Someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am – so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave.    I baptize you with   water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

JESUS
Jesus came so that we might have a relationship with the Father.  The Holy Spirit indwells us and will guide us.  We cut our relationship with Jesus when we disobey Him.  Obedience is the required path for us to walk when we are seeking a close relationship with Jesus.  Obedience takes discipline.  Listen to the Lord and do what He says.

06/06          Mark 1:9-10
One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.  And when Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on him.

JESUS
Jesus was the Son of God.  He lived and walked on this earth in ancient Israel about 2,000 years ago.  Everyone saw this happening.  Let this Word from God encourage your faith.  Jesus really came to save us from our sin.

06/07          Mark 1:11
And a voice came from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you.”

JESUS
Jesus was obedient to the Father.  He always did what His Father said.  This is an important lesson for us.  Jesus was fully man and fully God and it took Him a lot of time to keep in close relationship with the Father.  Spend time with Jesus every day.

06/08          Mark 1:12
Immediately the Holy Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness.  He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

JESUS
Jesus had a tough time but He dealt with all of the issues in His life by maintaining that close relationship with the Father.  Can we do any less?  If the Son of God had to spend a lot of time in prayer and fellowship with the Father how much greater is my need.  Discipline yourself unto obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

06/09          Mark 1:14
Later on, after John was arrested by Herod Antipas, Jesus went to Galilee to preach God’s Good News.

GOOD NEWS
The Lord has come.  This is Good News.  We are not alone.  Our life has meaning.  The Lord has made each one of us a part of His plan.  His plan is that all might be saved to a relationship with Him.  People count with God.  Without God man is dead in his trespasses and sin.

06/10          Mark 1:15
“At last the time has come!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!”

CALL
The call for each one of us is to turn from our sins and believe in the Good News of Jesus.  No one is exempt from this requirement of repentance.  If a person has not repented of their sin and believed in Jesus they have not made a profession of faith.  The Good News is that we can choose to be in the family of God.

06/11          Mark 1:16-18
One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother, Andrew, fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen.  Jesus called out to them, “Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!”  And they left their nets at once and went with him.

CALL
Jesus calls us to come to Himself.  Each one of us and anyone of us can make this decision to follow Jesus.  He is calling all of us.  Listen, He is saying your name.  “Come,” Jesus says.

06/12          Mark 1:19-20
A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat mending their nets.  He called them, too, and immediately they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men and went with him.

CHOICE
Following Jesus is a clear choice.  We change from what we were to a follower of Jesus.  Those that follow Him will become more like Him day by day.  God is love.  He loves people.  Jesus died for people.  His most recognizable trait is His love.  Can we say that about ourselves?

06/13          Mark 1:21
Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum, and every Sabbath day he went into the synagogue and taught the people.

JESUS
Jesus will teach us about Himself.  He will guide us into what we need to read, say and do.  His love will call us to prayer.  When we love Jesus we will love those we are with.  Life is always to be lived where we are and never where we aren’t.

06/14          Mark 1:22
They were amazed at his teaching, for he taught as one who had real authority – quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

JESUS
Jesus said that He and the Father were one.  When we see Jesus we have seen the Father.  Jesus is our teacher.  He is our role model.  The more we learn about Jesus the more we know how to live our life.  The more of what we learn about Jesus that we put into practice the more we will become like Christ.

06/15          Mark 1:23-24
A man possessed by an evil spirit was in the synagogue, and he began shouting, “Why are you bothering us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One sent from God!”

JESUS
Jesus is Lord.  He is Lord over all things.  When He is Lord of our life He will teach us the way in which we should go.

06/16          Mark 1:25-26
Jesus cut him short. “Be silent! Come out of the man.”  At that, the evil spirit screamed and threw the man into a convulsion, but then he left him.

AUTHORITY
Jesus has authority over all things.  When we surrender our life to Him He will exercise authority in our life teaching us how we should live and guiding us in the right way we should go.

06/17          Mark 1:27-28
Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”  The news of what he had done spread quickly through that entire area of Galilee.

JESUS
Jesus knows all about us.  He is able to deal with any issue in our life.  Jesus will walk with us everyday of our life.  He will teach us to accomplish the plan He has for our life.  He will sustain us.  He will never leave us.

06/18          Mark 1:29-31
After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they went over to Simon and Andrew’s home, and James and John were with them.  Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away.  He went to her bedside, and as he took her by the hand and helped her to sit up, the fever suddenly left, and she got up and prepared a meal for them.

JESUS
Jesus will meet our every need.  He will not fail us.  His only requirement is our belief.  This is not our believing that we will be successful for indeed we may not be successful in the eyes of the world.  Our belief is in His love and His call.  He will not forsake us and nothing can ever separate us from Him.

06/19          Mark 1:32-33
That evening at sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus.  And a huge crowd of people from all over Capernaum gathered outside the door to watch.

WORLD
The world is only interested in things that are passing away, those things that fulfill personal wants and aspirations.  Jesus is interested in the things that will outfit us for eternity.  The things we need to live before the Father from this moment until forever.  Christ equips us to move from this life into the next without any difficulties.  The Lord is with us and overcomes every obstacle to life.

06/20          Mark 1:34
So Jesus healed great numbers of sick people who had many different kinds of diseases, and he ordered many demons to come out of their victims. But because they knew who he was, he refused to allow the demons to speak.

EVIL
Evil is well acquainted with who Jesus is.  Evil is seeking to devour us.  Evil wants us to go our own way, do it our self, so that it can control us.  We have no power in the face of evil.  We cannot over come evil.  Only Jesus can.  He is Lord and He has already faced evil and won the battle for our life on Calvary.  All we have to do is accept the offer of Jesus-eternal life.

06/21          Mark 1:35
The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.

JESUS
Jesus was Lord but He had to spend a great deal of time in prayer.  His prayer time kept Him in constant touch with the Father.  Prayer enabled Christ to keep His focus and strength to deal with the world.  Jesus was equipped by the Holy Spirit and beloved by the Father.

06/22          Mark 1:36-37
Later Simon and the others went out to find him.  They said, “Everyone is asking for you.”

PEOPLE
People will generally seek to have their needs met first.  People will look for anyone they think can meet their needs.  Jesus knew what each person was looking for and knew that surrender wasn’t one of those things.  We can only come to Jesus in surrender.  Jesus is Lord.

06/23          Mark 1:38
But he replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too, because that is why I came.”

GOSPEL
The Gospel message is for each one of us.  Jesus has come that we might have life and that life is in Him.  We will no longer be alone Jesus will be with us.  The world is searching for things that are passing away.  Jesus gives us life and that more abundantly.  We are cleansed from our sins and made whole.  Jesus brings us into the family of God and gives us the ability to have a relationship with the Father.

06/24          Mark 1:39
So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and expelling demons from many people.

JESUS
Jesus expels evil.  Evil cannot survive when Christ is around.  Very simple, we need the Lord and when we are in Christ we are free from any other control. We are able to become more like Jesus because He is with us showing us the way.

06/25          Mark 1:40
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you want to, you can make me well again,” he said.

HEALTH
Jesus brings spiritual health to us.  We are no longer dead in our sin.  We are alive in Christ.  Christ will take us by the hand and lead us in the way we should go.  He will give us what we need.  His will is that we honor and glorify the Father just as He, Jesus, does.

06/26          Mark 1:41
Moved with pity,   Jesus touched him. “I want to,” he said. “Be healed!”

