The Difference a Day Makes

"Didn't we tell you never again to teach in this man's name?" the high priest demanded. ... But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority."
Acts 5:28, 29 NLT

Oh the difference a day makes! Only days before the disciples had scattered like scared children when Jesus was arrested and Peter had strongly denied knowing Him while Jesus was on trial. But now they stood without fear before the same authorities who killed Jesus and refused to quit preaching the good news. The resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into their lives at Pentecost (Acts 2) had radically changed their lives. They had not become better and more courageous men through self-improvement. They had become new men through spiritual rebirth effected by faith in Jesus and the powerful working of the Holy Spirit.

When we believe in Jesus this same Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us and transform us. We become new men and women in Christ immediately through spiritual rebirth. However, sometimes the transformation from what we were to who are now in Christ becomes visible in us more slowly. But we have the power to live as the new people we are in the presence of the Holy Spirit if we will only daily yield control of ourselves to Him.

Believe the Holy Spirit is present in Your life. Confess every sin which may hinder Him. Ask for His fullness. Live in moment by moment dependence upon Him. And day by day you will become the new person You were re-born to be in Christ.

Father, work your transforming work in my life by Your Holy Spirit today so that I become more the person You have saved and called me to be in Christ.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Strength in numbers

"As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God..." Acts 4:23-24 NLT

Having been threatened by the religious leaders not to preach Jesus, Peter and John went to the body of believers. The body of believers went to God in prayer. When following Christ becomes challenging to whom do you go? Do you pray to God? Do you have anyone with whom you pray?

God connects us with other believers so that we can share together the joys and challenges of our discipleship journey. When challenged spiritually we need to have people around us with whom we can share our challenge and they need to be people who will go with us to God in prayer. We also need to be a person to whom others can come when they are challenged with confidence that we will hear and pray with them. There is spiritual strength in spiritual numbers. Together we grow forward in the journey.

Father, deepen my connection with fellow believers in the life of Your church so that together we can successfully journey forward with Christ.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Blessed through Obedience

"Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land." Leviticus 25:18 NIV

God's laws were designed to bring His people into close relationship with Him and to bless their lives. God's laws were not arbitrary demands but rather they served to promote the welfare of His people through establishing peace, safety, health, and productivity.

If obeyed today God's commands will bring us into closer relationship with Him and bring about good in our lives. 1 John 5:3 reminds us, "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." When we understand the love God has for us then we understand His commands are an expression of His loving concern for us. His commands are designed to lead us in living the "abundant life" (see John 10:10). Let's not view obedience as a burden but embrace God's commands as a blessing.

Father, I thank You for guiding me through Your commands into life and blessing. As you love me through Your commands so help me to love You by obeying your commands.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Seeking Holiness

"So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy." Leviticus 20:7-8 NLT

Holiness is both something we cultivate and something we receive. God commands us to cultivate holiness in our lives with the call to "set yourselves apart to be holy, for I, the LORD, am your God." We cultivate holiness in our life by obeying God's commands both to shun unholy things and to embrace holy things. Cultivating holiness is as much about what we embrace as is it is about what we shun. If our whole plan for holiness is avoiding sin we will go spiritually mad and become legalistic. The joy of holiness is in embracing relationship with God and embracing the good things He has created for our enjoyment which draw us nearer Him.

But holiness is not something we can merely cultivate by our own effort. God says, "I am the LORD, who makes you holy." We must first of all receive holiness as God's gracious gift and mighty work in our life through His Holy Spirit. Pray for God to create in You the holiness you cannot hope to attain apart from Him. Then work in concert with His Spirit to cultivate an ever growing holiness in Your life.

Father, as You are holy I desire to be Holy. Grant to me holiness as Your gift through the working of Your Holy Spirit in my life. Teach me to daily cultivate holiness by embracing those things which draw me nearer to You.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Helping the Poor

“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:9-10 NLT

It becomes clear in the law of God that He cares for the poor and the stranger and He would have His people do the same. The first-fruits of one's harvest was to be given to God in recognition of His provision (Ex. 22:29; Prov. 3:9). The edges of the fields and the grain dropped by the harvesters was to be left for the poor to pick up. In this way God was honored and the poor were helped.

As stewards of our resources we know well the call to give the first-fruits (tithe) to God. But do we leave the "edges of our fields" for the poor? God would have us share His concern for people in need and to show it by planning to leave some of our resources to help them. Do you have a plan to honor God and help the poor with your resources?

Father, I thank You for Your care for the down and out and the lonely and forgotten. Help me to share Your heart and become a vessel through which You can show Your concern.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Do not Conform

"So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. You must obey all my regulations and be careful to obey my decrees, for I am the Lord your God. If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord." Leviticus 18:3-5 NLT

Why is it that we tend to conform to the world around us? God warned Israel against imitating the Egyptians or the Canaanites but ultimately they did not heed His call. The pull of the world is so strong but in the end it leaves us still wanting. The ways of God lead to true life and blessing. We know this in our heads but have difficulty keeping our hearts in check.

In the New Testament we find the same call: "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect" (Romans 12:2 NLT). Let God use His Spirit and Word to transform the way you think so the way you live will reflect His will and not the world's ways.

Father, Your will is far superior to the ways of this world and yet I too often find myself conforming to the worlds customs. Strengthen and transform me by Your Spirit and Word so that I may walk in Your will thus bringing glory to You and true pleasure to me.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Good Friday

"They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of the Skull)....And they crucified him..." Mark 15:22, 24a NIV

Since it is Good Friday I am departing from reflections on our normal readings to remember the cross. The Friday Christ was crucified was both a grave and glorious day. It was grave because of the immense suffering and unjust death of the innocent Son of God. It was our sin that nailed Him to the cross. It was glorious because Christ voluntarily offered Himself in death to be deliver us from bondage to sin. As the prophet Isaiah says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

Remember the gravity of this day. Search your heart, confess and repent of any known sin. Remember the glory of this day. Praise your Savior and rest in His rich love for You.

Lord Jesus, thank you for willingly going to Golgotha and enduring terrible suffering and death for my sake. Forgive my sin and draw me near to You. I love You and praise You, dear Lamb of God and Savior.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark