The Simple Life

And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came, they went out of the city.  Mark  11:15-19 (ESV)   Jesus seemed to be somewhat even keeled in His emotional output, yet when He decided to show some righteous anger, He did so concerning the temple. The temple has a purpose. It was not a place of business. It is not the religious equivalent of a bar and restaurant or coffee shop. ...

Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV Strong's) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. We live in an angry, hate-filled world, full of people who seem to have lost perspective, and therefore, who have lost all significance and hope.  Those who continually jockey for a position of power do not understand the source of power. Those who must continuously prove their value have extracted their value from that which cannot give value. Therefore, anyone who threatens their power or authority has threatened their very purpose for existence.  We have regressed to the point where we extract our significance in life by actually believing that we are god. We want the world to be dependent upon us, w...

And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father, David! Hosanna in the highest!” And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. Mark 11:8-11 (ESV)   I wonder what Jesus thought while he rode through the crowd. He knew this fickle crowd would turn on Him in a week. It seems that seismic changes in crowd sentiments are nothing new in history. Today we continuously battle the tidal wave of popular opinion. We should keep in mind that the conclusion of the masses is easily directed or misdirected by the slightest winds of true or false information. A majority opinion is just that, a majority opinion. The opinion may have little or nothing...

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go."  Mark 11:1-6 (ESV)   If we read the story of Jesus and comprehend just a bit, we would see one miracle after another. Some seem insignificant while others, well, seem miraculous. In this case, the disciples asked a good question about the colt, and Jesus’ reply was direct and straightforward, for He knew that His Father had made...

And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way."  Mark 10:49-52 (ESV)   The blind man had faith in Jesus, not in faith. To have faith in my faith is a confusing waste of time. We have often heard someone advise another to have more faith, and that faith changes things. Indeed, it does; however, faith needs to be directed to the proper person. Slight changes in meaning mean significant changes in understanding. Things in this life are never dependent upon my faith but on God's faithfulness. My faith is in what actually ”is,” not in what might be. This blind man knew who held ...

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:43-45 (ESV) Jesus does not offer an opinion here, and He provides advice to us from a non-perspective, non-opinionated, loving Father and Shepherd. God knows how we were created, and how we must live to be significant and secure.   He offers no confusing directions, no complicated religious formulas, just the idea of servanthood. We are to serve Him and our fellow man, for that is why we were created.  Should we have any other focus in life, we will be miserable, for He alone knows why and how He created us. If I choose to continually try to find satisfaction in having God and others serve me, I will be most miserable because, in essence, I am malfunctioning. In death, I find life. In service, I find ...

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”  Mark 10:35-37 (ESV)   It appears most of us would like to see the world revolve around us. We want recognition. We want the world to recognize our value and contribution to society. We want to know our lives matter, and that our significance is noted. Those who seek significance do so because they do not understand that God, the only God, the Creator and Sustainer of life, loves and cares for them. For most, it seems as though that is not enough. If that is not enough, then we have yet to realize who God is. If we continually try to prove our worth, we have not understood from where our worth comes. These men were asking Jesus to do something that was focused on themselves. O...

"…saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”    Mark 10:33-34 (ESV) There is a way someone acts when they are living right. There is a way someone acts when they are living wrong. It is usually obvious. Nobody lived a better life than Jesus, yet this is how He was going to be treated.  A pure life threatens those who live in impurity. A pure life indicts those living a   compromised life without words. Therefore, for one to enjoy their sin to the fullest degree possible, those who make them feel bad about their choices must be eliminated. Jesus spoke of this saying a prophet was not welcomed in his own country, meaning that those who tell you of what is to come as a result of your actions are not welcom...

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”  Mark 10:25-31 (ESV) Living for self, for now, seems so natural, yet, it is hollow. Jesus is trying to explain a complicated concept that is difficult to grasp because it goes against all human logic. ...

“You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”  Mark  10:19-23  (ESV) Why is it difficult for the wealthy? Distraction! Money quickly becomes a distraction, a replacement, a divider, and more. Those who have an abundance of it are easily controlled by it. Those who have little can be controlled by the desire and effort to have more. When money becomes the goal, we quickly lose sight of the pre...

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."  Mark  10:17-18  (ESV) Good is a word that always needs a definition because it is a word that demands some sort of compassion. Someone can be a good basketball player in one setting, while being a lousy basketball player when paired against an NBA great. There is no definite way to define what we mean by good without the knowledge of everything. Jesus seems to be making a point here. If you’re going to use the word correctly, you need a standard, and God alone provides that standard. Jesus is not good, as this man was using the term; however, He was right, which made Him good.   Culture can speak of people being good, yet when they do, their words are meaningless, and they are saying nothing. Apart from God, there is no right, a...