LOVE
The response by Jesus to a person that needs help is never decided by the position of the person.  This man wasn’t prayed up.  This man did not know Jesus and he wasn’t coming for any other reason than that he wanted to be healed.  Jesus healed the man because the man asked Him for healing.  What do you need?  Jesus is not going to wait until you have done enough or put yourself in a favored position.  Jesus loves you and He will meet your need at the point of your need.

06/27          Mark 1:42-44
Instantly the leprosy disappeared – the man was healed.  Then Jesus sent him on his way and told him sternly, “Go right over to the priest and let him examine you. Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Take along the offering required in the Law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy, so everyone will have proof of your healing.”

JESUS
Jesus was showing His deep compassion for the needy.  He also will show us the same kind of compassion as we come to Him with our needs.  The Lord will talk with you and He will let you know what He will do.  Spend time with Him and get to know Him.  Let His presence change you.  We need changing.  We need leading.  Bend your knee to Him.

06/28          Mark 1:45
But as the man went on his way, he spread the news, telling everyone what had happened to him. As a result, such crowds soon surrounded Jesus that he couldn’t enter a town anywhere publicly. He had to stay out in the secluded places, and people from everywhere came to him there.

PEOPLE
People are hurting.  These folk didn’t know who Jesus was but they knew they needed help.  They were desperately seeking a solution to their plight.  The tragedy in this world is that when folks discover that they can’t manipulate Jesus to do their bidding they often walk away.  Jesus is Lord not a genie or butler.  It is He who created us and we need to be faithful in our relationship with Him.  If we aren’t it will harm us and the only one fooled will be us.

06/29          Psalm 75:1-5
We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your mighty miracles.  God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked.  When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm.  “I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists!  Don’t lift your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with rebellious arrogance.'”

THANKS
Gratitude is the attitude for a follower of Jesus.  We are grateful for our daily bread.  We thank the Lord for His rich blessings and His wonderful presence.  We need the Lord.  Surrender you heart to Him and let Jesus come into your life to give you the direction that you need.  Jesus is a friend who will never leave you.

06/30          Psalm 75:6-10
For no one on earth – from east or west, or even from the wilderness – can raise another person up.  It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.  For the LORD holds a cup in his hand; it is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours the wine out in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs.  But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Israel.  For God says, “I will cut off the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.”

JESUS
Jesus is God’s everything.  Christ makes us whole, cleansing us of our sin.  Jesus gives us His right standing so that we can have a relationship with the Father.  Praise God from whom all blessings come.  Thank you Lord.

05/01          1 John 3:1
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

CHILDREN
We are children of God.  Think about how we respond to our children.  We listen to them and strive to meet their needs.  God really knows what all of our needs are and He loves us.  Our Father is willing to meet all of our needs and He knows what those needs are.

05/02          1 John 3:2
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

CHANGE
There is a great change that takes place when we become a member of God’s family.  On that day when we go to be with the Father we can only imagine the magnitude of the change that will take place in a fraction of a second.  We will see God.  We will know Him.  We will be like Him.  Wow what a day we are looking forward too.

05/03          1 John 3:3
And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

CHANGE
We have the spirit of God with us and are able to comprehend spiritual things.  This knowledge will lead us to become more like Jesus.  As we grow in knowledge of the Father we will become more aware of His holiness and purity.  This should cause us to strive to be more like Jesus.  This will encourage us to let the Lord have control of our life and lead us into a life like the Father’s, one of holiness and purity.

05/04          1 John 3:4-5
Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.  And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.

SIN
We must be sensitive to our sin.  Too many people are sensitive to other peoples sin and excuse their own.  Do not excuse sin.  Ask the Lord to make you sensitive to your sin, confess it and turn from it.  Let Jesus cleanse you from your sin.

05/05          1 John 3:6
Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

SIN
We cannot stand in the presence of God and continue in sin.  Our sin is an obstacle between us and the Father.  Jesus died for our sin and He is the one who forgives our sin.  Christ is looking for us to rely on Him for everything we need in life and one of those key elements of a Christ like life is forgiveness.  Ask Jesus and He will forgive you.  We must get serious about dealing with sin in our life.

05/06          1 John 3:7-8
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.  But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.

SIN
We cannot destroy sin.  Try as we might, as hard as we might and we will not eradicate sin.  But when we turn to Jesus and let Him have control of us He will lead us in the way we should go.  Jesus will remove the stain of sin from us and give us the wisdom we need so that we will not sin.  His righteousness is given to us.  He forgives our sin.

05/07          1 John 3:9
Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

SIN
If I am serious about Christ I will let Him have control of me.  I will let Him give me the strength to deal with sin in my life.  Jesus will change me from the inside out and all of those things that I did do I will no longer do.  Holiness comes from a position of humility under the tutelage of Jesus.

05/08          1 John 3:10
So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

OWNERSHIP
When we accept Jesus as Lord we are members of the family of God.  We have a new heart and have His righteousness.  Therefore we will deal with people like Jesus would deal with them.  Even though they mistreated Him He still loved them.

05/09          1 John 3:11
This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

LOVE
Love is an action.  It isn’t a thought, a dream, something we will do one day, love is the way that we treat some one right now.  If I love you I will value you.  If I don’t love you I will mistreat you.  How we treat others tells us whether we love them or not.

05/10          1 John 3:12
We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.

ACTIONS
Our actions tell us who we love and express the way we love.  If you do not love someone we will ignore them, treat them harshly or in a multitude of other ways communicate that we don’t think much of them.  This is wrong and when we do things this way we are wrong.  We are to confess our sin and He will be faithful and righteous to forgive us of our sin.

05/11          1 John 3:13
So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

WORLD
The world is in bondage to sin.  It will react against you in a negative way when you are committed to living for Jesus.  The world hates Jesus and will do whatever it costs to express that hate.  The world will let you talk about Supreme Being, Heavenly Father and on and on but the world hates Jesus.

05/12          1 John 3:14
If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

CHANGE
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior it changes us.  We are no longer in bondage to sin.  Satan does not have a claim against us.  When we continue in bondage to sin we have not accepted Jesus.

05/13          1 John 3:15
Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

ACTIONS
Look at your life.  How are you living?  Is Jesus the center of your life?  Is God in control of you?  If you’re actions are unchanged then you have not given yourself to Jesus.  The Christian life is not a cafeteria line.  We serve God or the Evil One-our choice.

05/14          1 John 3:16
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

SACRIFICE
Jesus gave His life for us.  He died on the cross.  His example calls us to give Him our priorities.  Everything we do is subject to His direction.  Spend time with Jesus.  Ask Him what He would have you do.

05/15          1 John 3:17
If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

LOVE
Love is a requirement when you are a member of God’s family.  We are called to love the unlovely.  His example is meant for us-He died on the cross for those who killed Him as though they were His friends.  He died for you and for me when we didn’t know Him.  His example for us is a call to live our life caring for the needy and being a friend to the friendless.

05/16          1 John 3:18-20
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.  Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.  Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

ACTIONS
In our society we are focused on talk.  We talk about what we do, what someone else will do or what we should do.  In fact we talk so much that we have forgotten that talk is simply that, talk.  Until we actually do it our talk is meaningless.  The road to perdition is paved with good intentions.

05/17          1 John 3:21-22
Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.  And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

BE
We are called to BE doers of the Word and not hearers only.  Do what the Lord tells you to do.  Do it with joy.  Do it now.  Do it to the best of your ability.  Then your conscience will be clear, your heart will be devoted and your reward in heaven will be great.

05/18          1 John 3:23
And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

BELIEF
Our belief is in a man, the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not a trust we put in someone that has come along with a new idea.  Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to pay the price of our sin.  He died on the cross for us and was raised from the dead by the power of God.  He was with God and is God and He walked among us.  He knows our pain and sorrows.  He calls us to believe in Him and receive eternal life.

