From time to time, I will share added bonus features of what I will call Golden Nuggets. These are insights that I have been wrestling with in my Scripture reading. I have been following a reading plan by one of my heroes, Robert Murray McCheyne. He has really been a huge friend for me with his writing and he would read from 4 books of the Bible daily...It is quite a chunk to read, but my goodness it has been good. So instead of back tracking, I am just going to pick up where I am in my journal. Enjoy or ignore!
Mark 15 - Three main characters stand out to me in this chapter. 1. Barabbas - He is a guilty criminal who gets off free because the people wanted an innocent man crucified in his place...that man being Jesus. And why is Jesus crucified? MY SINS! So guess who I am? I am totally Barabbas. I deserved the cross and I get freedom instead because of Jesus. GRACE. 2. Simon of Cyrene. A man who just happens to be with his son watching Jesus walk to the place of death, but quickly is grabbed by the soldiers to carry Jesus' Cross...guess who I am? A man who has been invited to carry the Cross of Jesus daily. Easy? Ummm, No. Painful? Ummm, Yes. Worth it? Ummm, For eternity! May I worship Jesus fully each day by denying myself and following Him. 3. Joseph of Arimathea - He simply gave up his family "gravestone" to let Jesus be buried there instead. It actually was a very costly gift, but what is costly for Jesus? Joseph was pleased to honor the dead body of Jesus...may I be like Joseph today by being pleased to honor the Living Presence of Jesus in my life. You know, Jesus isn't dead...He is alive and may He be fully alive in me!
I will spare you my Jeremiah thoughts, since you can go back through previous blogs and see what I have written, but boy oh boy has Jeremiah 29-31 blessed me like crazy. Shew! Great stuff.
Acts 20 - it states in the text that instead of sailing with his companions to the next city, Paul wanted to walk there...interesting. Never caught that before in reading Acts. Why did he want to walk? How far was it? Did he walk with anyone else? I think he had some amazing times just taking a walk and in life, we just need to take a walk don't we? I love it...wonder what was going on in Paul's life at this moment that it would be pointed out that he decided to walk? But let me tell you what was before him in Jerusalem...his cup of suffering! And yet he says "that matters little to me, what matters most is that I finish the job that God sent me to do" and that is simply to tell others about Jesus...about Jesus' extravengent generosity!!! Was the walk an awesome time of relaxing and getting some more Jesus talk in before suffering in Jerusalem? Was the walk an awesome time of worship as he sets his face to Jesus asking for strength for whatever awaited him? I don't know but how amazing for Paul to obey the voice of Jesus (Acts 21) instead of the voice of "good wisdom" from friends. Obedience is better than sacrifice even if it means you are the one who is going to be "sacrificed" at the hands of religious leaders. Paul had his eyes on Jesus and so shall we!
Samson in Judges is a unique being. I will say this, there are moments when God will say that is enough! He does so with Samson and thus, Samson is almost destroyed because of his selfish pride and human strength...but he calls out to this amazing grace-filled God and God uses him one more time to wipe out the enemy. Samson reminds me that my life is messy, but that God is not done writing my story either. But I have a choice...I could be focused on me and my "stuff" or I can die and focus on Jesus! You have that choice as well my friends...let's honor the Lord.
now go over to you tube and type in Judah Smith Barabbas for one of my fav videos ever...it will put a lump in your throat.
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