Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 19, 2018

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:24-25.

“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”  And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to.  By your standard of measure it will be measured to you;  and more will be given you besides.  For whoever has, to him more shall be given;  and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”   Mark 4:24-25.

———————-

“Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.  For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”  Luke 6:38.

“He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.”  Proverbs 22:9.

We also see today’s Scripture illustrated in Jesus’ Parable of the Talents, part of it is quoted below.

“Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them.  The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me.  See, I have gained five more talents.’  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave.  You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things;  enter into the joy of your master.’

“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me.  See, I have gained two more talents.’  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave.  You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things;  enter into the joy of your master.’

“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.  And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground.  See, you have what is yours.’

“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.  Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.  Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance;  but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.  Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness;  in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 25:19-30.

“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”  1 Timothy 6:18-19

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 17, 2018

“All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” – “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:21-23.

“And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed?  Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?  For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed;  nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Mark 4:21-23.

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“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20.

Article 5.  Moreover, the promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.  This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of his good pleasure sends the gospel.  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby of Canons of Dordt.

“You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16.

Churches are huge landmarks in every city in United States.  Bibles are widely and easily available for purchase or review.  Everyone has heard of Jesus.  Creation everywhere points to their Almighty Creator.

“2 The LORD has made known His salvation;
He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”  Psalm 98:2-3.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”  2 Corinthians 4:3-6.

And, God sees everything.

“Would not God find this out?
For He knows the secrets of the heart.”  Psalm 44:21.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them;  for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  Romans 1:18-21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 16, 2018

We may fear that we are a bad tree or among those who believe only for a time, but there is hope! – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” – “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:13-20.

“And He *said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?  How will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown;  and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.  In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;  and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary;  then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.  And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns;  these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil;  and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”  Mark 4:13-20.

———————–

This Parable of the Sower and the Soils focuses on groups of people shown by language such as “these are the ones” and “others are the ones” and “those are the ones” as I highlight in today’s Scripture.  But, it is similar to the two groupings of good trees and bad trees.

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.”  Matthew 7:17-20.

And, like the two major groups of good trees and bad trees, the groups in the Sower and the Soils can also be grouped into just two major groups of “those who believe only for a time” and “true believers” as shown in the following quote from the Canons of Dordt section titled FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

“The true doctrine having been explained, the Synod rejects the errors of those:  …

VII.  Who teach:  That the faith of those, who believe for a time, does not differ from justifying and saving faith except only in duration.  For Christ himself, in Matthew 13:20, Luke 8:13, and in other places, evidently notes, besides this duration, a threefold difference between those who believe only for a time and true believers, when he declares that the former receive the seed in stony ground, but the latter in the good ground or heart;  that the former are without root, but that the latter have a firm root;  that the former are without fruit, but that the latter bring forth their fruit in various measure, with constancy and steadfastness.”

We may fear that we are a bad tree or among those who believe only for a time, but there is hope!

There is the hope of “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Consider the following quote from the Canons of Dordt section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof:

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man;  he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

There is also the hope of “Preservation of the Saints” also known as “Perseverance of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Consider the following quote from the Canons of Dordt section titled FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints:

Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:26-27.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 15, 2018

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 4:1-12.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down;  and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.  And He was teaching them many things in parables, …

As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.  And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.”  Mark 4:1-2 and 10-12.

——————–

We notice that Jesus’ followers asked Jesus about the parables.

Although His followers were given the mystery of the kingdom of God, one of the saving gifts of “Unconditional Election”, Jesus’ followers were not smug and were not lazy and were not content to rest on their receipt of that gracious gift.  They were eager to learn and understand, not merely hear, and so they asked Jesus about the parables.  So to speak, they made use of the means of grace of Jesus’ preaching and teaching.

As Reformed believers who believe that God provides all that we need for salvation from the beginning to the end:  from the beginning of God’s “Unconditional Election” to God’s “Limited Atonement” to God’s “Irresistible Grace” to God’s “Preservation of the Saints”, through God’s grace, we also persevere and use all of the means of grace.  We diligently seek to hear Godly preaching and teaching, and we also privately study the Scriptures on our own to make sure that we understand the preaching and teaching, not just hear it.  We make sure that the preaching and teaching conforms to the Scriptures.  “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”  Acts 17:11.

“2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:2-3.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.

“Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So I will meditate on Your wonders.”  Psalm 119:27.

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:14-17.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 14, 2018

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 3:31-35.

“Then His mother and His brothers *arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him.  A crowd was sitting around Him, and they *said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.”  Answering them, He *said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”  Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He *said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”  Mark 3:31-35.