05/19          1 John 3:24
Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit of God indwells the heart and mind of those that name Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  He convicts us of our sin.  He guides us in the way we should go.  He quickens our mind when we face an obstacle so that we will know the right thing to do.

05/20          Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

JESUS
Jesus the Messiah has come to us so that we might have pardon for our sin and new life in the family of God.  Jesus is alive and He lives in us.  Jesus gives us right standing with the Father.  He has provided our pardon.

05/21          Isaiah 61:2
He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

SALVATION
Salvation is available to anyone willing to ask Jesus to forgive them of their sin and believe that Jesus is Lord.  Whosoever will may come.  That is a promise from the Father to us.  There is new life in Jesus Christ and it is available to you.

05/22          Isaiah 61:3
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.  In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

VICTORY
Jesus has won the victory.  Whatever the circumstances of our life might be we are living in victory if we have asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior.  The world, the flesh and the devil seek to trip us up but we belong to Him and in Him we are living in victory.  Jesus is Lord and He is alive and well in us.

05/23          Isaiah 61:4-5
They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago.  They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations.  Foreigners will be your servants.  They will feed your flocks and plow your fields and tend your vineyards.

VICTORY
Do not fear.  Jesus Christ is Lord and He is Lord of all things.  If we call upon Him and let Him have our hearts we will have eternal life that begins right now and will never end.  Don’t let the world dissuade you for you are victors in Christ.  Jesus is God’s everything and He brings everything we need to live a victorious life.

05/24          Isaiah 61:6
You will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God.  You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches.  Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor.  You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.

VICTORY
Do not despair for Christ has won the fight.  Our life is blessed and protected by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ is our king and we will participate with Him the victory He has won.  This present travail will soon be done and our reward received for the victory has already been won.

05/25          Isaiah 61:8-9
“For I, the Lord, love justice.  I hate robbery and wrongdoing.  I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them.  Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations.  Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

BLESSED
We are blessed with every good thing from God in Jesus Christ.  He is our salvation and righteousness.  In Him we live a life free from fear and slavery.  Jesus is Lord of all things and He is our Lord.

05/26          Isaiah 61:10-11
I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!  For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.  I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.  The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.  Everyone will praise him!  His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.

JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is everything to us.  He is our strength and salvation.  Our bright morning star that creates in us everything that is of beauty.  His light has come into our lives and we radiate His beauty, His perfection because He lives in us.  He is the Lord of everything including us.

05/27          Philippians 4:4
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!

REJOICE
The people of God rejoice.  The people of God can rejoice.  Do not let this world get you down.  Know that the end of this life is simply a beginning of real life for then we will stand face to face and see Jesus in all of His radiance and glory.  He will fill us to overflowing with His beauty.  We will see Him as He really is and we will know that every promise that He has given us is true and correct.  Rejoice in the Lord for He is indeed Lord of all things.

05/28          Philippians 4:5
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

RETURN
Live as if your life would end this very hour.  Keep short accounts for forgiveness for we do not know the day or the hour when we will go to be with the Lord and we want to be found faithful.  Jesus is coming back.

05/29          Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

WORRY
Worry will try to rob you of your joy.  Worry will seek to grab your freedom in Christ.  Develop and attitude of gratitude to Jesus and He will keep you in perfect peace.  Ask Him for His peace every time you sense worry rearing its head.  Lord forgive me for my unbelief and fill me with your peace.  His peace is the appropriate foundation for joy.  Rejoice in the Lord for He is our peace.

05/30          Philippians 4:8
And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

FOCUS
Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Read His Word, spend time in prayer and get busy living a life that is totally controlled by Jesus.  When you sense obstacles arising against your focus, stop where you are, ask the Lord to deal with whatever it is that is troubling you and He will equip you to walk that very moment in His joy and peace.

05/31          Philippians 4:9
Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

COPY
Paul says to do what He is doing and you will be doing the things that the Lord is calling you to do.  Paul is a great role model for us.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and do what He calls you to do.  Do the next right thing and you will never go astray.

04/01          1 John 1:1
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning,[a] whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.

JESUS
Jesus always has been, always is and ever shall be.  He is the eternal Lord.  He is pre-existent.  Before anything was He was with God and is God.  We don’t make Him Lord because He is Lord.  We have the wonderful privilege of accepting Him as Lord of our life.  Jesus is Lord and Lord of all.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  There is no other way to the Father but thru Him.

04/02          1 John 1:2
This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us.

JESUS
If you know Him you trust Him.  Jesus is absolutely trustworthy.  We can put our life in His hands.  Talk with Him about your life.  Sit with Him and ask Him what He would have you do.  Then obey Him.  He will take care of you.

04/03          1 John 1:3
We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

FELLOWSHIP
We have fellowship with each other because of Jesus.  Spiritually we are brothers and sisters in Christ.  When we see people having problems we can go to them and help them because we are part of the Kingdom of God in Christ.  Jesus is our strength and our resource.  In Christ we can stand before the Father and talk with Him about our problems.  God is good and He loves us.

04/04          1 John 1:4
We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

JOY
We receive His joy and we can live with real joy no matter what we are facing.  Our joy is in Christ.  Our joy is in reading His Word.  Our joy is in seeing others come to Christ.  Jesus is God’s everything.  He is our elder brother.  He is our life and just as He loves us we love Him.

04/05          1 John 1:5
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.

LIGHT
Our lives are often shrouded in confusion and misdirection.  We don’t know what is coming next.  Then we come to Jesus and He will comfort us, give us wisdom to deal with our situation, whatever it might be, and enable us to see because He is light.

04/06          1 John 1:6
So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.

CHANGED
Christians are different than the world.  They have changed the way they see things.  Christians see people as important.  They spend time with God and the Lord Jesus.  Their thinking and acting are in harmony for the Lord is in control of their life.  Christians are obedient to the Lord.  They care for His people.

04/07          1 John 1:7
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

LIGHT
God is light.  His light enables us to have fellowship with Him in Christ.  His light keeps us from stumbling into darkness, indeed it keeps us from walking in the dark.  God’s light is available for us through Jesus.  His light gives us the direction we need each moment of each hour so that we can fellowship with Him and love one another.  We don’t fix people.  Jesus fixes people.  We are called to love one another.

04/08          1 John 1:8
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

SIN
Sin is pervasive in this world.  All have sinned including you and me.  Our sin weighs us down.  Sin separates us from God.  Sin causes us to think wrongly and to do wrong things.  We take our burden of sin to Jesus everyday and He forgives us of our sin and removes its burden.

04/09          1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

FORGIVENESS
What are you struggling with in your heart of hearts?  Talk with Jesus about it.  Talk with Him about your sin-lying, pride, lust, hate, selfishness and many other things we might do regularly.  He will forgive you and give you the strength to get over your sinfulness.

04/10          1 John 1:10
If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

FORGIVENESS
We all need forgiveness.  No one is perfect.  No one is without sin.  We need help and we need it now.  His forgiveness will put us on the right path.  The tragedy is when we don’t see our sin.  If you don’t see your sin you need to talk with the Lord.  He will reveal your sin to you.

04/11          1 John 2:1-2
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.  He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

ACTIVITY
The way we live our life is important.  Do I spend the time each day I need to stay on track with the Lord?  We don’t have to worry about catching up.  Start today and stay current.  Read the Word of God and talk with the Son of God.  That will change your life.  The Lord is good and all that He does is good.

