Mark 1:35-38

Looking for Jesus

It seems curious Jesus would say, “Let us go somewhere else.” It seems even more curious when he says it to his disciples following their exclamation, “Everyone is looking for you!” While the disciples would have been content to stay in that area of Galilee, Jesus had a different plan. He came to proclaim the good news of forgiveness and eternal life to all.

As I consider Jesus’ response, I need to ask myself a question: “What am I looking for?”  My answer to that question is important because the devil has designed a trap for me. He wants me to consider Jesus as someone over whom I can exercise control and authority. Then, when Jesus doesn’t turn out to be what I am looking for, the devil quickly springs the trap and I am caught in disappointment and despair. His goal is to lead me to the conclusion: Jesus wasn’t what I was looking for.

This is why I need to look for Jesus where God has revealed him. In the Bible he is called my Savior. He lived a sinless life in my place.  He provided the payment required to secure my freedom from the fear of punishment when he died for my sins. He guaranteed peace and forgiveness for me through his triumph over the devil when he rose from the grave. If this is what I am looking for, then I don’t have to look any farther. Jesus is my Savior, my Redeemer, my comfort, my joy and my peace.

When Jesus was on this earth, he could have gathered countless followers. All he had to do was become what they were looking for. Unfortunately, many became disappointed and stopped following Jesus because he did not conform to their desires. What about me? What am I looking for? If I am looking for Jesus to be the one whom God has revealed in the Bible, then I will have the Savior I need.

Deuteronomy 18:15-18

Listen to the Prophet

We live in an age of hyper-communication.  Many of us spend a good portion of our time with our cell phones, text messages and email.  We’ve become masters of communicating in short sound bytes and have forgotten how to listen to any one thing for too long.  On the internet we read 50 words here, 50 words there, and then click on another link and read 50 words somewhere else.  Even the evening news has reduced its stories to shorter segments, because the producers know that many of us have an “attention deficit disorder” of the ears.

Moses was a prophet called by God to speak his Word to the Israelites.  When he ascended Mount Sinai to receive God’s Law, there was thunder and lightning, the sound of a loud trumpet blast and the Lord himself came down in fire.  The whole mountain shook violently and the people trembled in fear.  After hearing the Ten Commandments and seeing God’s awesome display of power, the people said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen.  But do not have God speak to us or we will die” (Exodus 20:19).  The Law brings fear.

The Lord allowed Moses to peer into the future and see another prophet.  This prophet would be like Moses in some ways, but very different in others.  Jesus Christ was born among his people.  He came speaking the very word of God – the words that God himself put in his mouth.  While Jesus proclaimed and applied the Law spoken by Moses, he came primarily to speak good news of forgiveness and salvation.  The Law given on Sinai condemns all those who violate it.  The good news spoken by Jesus brings freedom, peace and everlasting life.

In the midst of the noise of everyday life, make sure to take the time to listen to the prophet Moses foretold – your Savior, Jesus.  Only his voice assures you that all your sins have been forgiven.  Only his voice calms your troubled heart and points you to your home in heaven.

Ezekiel 33:31

Worship that God calls GOOD

Surely it is GOOD to gather with others in church to hear the Word of God through our pastors whom God has called to serve us. It is also GOOD when we speak and sing the praises of God in his house of worship.

Listening to the Word and praising God is GOOD, but it can become displeasing to him. God told his prophet Ezekiel the reason: The hearers do not put God's Word into practice.  Many think their worship is GOOD even when they just do it out of habit. They consider the mere act of worship a service to God.  However, even when expressed with eloquence, our worship is meaningless before God when faith and sincerity are lacking in our hearts.

God calls worship GOOD when we hear his Word, believe it, and put it into practice. Prompted by the love of Jesus for us, our acts of worship are glad expressions of thanks to him.  Our willful obedience to God’s Word flows out of faithful hearts filled with the joy of his salvation.  That’s the kind of worship that God calls GOOD.

1 Corinthians 8:6

TWO WAYS TO LIVE

In front of the RCA Building in New York City there stands a massive statue. It’s the statue of a man straining to carry the entire world on his shoulders. Put yourself in front of that statue for a moment. Look at it. Think about it. If you wish, you can live your life that way. You can focus on yourself. You can look to yourself for answers. You can take all the problems of your life and work them out on your own. You can carry your world on your shoulders.

But now, cross the street. Go into the church that stands directly across from the man carrying the world. Walk up to the altar. Go behind the altar. There you will see another statue. This statue is of Jesus as a young boy. Look closely. In his hand he’s holding something, and he’s holding it without any effort or worry or strain. In his hand rests the entire world.

There are two ways to live. You can carry the world, or Jesus can carry you. You can carry the weight of your cares, or Jesus can carry you. You can carry the guilt of your past, or you can recognize that Jesus has already come to carry it on your behalf.

In our sinful weakness, we often behave like the man straining to carry the world. When that happens, come to repentance. Look to Jesus. See him carrying the world. See him carrying you. Rest in his forgiveness. Rest in his promises. It’s the only way to live.

2 Corinthians 4:16

It has been said that we begin dying the moment we are born. These bodies of ours are not what they would have been had sin not entered the world and along with it death.

Knowing this, we understand the importance of time. Once spent, it cannot be recovered. There isn't a time machine that will permit us to rewind our lives and live them over. The past is just that—it's passed!

For that matter, we don't have possession of the future either. Will I be here tomorrow? Perhaps not! "My times are in your hands," the psalmist sang (Psalm 31:15). The voice of God's servant Job proclaimed, "Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed" (Job 14:5).

Over the course of our God-given time, we experience what the apostle Paul writes: “outwardly we are wasting away.” Hair grays and thins. Skin wrinkles. Muscles lose strength. Eyesight dims. Hearing fades. Memory loses track of little details—and sometimes big ones. Though outwardly we may look and feel like the wrecks of time, the time that God gives us is precious because “inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

We often pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." The nourishment that our bodies cannot do without, God graciously and regularly provides for us.  In his love, God also gives us spiritual nourishment that inwardly renews us day by day.  He feeds our souls with the precious truths of his Word.  He comforts us with his forgiveness through Jesus to renew his peace in our hearts.  He assures us of his unfailing love to renew our joy even as face the failings of our physical life.  He promises to give us life that is perfect and eternal to renew our hope of heaven. 

When you notice the signs of aging in your body, don’t lose heart. Through the Word of God which points you to Jesus your Savior, inwardly you are being renewed day by day!