He will reign - Mark 13:4

Mar 13:26 'And then will they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory'

We are incredibly privileged to know what the future holds for us and this world as we find in the Bible. What other book do you know tells the future and then what it tells come to pass? This is a great book to get into. Don’t miss out on what the Bible has to say about our future. 

Signs of the times - Mark 13:4

Mar 13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

 We are incredibly privileged to know what the future holds for us and this world as we find in the Bible. What other book do you know tells the future and then what it tells come to pass? This is a great book to get into. Don’t miss out on what the Bible has to say about our future. 

Take your c@%##! - Mark 8:34

Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mark 8.34)

In polite Roman society, it was as bad as swearing to say the word ‘cross.’ No decent Roman ever mentioned it, let alone considered dying on a cross. Jews had a similar horror of crucifixion. It was hanging on a tree, which is cursed in Old Testament Law. However the cross was never far from the Lord Jesus’ mind. He thought about it in eternity, when He was marked out by God as the Lamb. He thought about the cross in history, when the Holy Spirit inspired the prophets to describe those sufferings in intimate detail. He thought about the cross during his earthly life, since He often told His followers that He was going to die.

To be continued - Mark 8:25

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. (Mark 8.25)

Have you been for an eye test recently? The Lord Jesus is better than any optician. As I read through the Gospels, it is interesting to see how He uses different treatments to heal blind people. Today’s man has two eye tests. He is healed gradually not immediately.

Not Nasty but Nice - Mark 7:27

Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled (Mark 7.27)

At first, it seems like the Lord Jesus is being horrible to this woman. She has a serious problem, so she comes to the Lord Jesus for help. Yet He takes His time and carefully guides her. She understands her need. She expects that He can meet that need. But she must also realise how little she deserves His mercy. At last in desperation this lady begs for His help, knowing she can’t earn it. Then the Lord answers her cry and heals her daughter.

 It’s the same for me! To truly appreciate His greatness, I need to be aware of my own unworthiness. Only then can I understand how kind He is to help me.

Heart 2 Heart - Mark 7:21

From within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts … (Mark 7.21)

My heart is a wonderful engine. It pumps 7000 litres of blood a day, beating more than once a second. It should last for 70 years without a service or MOT. But humans are more than machines – I am a spiritual creature made in God’s image. And so I can learn more about my heart in the Bible than in any Biology textbook!

Mission Impossible - Mark 6:48

Walking upon the sea (Mark 6.48)

Famous Five - Mark 6:44

They that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. (Mark 6.44)

Every day with the Lord Jesus is an adventure. The disciples soon discovered this fact as they spent time with Him. On this busy day, the Lord was teaching, healing, feeding, praying and saving. Five wonderful actions! Many people think it is boring being a Christian. Not true! Living with the Lord Jesus is always an exciting experience!

Teens Talk

She was of the age of twelve years, Mark 5. 42.

Twelve is an important age for Jewish children. It marks the time when they officially become young people. Boys celebrate this at their Bar Mitzvah ceremony. The Lord Jesus has always been interested in young people. Jairus’ daughter was about to begin her teens. John the disciple was probably near the end of his teens when he first met the Lord. Most people write off teenagers as awkward immature individuals – but the Lord Jesus sees my value and potential however young or old I am.

God’s plan for public services

Short Reading – Mark 10:35-45 

Longer Reading – Mark 10:28-52

Key Verse – Mark 10:45

The Lord Jesus really shook people up ,and in particular his disciples, with the teaching that he gave. I can only imagine the shocked looks on their faces when he announced that for anyone to be great in his Government they would need to serve everybody, v 44.

Who gave you the right to do that?

Short Reading – Mark 11:27-33 

Longer Reading – Mark 11:20-33

Key Verse – Mark 11:28

Sometimes when I am trying to tell someone about what I believe they respond like this. Don’t shove religion down my throat! Who gave you the right to tell me that?

The rulers of the nation of Israel were out to get the Lord Jesus. They didn’t like the attention he was being given and as far as they were concerned he was a major threat.

Using what you have for God!

Using what you have for God

Short Reading – Mark 11:1-11  

  

Longer Reading – Mark 11:1-19

Key Verse – Mark 11:3 ‘The Lord hath need of him’

Imagine that I just bought a new car. It is just the model I dreamed about, the pearlescent metallic paint is looking great, the alloys are really cool and the leather seats are ….well what can I say! I have only one problem. Someone has asked me to take a new family, with their children, mucky feet etc, to an outreach meeting. What should I do?

God's plan for public services

God’s plan for public services

Short Reading – Mark 10:35-45 

Longer Reading – Mark 10:28-52

Key Verse – Mark 10:45

The Lord Jesus really shook people up, and in particular his disciples, with the teaching that he gave. I can only imagine the shocked looks on their faces when he announced that for anyone to be great in his Government they would need to serve everybody, v44.