04/12          1 John 2:3-4
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.  If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

ACTIONS
Actions speak louder than words.  Sometimes we may say things we aren’t doing.  Be sure that your actions are matching what you say.  As a Christian we have to do what we say we are doing.  The world is watching and it can spot a hypocrite.  Obedience is the activity of a faithful warrior for Christ.

04/13          1 John 2:5-6
But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.  Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

CHANGE
When we live for Christ we are in the process of change.  To live for Him is to live and become like Him.  Jesus loved people.  He came that all might know.  When we are becoming like Jesus we are doing the things that Jesus did.  Jesus glorified the Father and lived under His control.  Are you letting the Lord control your life?

04/14          1 John 2:7-8
Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before.  Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it.  For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

PEOPLE
People count with Jesus.  People count most of all.  Do you love people?  The command to us is love each other.  This is an action and not a thought.  Do we treat others as if they are valuable?  Do we do for others as we would have them do for us?  Pay attention to the people around you.  They need your love, respect and attention.

04/15          1 John 2:9
If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.

HATE
We disguise our hate.  We use justifications that are carefully crafted to salve our consciences.  The truth is that we sometimes hate others.  The Lord calls us to be forgiving.  This may be hard and even at times seem impossible.  We take our emotions and feelings to the Lord and ask Him to move us from our position of sin.  He will and we can.  Do not hate.

04/16          1 John 2:10
Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

LOVE
Jesus calls us to live in the light.  His presence in our hearts is light.  We give Him control of our life and we will walk in the light.  When we are in the light of God we do not stumble and we do not cause others to stumble.  Stay close to Jesus and walk in His light.

04/17          1 John 2:11
But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

CHANGE
The only way we can stop hating is to change.  The only way we can truly change is to go to Jesus.  Lord help us to forgive.  Help us to become more like you.

04/18          1 John 2:12
I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

FORGIVEN
Jesus promised us that if we would ask Him He would forgive us of our sin and cleanse us of unrighteousness and make us a child of God.  Christ is our righteousness.  He is our Savior.  Jesus is Lord.  When we become a child of God we belong to Him and He is quick to forgive our sin.  Let us be quick to repent.

04/19          1 John 2:13
I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.  I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one.

CROSS
The ground is level at the Cross.  Each one has equal access to the Lord.  When Christ comes into our heart He comes to stay.  It is Jesus who gives us success in the life we now live.  So whether we are young, middle aged or senior members of the family we belong there because of Jesus.

04/20          1 John 2:14
I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father.  I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.  I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong.  God’s word lives in your hearts and you have won your battle with the evil one.

JESUS
Knowing Jesus is the key to dealing with the battles we each face in our life.  Until we begin to grow in knowing Him we are destined to living a life of defeat.  Read His Word, talk with Him and do what He says.  Life in Christ is for everyone that knows Him.

04/21          1 John 2:15-16
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

WORLD
Set aside the worlds pull.  Spend time with Jesus.  Let Christ fill you with eternal things and give you a mind that is focused on Him.  Do not let the world pull you away with its temporary beauty for it lasts only for a season and then is gone.  Give yourself to Christ and let Him build eternal things into your life.

04/22          1 John 2:17
And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

ETERNAL
The things of Christ are eternal.  He will focus our life on things that count and last.  This world and all it contains is passing away.  The things of the Lord last.  Build your life on things that count and last.  Give your heart and your life to Jesus.  Jesus is the way, the Father’s way, and He will never lead you astray.

04/23          1 John 2:18-19
Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.  These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

OBEDIENCE
When we follow Jesus we are called to obedience.  Followers of Christ grow in Him and develop a pattern of obedience.  Those who are false believers cannot follow Jesus and obey Him for very long.  We must be careful not to judge others but we can let the Word of God and the Lord Himself deal with them.

04/24          1 John 2:20
But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth.  So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies.

FAITHFUL
A person that spends time with the Word of God and in prayer with the Son of God and then puts that to practice in daily life will be faithful.  Obedience is the mark of a faithful follower of Jesus.  Look at your life.  Are you obeying Jesus?

04/25          1 John 2:22-23
And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ.  Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.  Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

DENIAL
A Christian will not deny Jesus as Lord.  The world will always deny Christ.  Remember that when a person is without Christ they are dead in their trespasses and sin.  A person without Christ does not know Him nor will they respond kindly to spiritual things.  When we accept Jesus we become a member of the family of God and the Lord God is our Father.

04/26          1 John 2:24
So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.

FAITHFUL
Jesus is more interested in our obedience than He is in our success.  Our faithfulness is critical to our daily walk.  It is in our best interest to maintain an active, focused Christian walk.   Everyday we are called to be faithful in our time with the Lord.  Everyday we are expected to submit ourselves to Him so that He can guide us.  Be faithful to the Lord.

04/27          1 John 2:25
And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

ETERNAL LIFE
Eternal life is a very difficult concept for us to grasp.  It simply means life like Jesus.  When we are faithful we are in a growing relationship with the Lord.  As we grow in Christ we experience the life of Christ in us.  We submit ourselves to the authority of God.  As we live this experiential Christ like life we are enjoying eternal life.  Jesus is living in us.

04/28          1 John 2:26
I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.

WORLD
The world, the flesh and the devil will always try to pull you away from the Lord’s control.  The only way that you can combat this is to make sure that you are letting Jesus control you.  You and I must make sure that we maintain a methodical daily Bible reading.  We should have a specific time each day to meet with the Lord and pray.  Our prayers would include a time of adoration of the Lord.  He is beautiful and majestic and He loves us.  Additionally we will take time to confess our sin.  He knows what we have done but in confession we are identifying our sin and agreeing with Him that what we have done is indeed a sin.  Remember to the thankful.  An attitude of gratitude is so important for our growth.  When we aren’t grateful for the little things we will miss the blessing of big things.  Finally we need to pray for others and ourselves.  Others will be the majority of things we are praying about.  People count with Jesus.

04/29          1 John 2:27
But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

TEACHABLE
The voice of the Holy Spirit will tell you about your sin.  It is of the utmost importance that you sit quietly before the Lord each day.  Listen and He will tell you about your sin.  His holiness will point out to you everything you have messed up today.  Be quick to agree and change.  Be a teachable student.  The Holy Spirit will not debate it with us.  Sin is sin.  Confess it and stop it.

04/30          1 John 2:28-29
And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.  Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.

ACTS
We are not saved by our good deeds.  God isn’t looking for a few good people.  The Lord is interested in our surrender to Him and having faith in Him that He has saved us.  Then we live like a child of God and always do the next right thing.  Our actions as a Christian are no longer controlled by the world.  The Lord Jesus tells us the way we should go.

03/01               Psalm 52:1-3
For the choir director: A psalm[a] of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite said to Saul, “David has gone to see Ahimelech.”  Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?  Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?  All day long you plot destruction.  Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies.  You love evil more than good and lies more than truth.

EVIL
Evil assumes that it is in the lead.  It never sees hell on the horizon.  Life seems to go on forever with nothing changed.  We are facing a hard time in our nation.  Could it be that too many have rejoiced over those things that are against God?  Are we experiencing a day of retribution?  Pray for peace in the world and that we will experience the peace and protection of the Lord.

03/02               Psalm 52:4-7
You love to destroy others with your words, you liar!  But God will strike you down once and for all.  He will pull you from your home and uproot you from the land of the living.  The righteous will see it and be amazed.  They will laugh and say, “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God.  They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”

WEALTH
Wealth can disappear overnight.  Nine months ago our nation was twelve trillion dollars wealthier.  Do not trust in your wealth, trust in the Lord.  Do not forget that the Lord holds the fate of all in His hand.  Jesus is seeking the lost.  We are partners together with Him.  We should be seeking the lost.  Pray that the Lord would use us to further His Kingdom.

03/03               Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.  I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.  I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done.  I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.

STRENGTH
The olive tree is strong.  It is one of the strongest of all trees.  When we reside in the house of the Lord we too will be strong.  If the Lord is for us who can be against us?  In the midst of your struggle today, know that the Lord is with you and He will make you strong.

03/04               2 Peter 3:1
This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory.

REMEMBER
Remember who you are and whose you are.  Consistently reading the Word of God will help you remember.  Memorizing Scripture will help.  Obedience to His commands will equip us to remember.  If the Lord Jesus is the focus of our life, remembering will become second nature and we will not forget that He is Lord.

03/05               2 Peter 3:2
I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.

READ
Read the Bible everyday.  Read it methodically.  Keep a notebook near when you read so that things the Holy Spirit impresses on your heart can be noted so that you remember what He said.  We want to be useful and usable and a good knowledge of His Word will encourage us and strengthen us as we face the challenges of our life.  The Lord is good.

03/06               2 Peter 3:3-4
Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.  They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

QUESTIONS
Remember that unbelievers only have questions.  There is no faith.  They are dead in their trespasses and sin and cannot know God nor can they understand the things of God.  They will not hear us if we give the wrong impressions.  What we do is heard much more quickly than what we say.  We can have questions and when we do we take them to the Lord.  We understand that there will be many questions that will take time for us to understand the answer and sometimes we will not know the answer in this life.  But we believe.  A lost world will never believe.  That is why we are to proclaim Christ in all we do.  We are seeking the lost that they might come to know Him.

03/07               2 Peter 3:5-7
They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water.  Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood.  And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the Day of Judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

JUDGMENT
Judgment belongs to God.  We cannot judge others properly so we are called not to judge.  People don’t need us to judge them, they need us to love and forgive them.  Be careful in your dealings with the lost.  The temptation is to condemn them.  Don’t condemn instead pray for them.  Pray that they might know the Lord.  Pray that they might have real life in Christ.

03/08          2 Peter 3:8
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.

DAY
God is different than we are.  He is concerned about us.  He came into our world as we are to save us from our stupidity and hard heartedness-our sin.  His wisdom comes from His Word.  Read it, understand it and live by it.  The Lord is in control and everything will happen according to His plan and we do not have to fret about that.  Gratitude is a high level of praise for the Lord.

03/09          2 Peter 3:9-10
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.  But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

TIMING
Rejoice in God’s timing.  It is always correct and always on time.  He loves you and me.  He is seeking our best interest.  Follow Him and let His love and guidance give you real life.  Jesus is Lord.

03/10          2 Peter 3:11-12
Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

NOW
Now is the only time we ever have.  Do what you should now.  Ask forgiveness now this very hour.  Seek a growing relationship with Jesus now.  Live your life now under His protective guidance.  Thank the Lord now.  Be used of the Lord now.  Everything we do is done in the now.  Look forward but live now.

03/11          2 Peter 3:13
But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

REJOICE
Rejoice for the Lord is good and He has come for you.  Jesus came that you might have life and that more abundantly.  He is here with us now.  As we live our life we can rejoice that He has assured us of the future.  But the great thing we can know with absolute assurance is that Jesus loves me.  We have a wonderful future ahead of us and we have a wonderful now as part of His family on earth, aliens enroute to heaven.

03/12          2 Peter 3:14
And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

QUALITY
We want our life to have a high level of quality living.  We value a sense of peace and well being.  Jesus gives that to us.  He will give us His peace and enable us to work His plan.  When we are where God wants us doing what He created us to do life is good.  Rejoice that you are able to know this and to work it out in your daily life.

03/13          2 Peter 3:15-16
And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

FOCUS
If we keep our focus on Jesus, letting Him be the center of our life, we will not wander away from the Lord.  His wisdom and love will guide us.  His presence will comfort us in times of trouble.  His love will refresh us day by day.  Jesus is Lord and we are not.  Surrender yourself to Jesus and He will give you what you need to accomplish God’s plan for your life.

03/14          2 Peter 3:17-18
I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

JESUS
Keep the focus of your life on Jesus.  He will direct your path in the way you should go.  Christ will equip you to know and do right.  He will gently nudge you when you get off the proper path.  His sacrifice is sufficient to deal with our sin and His strength is adequate to fix our mistakes.

03/15          Psalm 53:1
Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”  They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

HEAR
Hear the Word of God.  It clearly identifies the way in which we should go.  The Lord is God and is worthy of all of our praise, adoration and faithfulness.  Do not be disappointed by the world for it will always disappoint you.  Rather put your heart and mind upon the things of God.  He will never disappoint you.

03/16          Psalm 53:2-3
God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.  But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt.  No one does good, not a single one!

GRATITUDE
We are wise when we live with and attitude of gratitude towards God.  He came looking for us.  He provided salvation for us because we could not provide it for ourselves.  He knew our need and the depth of our sin.  He offered us salvation.  Praise God what a wonderful God we have.

03/17          Psalm 53:4
Will those who do evil never learn?  They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to God.

EVIL
Evil never changes.  Evil wants its own way.  Evil seeks to devour even those who name the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Learn from your relationship with Jesus.  Let Him have your attention.  Focus your life on the things of God and not the things of this world.

03/18          Psalm 53:5
Terror will grip them, terror like they have never known before.  God will scatter the bones of your enemies.  You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

LOST
The lost, those dead on their trespasses and sin are in need of our prayer.  We need to have a heart for the lost.  We must never forget that we were once lost and now we are part of the family of God.  We stand in His light and live by His wisdom.  The lost are not so, they have no reward, nor do they have a Savior, they are on their own.  Tell someone about Jesus today.

03/19          Psalm 53:6
Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?  When God restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

HEAVEN
Heaven is a great place.  We can rejoice with certain knowledge that we are indeed enroute to our home in heaven.  Jesus is our Savior and He saves us completely and eternally.

03/20          2 John 1-2
This letter is from John the Elder.  It is written to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth, as does everyone else who knows God’s truth the truth that lives in us and will be in our hearts forever.

JESUS
Jesus is the truth.  He is God in the flesh come to us.  He came looking for us and we accepted His offer of family membership.  He saved us from our sin and we were born into His family.

03/21          2 John 3-5
May grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God our Father and from Jesus Christ his Son, be with us who live in truth and love.  How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.  And now I want to urge you, dear lady, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we had from the beginning.

LOVE
Love one another.  If we love Jesus we will love His children.  The call is for us to love one another.  Do not get sidetracked in life.  Remember the need for love.  Jesus equips us to be loved and to love.  Come to Christ and seek His wisdom, mercy and grace so that you life can be a life that truly loves.

03/22          2 John 6-8
Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.  Many deceivers have gone out into the world. They do not believe that Jesus Christ came to earth in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out, so that you do not lose the prize for which we have been working so hard. Be diligent so that you will receive your full reward.

FAITH
We have real faith when we do what Jesus told us to do.  Love one another.  Be careful to keep your life focused on Jesus.  He is God’s everything.  You don’t have to go outside of Jesus to get anything from God.  Christ is able to help you.  If you ask Him He will help.

03/23          2 John 9-11
For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. But if you continue in the teaching of Christ, you will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son.  If someone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite him into your house or encourage him in any way.  Anyone who encourages him becomes a partner in his evil work.

