Today’s Life Text: “He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed…’” (Mark 14:35 NKJV) The hour was very late and the disciples had just received the first Lord’s Supper - this following a day with Jesus that was filled with much ministry along with a growing sense of prophetic tension with all the rapidly occurring events around them. From the setting of today’s life text, we see these disciples understandably tired and weary as they continue to follow their Master under the darkness of night to a place called the Garden of Gethsemane. Although yet to be fully understood by His disciples, Jesus was entering the final hours of His time on earth, and was now seeking a special time of communion with His heavenly Father in prayer to help ready Him for the events that were about to take place. He had called out Peter, James and John from the group of disciples and together they went “a little farther” into the Garden with Him. Positioning them with the simple instructions - “Remain here and keep awake and be watching” (Mark 14:34 Amplified Bible) – Jesus then “went a little farther” (“about a stone’s throw” Luke 22:41 NLT) and fell to the ground in deep, intense prayer with His Abba (Papa / God the Father). God’s Word shows us that throughout Jesus’ 33 years on earth, He always “went a little farther” in every teaching moment that He held, in every miracle that He performed, in every healing which He conducted and in every life that He touched - that was just consistent with His divine character! In fact, while in the Garden at Gethsemane, He was literally hours away from obediently following His Father’s Will in going “a little farther” up a hill called Golgotha where He would painfully be nailed to a cross and crucified like a common criminal for the sins of all the world (1 Peter 3:18). This sacrificial demonstration of His undying love for us (John 3:16) forever serves as His selfless example to which each of His disciples (every Christian) is called to follow (Luke 9:23). Yet Jesus never requires His disciples to journey down a path which He Himself has not already journeyed. His divine strength is always freely extended to those who would allow their trust in Him to deepen and their love for Him to grow – evidenced by our obedience to His commands / teachings (Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT). As the Apostle Paul would later share, it is ultimately our genuine love for Christ that “compels (drives) us” (2 Corinthians 4:14a) to go “a little farther” – to dive even deeper into the rich waters of a life journey with Jesus! But be forewarned - the enemy of our soul will fight us in every way he can to prevent us from going that extra “stone’s throw” with Jesus. We see this take place with Jesus’ disciples who failed to follow Jesus’ assignment to “stay, watch and pray” while He “went a little farther away” by Himself to pray. Upon each of the three times that Jesus returned to His disciples from praying, He found them “asleep at their post” (read Mark 14:37-41)! Now before you and I cast our criticism upon these disciples for their negligence (Luke 6:41-42), let us first examine our own lives for examples where we have failed to go “a little father” with Jesus in a task / assignment which He presented to us. Perhaps it was failing to extend forgiveness to that co-worker who wronged you or that unwillingness to pursue reconciliation in a broken relationship with a family member / friend; or maybe it was when you refused His Spirit’s leading you to donate to a needy kingdom mission or share an extra offering for a special timely cause; or maybe it was when you disobeyed His direction to spend more time in His Word than in front of the TV. No matter the unlimited examples which may exist, I am certain that we can all find times in our own life journey when we failed to go “a little farther” with Him, just as these disciple did in the Garden at Gethsemane! Maybe those failing moments have led you into a season of life where you feel like your soul is in a place of darkness and confusion, much like the disciples must have felt when they were suddenly awaken from their untimely ‘cat napping’ to find Jesus being arrested (Mark 14:41-50). Maybe you feel as if your failings have resulted in all of your divinus momentos (divine moments) of usefulness for God being spent / forfeited. Listen closely – these are but lies whispered to us by the enemy’s deceitful lips (John 8:44). Know that you and I can praise our Lord Jesus Christ for our sinful shortcomings need not define nor do they need to derail our future journeys with our Lord. Out of His grace, Christ offers us His divine forgiveness for our sins – for the many times we have failed to go “a little further” with Him (Ephesians 1:6-8 ESV)! The disciples unquestionably failed Jesus through their sinful slumber at Gethsemane, and upon awaking to the prophetic events of Jesus’ arrest, they all would run away in fear for their lives (Mark 14:50). Yet these same disciples, after Jesus’ resurrection and Pentecost, would later return to Him to pursue an incredible life journey that would see them be established as the vital building pillars for Christ’s new church (His body / His people; Matthew 16:18). One closing thought – like with the disciples with Jesus at Gethsemane, we often have a short window of time to which we can obediently respond to the Lord’s call to go “a little farther” with Him - whether that be in some ministry service /task or with some aspect of our Christian character. To this point the Apostle Paul shares, “Be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded (1 Thessalonians 5:6 NLT) … make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!” (Romans 13:11-12 The Message) As His 21st Century disciples, we must all stay spiritually awake and alert to whatever God asks of us in our life journey ahead so that we too will have His divine strength (Philippians 4:13) whenever He invites us to go “a little farther” with Him! …Selah! Today's Spirit-led video is a beautiful witness to the redeeming power of faith in the life of a believer. The song the led me to share is by CCM artists Kutless and can be viewed by clicking on its title “What Faith Can Do”
"Going a Little Farther with God"
Today’s Life Text: “He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed…’” (Mark 14:35 NKJV) The hour was very late and the disciples had just received the first Lord’s Supper - this following a day with Jesus that was filled with much ministry along with a growing sense of prophetic tension with all the rapidly occurring events around them. From the setting of today’s life text, we see these disciples understandably tired and weary as they continue to follow their Master under the darkness of night to a place called the Garden of Gethsemane. Although yet to be fully understood by His disciples, Jesus was entering the final hours of His time on earth, and was now seeking a special time of communion with His heavenly Father in prayer to help ready Him for the events that were about to take place. He had called out Peter, James and John from the group of disciples and together they went “a little farther” into the Garden with Him. Positioning them with the simple instructions - “Remain here and keep awake and be watching” (Mark 14:34 Amplified Bible) – Jesus then “went a little farther” (“about a stone’s throw” Luke 22:41 NLT) and fell to the ground in deep, intense prayer with His Abba (Papa / God the Father). God’s Word shows us that throughout Jesus’ 33 years on earth, He always “went a little farther” in every teaching moment that He held, in every miracle that He performed, in every healing which He conducted and in every life that He touched - that was just consistent with His divine character! In fact, while in the Garden at Gethsemane, He was literally hours away from obediently following His Father’s Will in going “a little farther” up a hill called Golgotha where He would painfully be nailed to a cross and crucified like a common criminal for the sins of all the world (1 Peter 3:18). This sacrificial demonstration of His undying love for us (John 3:16) forever serves as His selfless example to which each of His disciples (every Christian) is called to follow (Luke 9:23). Yet Jesus never requires His disciples to journey down a path which He Himself has not already journeyed. His divine strength is always freely extended to those who would allow their trust in Him to deepen and their love for Him to grow – evidenced by our obedience to His commands / teachings (Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT). As the Apostle Paul would later share, it is ultimately our genuine love for Christ that “compels (drives) us” (2 Corinthians 4:14a) to go “a little farther” – to dive even deeper into the rich waters of a life journey with Jesus! But be forewarned - the enemy of our soul will fight us in every way he can to prevent us from going that extra “stone’s throw” with Jesus. We see this take place with Jesus’ disciples who failed to follow Jesus’ assignment to “stay, watch and pray” while He “went a little farther away” by Himself to pray. Upon each of the three times that Jesus returned to His disciples from praying, He found them “asleep at their post” (read Mark 14:37-41)! Now before you and I cast our criticism upon these disciples for their negligence (Luke 6:41-42), let us first examine our own lives for examples where we have failed to go “a little father” with Jesus in a task / assignment which He presented to us. Perhaps it was failing to extend forgiveness to that co-worker who wronged you or that unwillingness to pursue reconciliation in a broken relationship with a family member / friend; or maybe it was when you refused His Spirit’s leading you to donate to a needy kingdom mission or