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Today’s Scripture does not teach that we can ignore and not provide for our family.  “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  1 Timothy 5:8.

Instead, today’s Scripture teaches that there is a close and deep and spiritual relationship between fellow Christians that can be comparable to the relationship between family members.

And, today’s Scripture does not teach that this relationship between fellow Christians is based on the works of fellow Christians.

Instead, today’s Scripture teaches that we can identify fellow Christians, not just based on their claim to be a Christian, but we can identify fellow Christians by their fruit. 

“You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”  Matthew 7:16-21.

“By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious:  anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”  1 John 3:10.

The relationship between fellow Christians is based on the work of the Holy Spirit.  “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 12:13.  There is “… the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”  Ephesians 4:3-5.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God;  and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”  1 John 4:7.

“We love, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:19.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:1-3.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 13, 2018

“The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 3:20-30.

“And He *came home, and the crowd *gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.  When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him;  for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”  The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”  And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.  If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!  But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.

“Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;  but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”  Mark 3:20-30.

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“But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.”  Verse 27.

“24 “Can the prey be taken from the mighty man,
Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?”

25 Surely, thus says the LORD,

“Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away,
And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued;
For I will contend with the one who contends with you,
And I will save your sons.
26 “I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh,
And they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine;
And all flesh will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”  Isaiah 49:24-26.

“…  The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”  1 John 3:8.

“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”  Hebrews 2:14-15.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,”  Colossians 1:13.

“And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also;  and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 12, 2018

“And He *went up on the mountain and *summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 3:13-19.

“And He *went up on the mountain and *summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.  And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.  And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”);  and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot;  and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.”  Mark 3:13-19.

———————-

“And He *went up on the mountain and *summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.”  Verse 13.

We see God’s choice throughout Scripture.  Today’s Scripture provides another example.

Whereas, other doctrine wants to place choice in man’s hands;  Reformed Doctrine shows that choice is firmly in God’s hands.

“2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”  Psalm 2:2-6.

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery,  God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace;  as it is written:  “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love;  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,”  Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere: “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called;  and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,”  Romans 8:30.  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

“And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;  for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.”  Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”  Romans 9:10-13.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16.

Article 9.  This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality of disposition in man, as the pre-requisite, cause or condition on which it depended;  but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith, holiness, etc., therefore election is the fountain of every saving good;  from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as its fruits and effects, according to that of the apostle:  “He hath chosen us (not because we were) but that we should be holy, and without blame, before him in love,”  Ephesians 1:4.  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

“but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.”  1 Corinthians 1:27-29.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:14.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:32.

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 10, 2018

“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 3:7-12.

“Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples;  and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him.  And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him;  for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him.  Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!”  And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.”  Mark 3:7-12.

——————

“When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick;  and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak;  and as many as touched it were cured.”  Matthew 14:34-36.

“And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.”  Luke 6:19.

“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life;  he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”  1 John 5:11-12.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 9, 2018

“Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 3:1-6.

“He entered again into a synagogue;  and a man was there whose hand was withered.  They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.  He *said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!”  And He *said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?”  But they kept silent.  After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”  And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.  The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.”  Mark 3:1-6.

—————

We know the answer to Jesus’ question:  “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?”  It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.  Jesus showed the answer by healing the man’s withered hand on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees were more concerned about all the things that one could not do on the Sabbath.  Jesus was more concerned about the one good thing He could do on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees used the Law to control behavior.  Jesus uses His Spirit to control behavior.

“For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:5-6.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;  for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  …  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:16-18 and 22-23.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 8, 2018

“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 2:23-28.

“And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain.  The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”  And He *said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry;  how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?”  Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:23-28.

—————–

The Pharisees at best were following the letter of the Law and not the Spirit of the Law.  And, it was a stretch even under the letter of the Law for the Pharisees to call the picking of just enough grain to eat unlawful.  The Pharisees were also more motivated by their own self-righteousness than they were about genuine care and concern for Jesus and His disciples.  “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”  Matthew 23:4.

Jesus knew that it was more restful and better to pick just enough grain to satisfy their hunger than to obey the Pharisees’ interpretation of the letter of the Law and be hungry throughout the Sabbath.

The Pharisees, and us today, need to be understand that “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”  Verse 27.

Accordingly, we read the purpose of the Sabbath is that man (and even his animals) may rest and refresh himself.  “Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves.”  Exodus 23:12.

More generally, even though the Law is holy and righteous and good, the result of the Law is death for us because of sin within us.  God provided the solution that we are released from the Law and joined to Christ, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.  For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:4-6.

“But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law;  but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:8-11.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”  Galatians 3:24-25.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

“The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;  …”  Psalm 23:1-3.

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