JESUS
Test everything thing that some one says by what Jesus says.  If anyone in any way says that here is this thing that will help you grow or whatever and it isn’t focused on Jesus, turn away.  Christ is all and in all, He is God’s everything.

03/24          2 John 12
Well, I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to say it in a letter. For I hope to visit you soon and to talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.  Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God.

JOY
Jesus Christ is our joy.  In Him we have everything we need.  What do you need today?  Take it to Jesus.  He is able to do what it takes to grow you in His kingdom.

03/25          3 John 1-3
This letter is from John the Elder.  It is written to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth.  Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is.  Some of the brothers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living in the truth.

LIFE
A life well lived is a life worthy of commendation.  We are to live so closely to Jesus that at any point the Lord is able to say “Well done.”  We want to be like Jesus.  We want to serve Jesus.  This is commendable.  Strive that you will live a life spiritually strong in Jesus.

03/26          3 John 4
I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children live in the truth.

VALUE
It is of great value for us to lead a Godly life.  Emulating Jesus will bear good results in our life and the life of those that are around us.  Following Jesus will put us in a position that our heavenly Father will be able to say of us, “well done.”

03/27          3 John 5
Dear friend, you are doing a good work for God when you take care of the traveling teachers  who are passing through, even though they are strangers to you.  They have told the church here of your friendship and your loving deeds. You do well to send them on their way in a manner that pleases God.

WITNESS
Everything we do is a witness to the amount of control Jesus has over our life.  Worry and anxiety are good indicators of the depth of our surrender to Jesus.  When we can’t forget it our give it over we are not letting Jesus have control of our life.  Let Jesus have it whatever that thing is that is badgering you.

03/28          3 John 7
For they are traveling for the Lord and accept nothing from those who are not Christians.  So we ourselves should support them so that we may become partners with them for the truth.

MISSIONS
We are called to be generous.  The work of the kingdom is important and the kingdom worker is worthy of our investment.  Take every opportunity to be involved in kingdom work by supporting your church and your church workers.

03/29          3 John 9-11
I sent a brief letter to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, does not acknowledge our authority. When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the wicked things he is saying about us. He not only refuses to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.  Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

FOLLOW
Jesus is our example.  We love Him and we know Him.  As we live our lives we follow Him.  We are His hands and feet in this world.  We are called to care for those around us and to be kind and helpful to all that we meet.  We are also responsible for the way the think about others and the way that we respond to the needs of the helpless.

03/30          3 John 12
But everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, even truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth.

ACTIONS
Our actions define who we are.  The world looks at the things we do.  We know that we are saved by grace but the world determines who we are by what we do.  It is important what we say but even more important are the things we do.  When we care for the helpless and help the needy the world will listen to what we say.  Be about the Lord’s work today.  Everyone needs you.

03/31          3 John 13-15
I have much to tell you, but I don’t want to do it in a letter.  For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.  May God’s peace be with you.  Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there.

PEACE
Only the Lord can give us peace.  We have this peace when we are His child.  Know that you can ask for His peace and in confidence experience His peace because He gives it freely to His children.

2/01            Psalm 125:1-2
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.  Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.

TRUST
You are living in the midst of God’s watchcare and concern.  Trust Him with all your heart.  When we trust the Lord we live differently.  Today, think about your relationship with Him and purpose to trust Him in your daily life.

2/02            Psalm 125:3
The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.

TRUST
Trust the Lord with all of your heart.  Take Him your problems and your triumphs.  Let Him have control of you.  Be careful when you are walking in high places.  Pride rises quickly and dissipates slowly.  The Lord is with you.

2/03            Psalm 125:4
O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.  But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord.  Take them away with those who do evil.  May Israel have peace!

PEACE
Peace is a gift from God.  He knows what we are doing at all times.  Surrender your thought life, surrender your actions and know that the Lord is on your side.  Stop doing evil.  Doing good is a choice.  His peace will go with us if we will let Him have control of us.  Walk in the Lord and do what He says.

02/04          Psalm 126:1-2
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.  When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!  We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.  And the other nations said,  “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

TRUST
Trust the Lord.  He will do amazing things in your life.  Trust the Lord for He is worthy of all of our devotion and trust.  Trust the Lord for when you do others will look at you and declare “what amazing things the Lord has done for them.”

02/05          Psalm 126:3-6
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!  Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

ACTIONS
When we trust the Lord we will do things His way.  Some times what we are doing will seem to be a burden.  Trust the Lord and know that what He calls us to do will bring joy.  When we follow the Lord and trust in Him we can have confidence that the end result will be joy.  Do the next right thing.  Trust the Lord.

02/06          2 Peter 3:1
This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory.

FOCUS
Think about the Lord.  Read His Word.  Sing Christian songs and hymns.  Pray aloud in your prayer closet.  Talk with Jesus.  This will cleanse your mind and heart and will refresh your thinking.  In all things give praise to Jesus.

02/07          2 Peter 3:2
I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.

REMEMBER
Memorization is important.  If you have a hard time memorizing Scripture write it on a 3 by 5 card and carry it with you.  Read it several times during the day and meditate on the Scripture.  This will help you to renew your mind and will equip you to grow in the Word.

02/08          2 Peter 3:3-4
Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.  They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

TRUTH
Truth is timeless.  God is not limited by time.  His timing will be perfect and on-time.  Give this kind of argument to the Father and He will show you the truth.  You can’t argue belief with unbelievers.

02/09          2 Peter 3:5
They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water.

TRUTH
Jesus is the Creator of all things.  Give yourself to His rule and guidance.  Do not doubt the Word.  Do not fear the world.  These two truths will stand you in good stead as you seek to grow in Christ.  Read His Word, apply its truths and you will grow.

02/10          2 Peter 3:6-7
Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood.  And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the Day of Judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

RETURN
There will be a day of return.  Christ is coming back.  When He comes back it will be in judgment.  His return can happen at any time.  We are encouraged to live our lives as if He were coming back today.  Be prepared.  Today is the day of salvation.

02/11          2 Peter 3:8
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.

SOON
God is not limited by time.  We count minutes, days, and years-time.  God is focused on His plan which He developed before there was anything.  His plan unfolds not with the passing of time but with the accomplishment of His will.  Be prepared.

02/12          2 Peter 3:9
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

TIME
Time fools us.  It makes us function fast or slow.  It compels us to do foolish things at time and at other times ignore obvious things we should do.  God isn’t fooled by time.  He is always on time.  The universe functions at His pleasure.  Don’t be fooled by time, God is always on time.

02/13          2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

END
The Lord has decreed and it will happen, one day the end will come.  The message of Scripture is that it will come soon.  That message to us is an encouragement to keep our life focused on Jesus.  Jesus is Lord.  Live your life that way.

02/14          2 Peter 3:11-12
Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

HARSH
This Word is a harsh word to the world.  This world is passing away.  We are passing through.  It is important that we live focused lives.  Pray for the lost.  Pray that Christ would come and come soon.  Be ready.  Live your life.  There is real joy in the journey.

02/15          2 Peter 3:13
But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

HOME
There will be a day that we will leave this world and go home.  Christ is there waiting for us.  He will meet us at the divide and take us home.  This world is not our home as much as we might love where we are and what we do it is not our home.  Heaven is going to be a great place.  It is our home and we can rejoice in each day that we will soon one day be at home with the Lord.

02/16          2 Peter 3:14
And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

NOW
Now is the time that we permit Jesus to have control of our life.  Now is when we change.  Now is the only time that we have.  Do what you must do now to be what the Lord is calling you to be.  Today is the day that we will serve Jesus.