share an extra offering for a special timely cause; or maybe it was when you disobeyed His direction to spend more time in His Word than in front of the TV. No matter the unlimited examples which may exist, I am certain that we can all find times in our own life journey when we failed to go “a little farther” with Him, just as these disciple did in the Garden at Gethsemane! Maybe those failing moments have led you into a season of life where you feel like your soul is in a place of darkness and confusion, much like the disciples must have felt when they were suddenly awaken from their untimely ‘cat napping’ to find Jesus being arrested (Mark 14:41-50). Maybe you feel as if your failings have resulted in all of your divinus momentos (divine moments) of usefulness for God being spent / forfeited. Listen closely – these are but lies whispered to us by the enemy’s deceitful lips (John 8:44). Know that you and I can praise our Lord Jesus Christ for our sinful shortcomings need not define nor do they need to derail our future journeys with our Lord. Out of His grace, Christ offers us His divine forgiveness for our sins – for the many times we have failed to go “a little further” with Him (Ephesians 1:6-8 ESV)! The disciples unquestionably failed Jesus through their sinful slumber at Gethsemane, and upon awaking to the prophetic events of Jesus’ arrest, they all would run away in fear for their lives (Mark 14:50). Yet these same disciples, after Jesus’ resurrection and Pentecost, would later return to Him to pursue an incredible life journey that would see them be established as the vital building pillars for Christ’s new church (His body / His people; Matthew 16:18). One closing thought – like with the disciples with Jesus at Gethsemane, we often have a short window of time to which we can obediently respond to the Lord’s call to go “a little farther” with Him - whether that be in some ministry service /task or with some aspect of our Christian character. To this point the Apostle Paul shares, “Be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded (1 Thessalonians 5:6 NLT) … make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!” (Romans 13:11-12 The Message) As His 21st Century disciples, we must all stay spiritually awake and alert to whatever God asks of us in our life journey ahead so that we too will have His divine strength (Philippians 4:13) whenever He invites us to go “a little farther” with Him! …Selah! Today's Spirit-led video is a beautiful witness to the redeeming power of faith in the life of a believer. The song the led me to share is by CCM artists Kutless and can be viewed by clicking on its title “What Faith Can Do”
“Pure as Honey”
[Today's LifeText] “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure ("sincere" NKJV) and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.’” (Philippians 1:9-10 NLT)From today’s life text, we see the Apostle Paul encouraging believers to live “sincere lives” until the day when Christ returns. The word ‘sincere’ comes from two Latin words, sine ('without') and cere ('wax') “i.e. without the presence of any wax.” This definition goes back to the ancient practice of beekeeping. When one was looking to buy a jar of honey, they would often search for “pure honey” which was written on the label. Honey was considered pure only if all of the beeswax had been removed. Some vendors actually referred to and sold their strained (pure) honey as “sincere honey.” Another illustration of sincerity was similarly seen with pottery. Not unlike our modern day crooks and dishonest businessmen, many corrupt pottery vendors in ancient times would take broken and/or imperfect pottery that had cracks, gaps, holes or some other defect and fill the deformities with melted wax. After skillfully painting the pottery they would sell it as “genuine” pottery without flaws to unsuspecting customers (i.e. sold under the guise of deception). An honest merchant – when presenting his product to a prospective buyer - might say that it was a “sincere piece of pottery.” This meant that the pottery had no flaws – that it was free from wax and that what they saw was what it truly was – a solid piece of handcrafted pottery free of any blemishes or imperfections.
So how was the deceptive use of wax with pottery or the presence of wax in honey discovered? The Apostle Paul in Verse 10a in our life text helps answer that question - his desire was “…that (we / believers) may approve the things that are excellent.” (NKJV) The English word “approve” here comes from a Greek word that means “to judge or test for genuineness (i.e. sincerity / purity) by sunlight or to examine by the rays of the sun." To determine if honey was pure (sincere), one would simply hold it up against the sunlight to examine closely for any wax / impurities. The same practice was also used to detect the deceptive use of wax in hiding flaws / imperfections in pottery.
