I Will Knot!
Mark 1:7-8
After me One is coming who is mightier than I,
and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
John introduces Jehovah's Servant as the One whom John is not worthy to serve, even in the most menial manner. What grace that the Son of Man "who came not to be served, but to serve," would elevate the likes of us to His service!
Thank you, Lord.
I Want a Camel's Hair Blazer!
Mark 1:6
And John was clothed with camel's hair,
and a belt of skin around his loins,
and eating locusts and wild honey.
Does it pique your curiosity that John's wardrobe and diet are described before John's preaching?
1 + 2 = 3 Learning What's Elementary
2 Peter 2:1-3
Verse one is fulfilled Bible prophecy (just turn on the TV to a religious channel).
But false prophets also arose among the people,
just as there will also be false teachers among you,
Verse two has been fulfilled in church history (again check out the newspaper and TV Guide).
who will secretly introduce destructive heresies,
even denying the Master who bought them,
bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Many will follow their sensuality,
and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
and in their greed they will exploit you with false words;
Verse three is unfulfilled Bible prophecy.
their judgment from long ago is not idle,
and their destruction is not asleep.
Just as men have destroyed the church on earth according to God's word, those same men will be destroyed in the future according to God's word. If verses one and two have come true, we can expect verse three will come true also. This is as simple as one plus two equals three! It's elementary.
But that we might have our confidence in God's Word bolstered, God the Holy Spirit adds eighteen more verses with proofs and assurances that verse three will come true. God has done everything divinely possible to enable faithful men and women to remain faithful, but everything that He has done is in His Word. If we do not abide in His word we are not proving to be Christ's disciples, nor are we availing ourselves of the only tools God has given us for remaining faithful. It's as simple as one plus two equals three.
God help us to cling to the helps you have given us. Help us to make Your Word our life.
Have you ever struggled to have an original thought?
For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will,
but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Not creative? No problem! Creativity can be as much of a liability as it is an asset. Consider 2 Peter 1:21.
From a human perspective, nothing of Scripture is the product of a fruitful human imagination, but out of a willingness to be an instrument in the hand of God.
How to Break Camp Without Leaving a Mess
Shortly I must put off my tent,
just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
2 Peter 1:14
There is a helpful article on the Internet, How to Break Camp Without Leaving a Mess.
Eat your vegetables. Stand up straight. Chew with your mouth closed.
You say you already know all that stuff!? Peter states that he would never neglect mothering those entrusted to His charge. He would remind his children of what they already knew until either he or they both died.
Peter: 2 Peter 1:12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.
God Supplies Generously
Generosity begets generosity.
Have you ever hosted an event at your own expense? "Generous supply" is used almost exclusively of God indicating the generosity of God toward his children. "To supply" originally was used of a man who hosted a public chorus by defraying the cost completely at his own expense.
Oh My! Myopia! (Shepherds' Corner)
No one likes distorted vision! I just discovered a website entirely devoted to optics cleaning solutions. We should not be surprised that God devotes several sections of Scripture to cures and prevention of blindness. One these passages is 2 Peter 1:8-9.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, [there is a list in the preceding verses] they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For he who lacks these qualities is blind being short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
Spiritual short-sightedness or myopia is a kind of blindness that limits all vision to this side of heaven. When a believer loses sight of heaven and when the purposes for which he obtained forgiveness of sins escape him, he becomes increasingly useless and unfruitful for God. He becomes spiritually myopic.
Why did the blood of the Lord Jesus wash away your sins? How should you then live as a forgiven man or woman? What qualities of life will outfit you for glory and what will serve only the here and now? Don't be short-sighted.
The Invitation (the Shepherds' Corner)
I just officiated the wedding of two young friends, and the bride said, “I will!” The groom said, “I will!” It never fails. Young couples always respond to the invitation, “Will you receive,” with an enthusiastic, “I will!”
Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
At a wedding we would be very much surprised if the bride said, “No” at the invitation, “Will you have this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?
The final words of Scripture are a wedding invitation from a heavenly groom, not to married life but to a union of eternal life. What will you say as the Spirit of God invites you to receive Jesus Christ, the heavenly bridegroom, “Will you have this Man to be your Savior?” The bride invites you to come. The Spirit of God invites you to come.
“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).”