02/17          2 Peter 3:15-16
And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

TRUTH
Truth comes from the Word of God.  Jesus and the Holy Spirit guide us in understanding that Word.  Those that incorrectly interpret the Word using the world as their guideline are wrong.  They will suffer destruction.  They have chosen their own way.  We surrender to Jesus and to the truth of His Word doing those things that He calls us to do.  He is Lord and we serve Him.

02/18          2 Peter 3:17-18
I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

DAILY
We grow in Christ daily.  We pray, spend time with Him and apply the truth He teaches us to our life.  We grow in Christ in the midst of our life.  Learning to live under His tutelage is critical for our growth.  His grace equips us to apply the knowledge He gives us.  Strive each day to live for Jesus.

02/19          2 John 1:1-2
This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

TRUTH
God is in charge.  I’m not.  Everything is going to work out in the end.  That is the truth.  For those that name the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior, there is no condemnation nor is there anything that can conquer them.  We are God’s property.  God is good, all the time.

02/20          2 John 1:3
Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

DAILY
His mercies, grace and peace are ample to cover our life each day.  He is able to make our life a pleasing aroma unto Himself.  His plan for our life is available if we will ask Him for it.  Ask and listen, the Lord will speak to you.

02/21          2 John 1:4
How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

OBEDIENCE
Obedience isn’t an optional part of the Christian lifestyle, it is the Christian lifestyle.  Jesus said that if we love Him we will obey Him.  Surrender your life to Christ.  Focus on Him and He will walk with you.  The Christian lifestyle is the act of living our life like Jesus.

02/22          2 John 1:5
I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.

LOVE
Love issues out of obedience.  If we obey Him we will act like Him.  If we act like Him we will love one another.  If we love one another we are obeying Him.  The Christian life is simple.  We either walk with Jesus or walk away from Jesus.  Your choice.

02/23          2 John 1:6
Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

COMMAND
His command is simple.  Love one another.  No options.  No details.  Do it.  We never complete the task of following Jesus this side of heaven.  Then that day we will see Him face to face and we will be like Him.  Choose today to become more like Jesus.

02/24          2 John 1:7
I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.

TRUTH
Truth never masquerades itself as something else.  The truth is as the Word of God says that Jesus came as fully God and fully man.  On the other hand a half-truth, Christ really came as a only a divine being only seeming to have a body, takes away the power of the Word of God unto us.  It strips us of our power source, the truth-Jesus is Lord and He is Lord of all-here and now and eternity.  Speak the truth and let it have its way with your life.

02/25          2 John 1:8
Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.

REWARD
I’m sure that I don’t fully understand this idea of reward in heaven.  I cannot grasp it.  What I can grasp is that I want everything Jesus wants for me.  I want it all.  I want it so that I will know Him fully and please Him with my life.  Lord help me to be useful and usable.  Strengthen me that I might live a life that is focused on You and not me.

02/26          2 John 1:9
Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

CHOICE
We cannot control our world.  We can control our self.  We surrender to Christ.  We give Him authority over us.  He wants what is best for us.  In surrender we find control.  Christ is Lord and He will lead, guide and direct us in the way we should go.  That is the only sure way for us to control our life.

02/27          2 John 1:10-11
If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

CAREFUL
We are called to be careful the way we live.  If we walk with Jesus He will make clear to us the truth of a person’s life.  We dare not put our self in harm’s way.  It is so easy for us to get off the right track.  Sickness, life, misfortune and every other way will try its best to sidetrack our life.  Keep you focus on Jesus.  Make sure that those you are following are of the Lord.

02/28          2 John 1:12-13
I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.  Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God.

ONE DAY
One day you will go to be with Jesus.  You don’t know when that day is.  Prepare now for that day.  Know Him better each day.  Spend time with Jesus.  Ask Him to teach you.  Seek His grace, mercy and peace.  Live as Jesus did.  Care for those around you.

01/01               Isaiah 53:1-3
Who has believed our message?  To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?

My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground.  There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.  We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.  He was despised, and we did not care.

SAVIOR
He is coming Isaiah predicts and indeed He did come.  He came for me and He came for you.  Jesus made a journey because of man’s sin.  There was no other way for us.  So Christ stepped down off His throne in Glory and came into this world like us, at the mercy of everything.  Yet by His complete submission to the will of His Father, Christ lived a perfect life and died on the cross taking our sin upon himself.  Then by the power of God He arose from the grace and is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us right now.  Jesus is Lord.

01/02               Isaiah 53:4
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows[a] that weighed him down.  And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!

SIN
Our sin exacted a terrible price from Jesus.  He suffered as we do and lived a perfect life.  Then He died on the cross for us.  His sacrifice paid the price for our sin.  It was for my sin that He died.  It was for your sin that He died.

01/03               Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.

JESUS
Jesus is God’s everything.  He took the punishment we deserved.  He did it willingly knowing full well the suffering He would bear.  His punishment paid the price for our reconciliation with God.  Christ has reunited us with the Father.  We are now His children.  We have our righteousness in Jesus Christ.  He is our salvation.

01/04               Isaiah 53:6
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.  We have left God’s paths to follow our own.  Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

SIN
Everyone but Jesus has sinned.  Jesus is the perfect sacrifice.  He was without blemish.  He died to save us from our sin.  His sacrifice paid the price for every sin, then and now.  Jesus came looking for us even when we were unconcerned with Him.  Has He found you?

01/05               Isaiah 53:7-9
He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.  He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Unjustly condemned, he was led away.  No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream.  But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.

He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.  But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.

CHRIST
The Messiah’s death is clearly prophesied here by Isaiah.  Jesus is that Messiah and He came that you and I would have a chance for reconciliation with God.  He brings us life eternal, real life, life Like His.  The Lord Jesus is alive and He lives in us.  We are His partners in telling the world about Him.  He came that all might know the Father that every person would have the chance to come to know Him.  His salvation is a gift-it isn’t cheap but it is free.  If you have not asked Jesus to save you do it now.  His Word tells us that if we will ask Him He will save us.

01/06               Isaiah 53:10
But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief.  Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants.  He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

SACRIFICE
We know little about sacrifice.  We endure for a day and it is overwhelming.  Christ endured for thirty-three years and walked straight to the cross for you and me.  He never complained.  His aim was to do the Father’s will and work.  The Gospel accounts of the life of Christ present a Savior who lives and acts much differently than leaders in the American church.  You and I are called to live out daily the things that we say we believe.  The Christian life is much more of an action than it is a thought.

01/07               Isaiah 53:11
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied.  And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.

COMPLETE
When Christ came to his final breath He said it is finished.  His life on earth was finished.  His struggle was finished.  His perfection was finished but more than that His sacrifice for us was finished.  The victory over sin was complete.  His journey was complete and we were forgiven.

01/08               Isaiah 53:12
I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death.  He was counted among the rebels.  He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

SINNERS
Christ came to die for sinners.  Among whom I was chief.  Our life didn’t call for a Savior, He came willing of His freewill because of our great need.  Jesus died for us as if there were no other of us and His sacrifice paid the price for each one of us and all of us.

01/09               2 Peter 1:1
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.  I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

GIFT
God has given us a great gift in Jesus Christ.  He has paid a price we couldn’t pay.  He paid a price for us when we were totally unworthy of the sacrifice but it was what we needed and Jesus did it.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

01/10               2 Peter 1:2
May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

GRACE AND PEACE
God gives us what we need and cannot earn, pouring out His grace upon us so that we will be able to live a Christ like life.  He also gifts us with His peace.  We don’t earn it or deserve it but we need it and He freely gives it to us.  Ask Him for His peace.  We are no longer at war but at peace for Jesus has saved us from our sin.

