February 14 Devotion

Read Matthew 16:1-12

Here came the religious leaders, the keepers of orthodoxy, asking Jesus for a sign from heaven. Jesus used a weather forecasting analogy to demonstrate their lack of courage and faith. If they could not perceive that Jesus was sent from God, then no further sign would help, even a resurrection.

The “believe it when I see it” attitude of the Pharisees putting demands on Jesus can put a real damper on childlike faith and trust. Jesus warned his followers to watch out for that type attitude that can spread quickly.

Thankfully God has already sent us plenty of signs. If we cannot believe and obey already, what will one more do for us? Probably just make us ask for one more. We can debate with others and God until the cows come home or we can step out into the wild adventure of obeying God by faith. Whatever faith you have, choose to live by it. Your faith will grow as God proves his faithfulness to you over and over.

February 13 Devotion

Read Mark 7:31-37

One of the reasons Jesus went so far away from the influence of the Pharisees and scribes was to lower the intensity that his mission and message was causing. The inevitable tension would eventually give way to outright hatred on behalf of the religious leaders.  In buying more time Jesus had gone to Tyre and Sidon and now coming back through the vicinity of Decopolis, but the crowd found him again with many needs.

Jesus moved this deaf man away from the crowd.  Jesus’ desire to lower the intensity was was less than the compassion he felt for the hurting.  Jesus healed him anyway.  And of course, the news of his healing and his popularity continued to skyrocket.  Overwhelmed and amazed. The Kingdom of God was breaking into our world and was on collision course with the powers of this world.

Those in power are threatened by the breaking-the-mold type of characters like Jesus.  And the powers that be usually find a way to crush such radical reformers.  This pattern would reach its zenith with Jesus. But God would use even this evil for ultimate good.  He always does.

February 12 Devotion

Read Matthew 15:21-28

This tongue-in-cheek banter between Jesus and this Canaanite woman is priceless. Jesus is as much teaching his disciples here as he is healing this woman’s daughter.  After Jesus’ latest interaction with the scribes and Pharisees Jesus headed to the northern most region in which we know he ever traveled.  In this community there were certainly more Gentiles than Jews.

Jesus’ disciples must have been wondering why they were headed to this area (Phoenicia). It certainly was not on the way to anywhere except the Mediterranean Sea.  Yet this woman called out in faith on behalf of her daughter.

Once Jesus began his sarcastic response, she played right along with him.  Meanwhile the disciples’ jaws must have been dropped open.  Then the punch line: woman, you have great faith! Your daughter is healed.

This conversation about crumbs of food falling from the table is sandwiched right between Matthew’s description of the miraculous healing of 5,000 and then 4,000. The message: there is enough of Jesus and gospel to go around.  For Israel, for the disciples, and even the Gentile peoples.  Where people have faith, Jesus’ power is displayed to the glory of God.

February 11 Devotion

Read Mark 7:1-23

Jesus and his disciples were causing quite a stir with the religious leaders. Even how meals were prepared and eaten was under scrutiny. Jesus taught several things to his followers in his basic rebuttals to his critics.  Here are just a couple:

·         Clean hands and bowls are one thing but what really needs to be clean is one’s heart (the place where decisions are made).  Notice in verse 21 and 22 what Jesus said can live in one’s heart long before they show up in behaviors we can see. It is our hearts that need cleaning, protecting, and reshaping.

·         Adding human traditions to the commands of God can be twisted so that the command is missed altogether even while keeping the tradition.  An example would be from recent history: don’t dance because it might lead to other things (adultery).  So dancing is stopped but children are still conceived outside of marriage. It turns out lots of stuff can lead to “other things.” We could outlaw all of those too, but the commands of God are given for our benefit.  They actually lead to the best possible life (and point to our need for a savior). If we ever feel justified in doing something, we may need to examine if we are holding to a tradition of culture or actually obeying the word of God.  In every culture (even the better ones) this can often get mixed up and cause us to actually miss God’s best. Prohibition of “evils” simply leads to creative sinners finding ways around the prohibitions to still break the commands of God. Outlaw alcohol and other forms of escape are discovered and spread. More laws and traditions will be needed one into the future as we prohibit “evils” from entering our society…but it turns out the evil is already in our hearts.  Only a heart change, cleansing, and redirecting has any hope saving us.

February 10 Devotion

Read Mark 6:45-56

Seriously! Jesus came walking on the water, and the disciples were amazed? Did you see it? Look at verses 51-52 again. Still they were taken by surprise that God was taking care of their every need no matter what.  It says that they had not understood about the loaves (referring back to Jesus feeding the five thousand people…AND them) because their hearts were hardened. Miracles and profound provision, yet they still had hardened hearts.

Stocked pantries in our homes, health insurance, chemotherapy treatment, smart phone technology, space travel, quantum physics, and babies being born.  Don’t miss the wonder and miracle of it all.  Don’t let your heart get hard and view God’s provision as casual and his miracles with surprise.  Nothing is impossible with our God. Nothing. Let that settle into your heart today. 

February 9 Devotion

Read Proverbs 6

Wisdom for real life. Practical truth straight from the word of God.  For business dealings, working diligent, saving, and honest living.

Where in this chapter did God reveal something to you that requires immediate action, seeking forgiveness, or making a long-term commitment?  If God has spoken, them delay is not helpful.  Obedience leads to freedom and joy.  Trust His word.

February 8 Devotion

Read Psalm 45

This wedding song has ultimate fulfillment in Jesus as the rightful King who marries his church, his eternal bride.

Such joy and vindication can be seen in the song.  The king victorious. The bride leaving all behind in faithful commitment to the king. 

The author of the book of Hebrews refers back to this Psalm as one that describes Jesus, whom God has anointed.

One day we will experience this wedding, not as a guest but as the bride.