10/18 Heart, Soul, Mind And Strength


Date: Thursday October 18, 2012
Today’s ChaptersMark 12-13
Message Title: Heart, Soul, Mind And Strength
Hello My Friend,
There was not a day that went by that someone was not trying to challenge Jesus the three plus years of His ministry here on earth. It wasn’t the common every day people that were challenging Him, it was the religious know it all’s who claimed to know God. They hated the fact that Jesus exposed them for the frauds that they were. Once again the scribes, reasoning among themselves, came to Him with a question. Which is the first commandment of all? Jesus responded and also got one positive reaction for a change.
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.” – Mark 12:29-34.
Loving God with all that we are is two fold, it not only reminds us that we are sinners saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, it gets God’s attention. As much as God loves every person who comes to Him with sincere forgiveness in admitting they have sinned, He much rather see us living in obedience to His Word first. Why? God approves. The more we live the way He wants has nothing to so with our salvation, it’s about letting God know that He means more to us than anything we can possess or satisfy in our own flesh.
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:7-10,15.
The scribes, whom although knew a bit of Scripture, represent men and their traditions. They are the ones that put their own thoughts down, and call it “of God”. They are the ones that think more of themselves and how they appear to others, than how God looks down upon them. Jesus is watching them as they cast their money into the treasury.
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” – Mark 12:41-44.
This woman loved God so much that she cast all she had into the treasury, depending solely upon God to provide for her. Christian’s have nothing to fear when we put our faith and trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and if anyone questions your loyalty to Him all you have to say is, “I am a forgiven child of the Living God, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for me.” “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” – Romans 5:9-11.
As the disciples began wondering about the events that Jesus said would take place, they couldn’t help ask Him just exactly when all of these things would take place. “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” – Mark 13:3-7,12,13.
Jesus is returning and when He does all the frauds will be exposed for who they are, in the mean time, Jesus is trusting us to keep telling the truth and setting ourselves as the examples that we need to be to show all that they need Jesus too. We are going to face some affliction for sticking by Jesus, but He will take care of everything. “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:15,21,24,25. Praise God!
Today’s PrayerGod, You have given us the greatest example of a servant in the person of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Others in this world may earn titles and win prizes for worthy earthly pursuits, but the greatest prize that I will ever obtain is my serving You is getting to see You face to face. And amazingly it is not because I earned it, but because I put my faith and trust in Christ to get me there. Thank You for all that You do. Lead me and guide me, help me to always love You with my heart, soul, mind, and strength. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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