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.           Mark  10:13-16  (ESV)  Children have always been the "least" of these in our world. They have no power or authority. One would not try to gain their favor in order to win elections, make a financial gain, or gain status in this world. Children are those in whom we invest, whom we love, and with whom we work towards the development of their God-given potential. All children are valuable, created by God with tremendous significance given to them by God. Children are not a burden but a blessing. They are not to be endured b...

They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”  Mark 10:4-9 (ESV) Religious people often mess up simple ideas. Earlier, they messed up the simple idea of the "Sabbath," and now they are confused as to what marriage is about. Jesus quickly points out their problem, and it is their problem. Because of the hardness of their hearts, they have made marriage what they want it to be. Yet, God, from the beginning (because He points out the beginning, and this transcends culture) has said that He created man and woman and intended those who marry to stay married. Th...

What shall I ask God to do? When I speak to Him, I am talking to my creator, sustainer, and the only one who lives in the past, present, and future. I speak to my loving Father, the one who knows all and who has no limitations, the one who does right all the time, and is therefore good all the time. I speak as one who is totally dependent to one who is totally independent. I speak, but I do not demand. I ask, but do not insist.   How does one speak to one who has no opinion, no perspective, and no “issues” that need working through in order to allow Him to see things clearly?  I can demand nothing. I cannot inform Him of anything. I cannot help Him accomplish His work. I cannot give counsel for the future, and, most times, I see the past incorrectly.  Yet, I can approach His throne boldly for He is my loving Father. I can speak and He will listen because He is my Father. I can share my ideas, and He will listen, and guide my thoughts and ideas at the very m...

"Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”  Mark 9:50 (ESV) It seems as if there are times in the Scriptures where we are warned about being "useless." This may not sit well with our culture that believes value comes from just existing. However, a man was made for more than merely existing. If we miss the purpose for which we were created, we are useless. This is not unique to people in that anything that is created for a purpose and misses that purpose becomes useless. Therefore, people who are living without God feel like their life is a waste, and it is. The only solution is to change the way one thinks, or repent, and begin to live in the context of how and why God created us. A variety of reasons can cause depression and anxiety. However, the root of the feeling of worthless existence comes from being disconnected from the purposes and plans of a loving...

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward."  Mark 9:38-41 (ESV) People loving God differently than us is not bad. Sometimes we need to learn how to disagree. Principles are sacred; methods vary and can be challenged by every generation and culture.  Our goal in life is to know Christ and to make Him known--to love Him and enjoy Him for eternity.

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”  Mark 9:35-37 (ESV) Children are simple. They live in the present and they trust their parents and those to whom their parents have entrusted them. They lack power, prestige, means, and ability. It is essential that children follow and thereby learn. Children look hopefully to the future and are excited about what is ahead. They express their love freely, speak frankly, and make many innocent mistakes. Children giggle much, ask many questions, and eat too many sweets. Why would anyone want to grow up?

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”   Mark 9:35 (ESV) A servant of all?  If we combine this verse with the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus going against what is considered normal. I have never heard anyone say they aspired to be a servant when they grow up. Yet, Jesus indicates that those who are servants "get it" in life, while those who use the servants do not. Those who understand life understand that life itself cannot gratify their deepest desires. In essence, we were not made to live; we are made to die, and there is no life apart from death. It is the death in life that perpetuates life itself. Nourishing food was once alive and gave its life so we could be fed. Dead plants and animals enrich the soils with bodies that have no other value now other than to supply nutrients for future generations. Christ's death gives us spiritual life. There is no life apar...

(…and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud…. 2 Chronicles 5:13 ESV) Why in unison? Why one voice? Why not break this into beautiful parts? Honestly, I cannot know why this verse points out that, at this time and place, the people who were worshiping God did so in unison. However, this passage allows me to think and speculate about our collective response to God. We are told that those who are believers belong to the body of Christ. Each body part is unique, yet each part makes up one body. The elbow or knee did not position themselves for glory, they are not in a continual battle to demonstrate their worth, and when they operate correctly, observers see one bo...

And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”  Mark 9:19-24 (ESV) Our theology tells us that God is almighty, omnipotent, loving, wanting to extend mercy and grace to His children. We believe that He created the universe by the word of His mouth, and that all things are possible through Him. Perhaps it is time we live following what we be...