01/11               2 Peter 1:3
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

POWER
We have His power for living our daily life.  We spend time with Him daily so that we can let Him give us the power we need each day.  We never know what the day will hold.  Our time with Jesus prepares us to face whatever happens.  The Lord gives us everything we need to live a Godly life.  When I look at the obstacle I face it is always overwhelming.  When I look to Jesus I don’t see the obstacle.

01/12               2 Peter 1:4
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

PROMISES
God’s promises in the His Word are made to us.  They are general and specific at the same time.  They are for us.  They were spoken by God knowing that we would have need of them on a certain day.  God is able if we will ask.  Look for His promises to you in His Word.  Accept them and live a Christian life.

01/13               2 Peter 1:5-7
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

GROWTH
Growing in Christ is what we do day by day in a personal relationship in Jesus.  Do the next right thing is a significant part of this growth process.  We choose how much we will grow.  The Lord is willing for us to grow but will not force us to grow.  I cannot grow without Jesus.  I will not grow if I don’t spend time with Him.  Growth is a daily process of spending time with Jesus and doing what He says.

01/14               2 Peter 1:8-9
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

FORGIVENESS
When we come to Jesus He forgives our sin.  Some forget that His forgiveness is a gift.  We don’t work for this it is a gift from the Father.  It is important for our growth as children of God to understand that we are forgiven.  If we don’t come to grips with this, the enemy is constantly bombarding us with the idea that we are second class Christians.  Our Christianity is based on our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the gift of the Father of forgiveness for those that ask Christ to come into their hearts.  Believe in Christ and live.  He is Lord of all.

01/15               2 Peter 1:10-11
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.  Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God.  Anyone can come into the Family of God if they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  However, our usefulness and growth is a matter of choice.  Will I spend time with Jesus and do what He says?  If I do I will grow.  If I don’t I won’t.

01/16               2 Peter 1:12
Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught.

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is important for us to grow but if we don’t put that knowledge to daily use by obeying Jesus we will not grow.  Christianity is not a spectator sport.  If we do the things we know we will know the right things to do.

01/17               2 Peter 1:13-15
And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.  For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life, so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone.

JESUS
Jesus is committed to us.  He loves us and came to save us.  He is God’s everything and His involvement in our life will create constant growth.  We must always remember that we can do nothing without Jesus.  Go to Jesus for daily living.  Spend time with Him so that you will be equipped to face the challenges of life.

01/18               2 Peter 1:16-18
For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”  We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

EYEWITNESS
The Biblical account is an eyewitness account.  The people writing the Words saw what happened.  You can trust the Word of God.  When we go to the Lord each day we need to read the SCRIPTURE, OBSERVE what the Lord is telling us, APPLY His Word for that day to our life and PRAY.  When we do this the Biblical account equips us to see the activity of God in our life and will open up our life for the Lord God to lead us.

01/19               2 Peter 1:19
Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

CHANGE
The presence of the Lord in the life of the Apostles changed them.  Walking with the Risen Lord called them to constantly trust the Lord for guidance.  Prayer equipped the Apostles to follow Him and do what He said.  If you are following Jesus your confidence will grow and you will become more like Christ.  That is our goal to glorify Jesus and become more like Him.

01/20               2 Peter 1:20
Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

WORD
The Word of God, the Bible, came from God.  The Holy Spirit moved the writers of the Biblical narrative so that the things they wrote were the things God spoke.  They were led by the Spirit of God in everything they wrote so that God’s Word comes directly from the Lord.  It is trustworthy and true and we can live our lives based upon it.  Trust the Lord for He is trustworthy.

01/21               2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.  Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.  In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

CAREFUL
We must make sure that it is Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord that we are preaching.  We live and exist in Christ.  He is God’s everything.  Any teaching that denies the centrality of Christ in Christianity is wrong.  Jesus is the reason we are in the family of God.  He is the only way to the Father.  He and the Father are one.  Follow Jesus.

01/22          2 Peter 2:4-5
For God did not spare even the angels who sinned.  He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.  And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.

RIGHTEOUSNESS
There is no one righteous.  Our righteousness is in Christ.  He is righteous and His death, burial and resurrection paid the price for our sin.  We can rejoice in Christ and be thankful for what the Lord has done for us.  Thank you Jesus.

01/23          2 Peter 2:6-8
Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.  But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him.  Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.

JESUS
The Lord has intervened in our lives.  He came to die for us so that we might have life.  Christ did what we could not do and that is pay the price for our sin.  Spend time with Jesus today.  Get to know Him better.  We want to become more like Christ.  We want to pattern our life after His.  Jesus is Lord.

01/24          2 Peter 2:9-10
So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.  He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.  These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.

ARROGANCE
We live in a society of arrogance.  People make plans and refuse to recognize the Lord.  We must guard ourselves from becoming arrogant like our society.  Be careful how you deal with others.  Recognize that you are sent of Christ to minister to the needs of the world and not to tell the world what to do.  The only thing we can tell the world is about Jesus Christ and Him crucified, dead and raised from the dead by the power of God.

01/25          2 Peter 2:11-13
But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.  These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed.  Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals.

CAREFUL
We are not to run in fear of supernatural beings and worldly powers.  We simply go to Jesus for our protection.  We will not be destroyed as long as we are standing in Christ.  We are to be careful how we live and when we confront the enemy we are to rebuke him in the name of Jesus.  Christ is our strength and in Him we stand.

01/26          2 Peter 2:14-16
They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse.  They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong.  But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.

SIN
Sin is such a pervasive stain on our human existence.  Live with true humility recognizing that the Lord has cleansed us from sin and is walking with us to help us lead the right kind of life.  We are to grow in our likeness to Jesus.  That will help us to focus our life on Christ.

01/27          2 Peter 2:17
These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.

EVIL
Evil walks a willful path.  It is never satisfied until it has you sidetracked.  Be careful who you choose as friends.  Spend time with Jesus.  Don’t let this world get you down.  When it gets tough, draw aside and sing hymns, read Scripture aloud and make sure you are faithful to your church.

01/28          2 Peter 2:18
They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.

ARROGANCE
People approach daily life with an unbelievable arrogance.  They can’t stop the common cold and yet they make life and death decisions with little or no guidance.  The Lord is my shepherd and He will guide me.  Today ask for His guidance.

01/29          2 Peter 2:19-20
They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.  And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before.

CHOICE
Choose Jesus.  Ask Him to save you.  If you do this He will.  Choose life.  In Christ is life.  We cannot make our own way.  We don’t know what we will face tomorrow or even today.  The future belongs to Jesus.  Give Him your life and He will guard and guide you.

01/30           2 Peter 2:21
It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.

PEOPLE
Many people congregate around Christians.  Others on the fringe but not a follower grew up in Christian homes.  They think for some vague unknown reason that they can be a Christian because their family is, their friends are or because they go to church.  A Christian has given their life to Jesus.  They have bent the knee to Christ and asked Him to come into their life.  By faith through grace is the only way we can come to Christ and Christ is the only way to the Father.  If you haven’t asked Christ into your life do it right now.  Jesus is faithful and righteous and He will save you.

01/31          2 Peter 2:22
They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

FRINGE
People of the fringe of Christianity will not survive when testing comes.  The evil one will challenge them at every opportunity and they will fail.  When they fail, they slough off their feeling of goodness and go back to what they were doing before.  Generally their comment is “I didn’t think it would work for me.”  It only works for His children.  God has no grandchildren.