Tell Tale

Tell them how great things the Lord hath done, Mark 5.19.

When the Lord Jesus arrives in a new life, like Legion’s, or a new area, like Gadara, then change is bound to happen. And when the Lord Jesus makes changes, they are always improvements, though maybe I don’t see things that way! Of course the people of Gadara were much better off without the influence of demons or the uncleanness of pigs. Sadly they didn’t realise this at the time. They wanted the Lord Jesus to leave as quickly as possible!

Only one person was desperate for the Lord Jesus to stay. That was Legion. The Lord had done so much for Him. Once he was a wild man but now he has been tamed by Christ. He used to run around but now he sits at Christ’s feet. He used to be naked but now he wears clean clothes. He used to be crazy but now he is just fine. What an amazing change! He is a new man altogether.

Legion has only spent a few hours with the Lord Jesus, and already he is being left behind. He needs to be Christ’s messenger in his home town, an ambassador for Christ. I have the same job in today’s godless society, no matter how long or short I have been a Christian. I must tell people about the great things that the Lord Jesus has done for me.

So how much do I appreciate what He has done? He has given me a seat in heaven. Check out Eph 2.6. He lets me wear a robe of righteousness. Check out Isa 61.10. He has introduced me to a completely new way of thinking. Check out Phil 2.5. Will my behaviour and my conversation today demonstrate to people around me what wonderful changes Christ can make?

Money could keep you out of heaven!

Money could keep you out of heaven!

Short Reading – Mark 10:17-27             

Longer Reading – Mark 10:1-27

Key Verse – Mark 10:21

Life is busy, time is money and there are many questions on my mind. Meet the man who thought money could buy everything!

His question was – ‘What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ The key to the man’s question are the words ‘do’ and ‘inherit’. He was a self made man; everything he had achieved was as a result of what he had done. He probably had worked hard for everything he had. He thought of eternal life as something he could inherit. An inheritance is wealth that someone has worked hard to accumulate and the people who inherit it have a right to it. He wants eternal life but he doesn’t understand that you don’t get it the way you get wealth and possessions.

I'm great - look at me!

Look at me - I'm the greatest!

Short Reading – Mark 9:30-37    

Longer Reading – Mark 9:30-50

Key Verse – Mark 9:34

The human mind is an amazing thing. I have the ability to listen to someone talking and at the same time to be thinking my own private thoughts which could be a million miles away from what the other person is saying.

Are people generally nice?

 

A friend of mine is in Denmark at the moment and commented on a Facebook post about how courteous and helpful people are as he travels the world. He stated 'I travel an awful lot both for work and pleasure and I can safely say virtually everyone I come across is kind, supportive and wants to help. People at train stations, airports and hotels here in Denmark (just finished a conference) are premier league in this area. But in my experience, it’s not just people ‘serving’ who are like this but fellow travellers too. So why do that tiny tiny tiny percentage of people try to ruin a beautiful society? You know who I mean; people on a bridge in London and a Manchester arena. It would be great to know what is in their minds…then help them change it. They would see a wonderful world….in my opinion'. 

 

Here is my reply. You may not agree but it's a topic that we need to consider as we increasingly face violent men and a turbulent society. 

I am not so sure that it's just a tiny percentage. Thankfully the majority don't allow their sinful nature to take them to the degree of selfishness and cruelty that we have seen demonstrated recently in London and Manchester. The scriptures, Jeremiah 17:9, teach that 'the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked'. The same scripture states 'who can know it?'  So you are right we cannot understand the depths of wickedness that potentially lies in the heart of all humanity. This is case because we have all 'sinned and come short of the glory of God,' Romans 3:23. 

We only need to look at the constant need to teach order and civil obedience and to legislate against wrong to see the natural bias of all people is to be selfish. 

Children never need to be taught to do wrong, we train them to be good people and rightly so. 

God alone searches the heart and promises a new heart [the heart is morally the seat of the will, choices and emotion. The promise is made on the basis of the sacrifice of Messiah for sin - 'Messiah (Christ) died for our sins according to the scriptures,' 1 Corinthians 15:3] to those who seek Him and trust Him.

You are so right that this is a wonderful world and we are blessed that so many people see it as such but we mustn't be blind to the reason behind the depravity that exists in the hearts of humanity. 

There is a solution but it doesn't lie within the human heart. 

Incidentally a high percentage of people live in quite a horrible world, we who have wealth at our disposal are often closeted from the reality of the pain that billions face on a daily basis. I must stop. I trust that you continue to have a pleasant trip. 

Kind regards. 

Stephen