In today’s life text, the Apostle Paul’s prayer is that God’s people would live lives that are sincere - that is, lives that are genuine, true / authentic, transparent (not hypocritical) and purified from the particulates of sin (e.g. spiritual impurities/ false appearances or deceptive motives). Sadly, sincere hearts seem to be rapidly becoming a rare find in today’s culture. For many, their so-called sincerity is based upon conditional demands or self-driven wants/desires which often parallel the world’s set of values, not God’s. God desires that as genuine Christians, we are to come before Him with sincere (pure) hearts - “Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22 NLT) This involves our being fully honest before God, coming to Him without masks (“falsehood / deception” Ephesians 4:25) – in sincerity (pureness) of heart (Psalms 24:3-4, Matthew 5:8). Our weaknesses (i.e cracks / gaps in our character) can only be exposed when we submit ourselves to the true light of Christ. Ephesians 5:13 declares, “The light makes all things easy to see…” (NCV) As sincere Christians, we must allow God each day to judge the conduct of our heart, of our thoughts, of our deepest desires and of our actions through the divine illumination of His Holy Word. That is why it is so critically important that we spend time daily in God’s Word – allowing the living waters to cleanse us (Ephesians 4:26) from the sin (i.e. spiritual wax) that covers our soul (Psalms 119:105, 1 John 1:9).
So how was the deceptive use of wax with pottery or the presence of wax in honey discovered? The Apostle Paul in Verse 10a in our life text helps answer that question - his desire was “…that (we / believers) may approve the things that are excellent.” (NKJV) The English word “approve” here comes from a Greek word that means “to judge or test for genuineness (i.e. sincerity / purity) by sunlight or to examine by the rays of the sun." To determine if honey was pure (sincere), one would simply hold it up against the sunlight to examine closely for any wax / impurities. The same practice was also used to detect the deceptive use of wax in hiding flaws / imperfections in pottery.
In today’s life text, the Apostle Paul’s prayer is that God’s people would live lives that are sincere - that is, lives that are genuine, true / authentic, transparent (not hypocritical) and purified from the particulates of sin (e.g. spiritual impurities/ false appearances or deceptive motives). Sadly, sincere hearts seem to be rapidly becoming a rare find in today’s culture. For many, their so-called sincerity is based upon conditional demands or self-driven wants/desires which often parallel the world’s set of values, not God’s. God desires that as genuine Christians, we are to come before Him with sincere (pure) hearts - “Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22 NLT) This involves our being fully honest before God, coming to Him without masks (“falsehood / deception” Ephesians 4:25) – in sincerity (pureness) of heart (Psalms 24:3-4, Matthew 5:8). Our weaknesses (i.e cracks / gaps in our character) can only be exposed when we submit ourselves to the true light of Christ. Ephesians 5:13 declares, “The light makes all things easy to see…” (NCV) As sincere Christians, we must allow God each day to judge the conduct of our heart, of our thoughts, of our deepest desires and of our actions through the divine illumination of His Holy Word. That is why it is so critically important that we spend time daily in God’s Word – allowing the living waters to cleanse us (Ephesians 4:26) from the sin (i.e. spiritual wax) that covers our soul (Psalms 119:105, 1 John 1:9).
So let us commit anew to the Apostle Paul’s command to “live pure (sincere) lives” - starting today and every day that follows until the divine moment that our Lord returns. May we each allow the light of God’s Word to penetrate the recesses of our heart in search for any sinful flaws / cracks / impurities in our character (Psalms 139:23-24) so that we can be molded into His divine vessels which are filled with His love and used for His glory. 2 Timothy 2:21 (NLT) declares, “If you keep yourself pure (sincere), you will be a special utensil (vessel NKJV) for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” May we each take heed to the divine wisdom shared in Joshua 24:14 which commands every believer “to fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity (with pureness of heart and motives) and in truth.” Selah!
Today's Spirit-led video is a beautiful testament to Lord's promised return. The song is by CCM artists Casting Crowns and can be viewed by clicking on its title, “Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me).”
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