"....Made For Man"

"And He said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'"  (Mark 2:27, ESV)

This is the heart of the Bible, the Heart of God Himself.  All Jesus does for us, all He has done and ever "will do" is for you and me---- very sobering.

"....and to keep the Lord's commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good."  This was Moses' exhortation to the Jews of millennia ago; it is the same for you and me.  You and I have a choice today, a choice to live under religious legalism, or under, "....The Sabbath was made for man," viz., "for your good."  Strong's tells us that the "short definition" of the Hebrew phrase translated, "for your good," is, "beautiful."  Another source defines it as, "pleasant, agreeable, pleasant to the sight, sweet, sweet-scented, good report."  I think you get the picture.  It is as my Proverb reading for today says, "Every word of God is unalloyed" (Jerusalem Bible), literally, "smelted," as a goldsmith refines the gold, "leaving behind the elemental medal."  Whatever the source, be it Moses, Isaiah, Luke, Paul, the Words of God are "elemental medal,"------------ and they are, "made for man."

Jesus' life as He walked the hills of Galilee and taught in the Temple was an example of, "The Sabbath was made for man."  Indeed, the Law, the Prophets were, "made for man"; the Earth was, "made for man";  the Cross, "was made for man."  Too much of what is done in Christendom is for the religionists, to build their local works, propagate their ideas, "made for them."  Remember, "The Sabbath was made for man."

"....for man," reflects the "Servanthood" of Jesus.  Read and reread and reread the Gospels; What/Whom you and I see there is The, " for man," Savior, The, "for man," King, The, "for man," God Himself, loving, weeping, healing, delivering, comforting------------------- "for man."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that I too was, "made for man."  Amen.
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March Mission:  March 9-31
DC Mission:        February 4 (If you would like to go along, let me know.  Would need at least four other people)

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"The Lord Jesus Is Good To All"-- Yes, He Is

"The Lord is good to all...."  (Psalm 145:9a, KJV)

Regardless of life's lies, "The Lord Jesus Christ is good to all," everyone, everybody.

It's that time of the month for my "favorite" praise Psalm.  I recall "discovering" it when I was about 22 or 23 years of age, a long time ago.  I remember thinking that I could not have expressed worship/praise any better than David.  It is a true "portrait" of our Father, our Shepherd Jesus, and Holy Spirit, "....good to all."

Psalm 145 is the truth about the Living Triune God.  Anyone who tells humanity anything about God other than Psalm 145 is a liar.  Everything from the universities, the philosophers, whether famous or water cooler, the humanists, the Darwinists, the Big Bang people, everyone everywhere who does not affirm and live by Psalm 145 is living, "the lie."

Consider:  "The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.  The Lord is good to all (yes, even you): and his tender mercies are over all his works....The Lord upholds all that fall, and raises up all those that be bowed down....You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing.... The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; He also hears their cry and saves them."
(From the KJV & ESV)  This is what David said about God.  This is what the Holy Spirit revealed to David.  This is Truth of Him Who Is Truth, even Jesus the Christ. 

The Enemy will always attempt to get people to look at "unanswered prayers," the sicknesses, the suffering, the heartaches, the shattered dreams.  Jesus, on the other hand, will always and forever keep telling you and me what Psalm 145 declares, "the Lord is good to all," yes He is, yes He is.  One more confirmation:  THE CROSS.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that through all my life You have shown me that You are, "good to all."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"....To Hear Some New Thing"

"For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing."  (Acts 17:21)

Our text is a constant reminder that always looking for, "some new thing," is a religious, philosophical pursuit, not a "pursuit" of Jesus.

If nothing else, I pray these daily devotionals give you a little reminder each day of our Lord Jesus Christ, His indwelling presence in all who have surrendered their lives to Him.  Too many tend to watch Christian television, listen to Christian radio, go to conferences, read books, etc., to get, "some new thing."  If they aren't wowed by a teaching, if their goose pimples don't get goose pimples, they have not worshipped or may even doubt "His presence" in the event. 

Frankly, for me there is only one, "new thing," I desire for each day, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."  Just to know and fellowship with and in, Our Father, in Jesus, in the Holy Spirit.  I find that most of my "worship" is in His Words, receiving, thanking, and just "lost in wonder, love and praise." I read His Words over and over and over and always "experience" fellowship, "intimacy," or as the song says, "blessings all mine with ten thousand beside."

Away with the life style of engaging, "in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing." Enter the life of our Lord Jesus, "receive the Kingdom of God as a little child."  Continually "receive" Jesus as a little child, sort of like my four year old grandchild who, when she sees me, comes running to me, arms outstretched, saying, "Grandpa!"  He too must surely love this.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are my constant, "new thing."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Questions Answered By Revelation--Not Argument

"Now Jesus stood before the governor.  And the governor asked Him, 'Are You the King of the Jews?'  Jesus said to him, 'It is as you say.'  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing."  (Matthew 27:11, 12)

It was today 70 years ago that the Auschwitz Death Camp was liberated by Russian soldiers.  People have asked, "Why?  Why did the carnage of the mid twentieth century occur?"  Now we could give some answers perhaps, but still there would be the unanswered, unsatisfied, "Why?"

Our text has us observing our Lord Jesus Christ before the Roman Governor, Pilate.  Along with the Jewish leaders, we hear Pilate asking questions of Jesus.  John tells us that Pilate asked, "Are you a king then?"  And we read earlier in Matthew that the Jews were concerned about Jesus' claim that He was the Son of God, "....the high priest answered and said to Him, 'I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.'"  Pilate was concerned about, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  The religious people were concerned about this, "Son of God," claim.  One religious, one political, but both were frightening possibilities to those who could not, or rather, would not recognize Who Jesus Was/Is.

Truth comes by revelation, not by argument or constant questions, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."  It is the same today, the same always.  The Cross, the Death, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and soon Second Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ saves, delivers and keeps us by, "revealed this to you."  I pray for people what Paul prayed for the Ephesian Church, "....that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints...."  All, I repeat, All which our Lord Jesus Christ is, has for us, and does for us we enjoy and walk in only by, "the spirit of wisdom and revelation...." 

Perhaps when you and I are faced with constant questions from a world which does not really want truth answers, we should do as our text says, "He answered nothing."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that, "the eyes of [my] understanding be[] enlightened...."  Amen.
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About three quarters closer to our March Mission need

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2