Leviticus 12:1-8; Mark 5:35-43; Psalms 39:1-5; Proverbs 13:5-6

NT: “While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother. They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion — people weeping and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, but he put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with him, and entered the place where the child was. Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up” ). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded. Then he gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and told them to give her something to eat.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:35-43‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Jairus was a leader in the local synagogue – a respected man in the city. When Jesus arrived in town, he greeted Jesus and begged Him to help and heal his little girl that was dying. That was where Jesus was headed when He was thronged by the crowd and encountered the woman who touched His garment. Before they reached Jairus’s house, they received word that the little girl had died. Imagine the thoughts and emotions that began flooding Jairus’s mind at the sound of those words: sadness, despair, anger, resentment, regret. That word probably froze him in his tracks as his world started closing in on him. Jesus, in that moment, told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” Press through the stunning news and don’t run away from the faith that you have in Me… Keep believing, and keep moving with Me.” The reason Jesus went with Jairus in the first place was because He saw the Father healing the little girl. He knew what Jairus didn’t know… but Jairus could still hope and believe if he didn’t let the news shake him out of faith. Sometimes we get startling and scary words: your business has shut down, your husband is leaving you, your loved one is dying, you have cancer. Do we allow the news to knock us off our foundation, or do we, after the stunning punch to the face, focus our gaze on the One Who knows what we don’t know and will lead us to hope? Jairus remained in faith and followed Jesus to his home. When others laughed and ridiculed Jesus (and Jairus for having faith in Him), Jesus put them outside. Then in an atmosphere of faith and obedience, a miracle happened.

Leviticus 11:1-47; Mark 5:21-34; Psalms 38:19-22; Proverbs 13:4

NT: “Now a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothing. For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.” Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But he was looking around to see who had done this. The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.”” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:25-34‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

What a beautiful example of saving faith. This woman had suffered from hemorrhaging for 12 years. Not only was it a nuisance – it continuously sapped her of life and rendered her ceremonially unclean. She was hindered in every way. Over the course of 12 years, she had spent everything she had to find a cure to no avail. She was completely broke and without hope… until she heard of Jesus. She believed that He was able to heal her. Because of her state, I imagine she probably thought that Jesus wouldn’t have time for her – that he had more important people to speak to… more pressing things to do. So she sought to just secretly touch His outer garment… if she could just touch something that was touching Him… not touch Him directly and cause a scene, she would be healed. So while a crowd was pressing on Him, pushing Him along, crying out to Him, she pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of his robe. Instantly she was healed. Hundreds of people were pressing into Jesus… bumping into Him… probably even grabbing on to Him, yet this woman’s inconspicuous brush of His robe caused power to go out from Him. What made the difference? Her faith. She didn’t have faith in faith. She had faith in Jesus and His ability to heal. Jesus stopped in His tracks, and the woman who thought she wasn’t important enough for an encounter with Jesus was now looking into His eyes, receiving these words, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed.” We don’t have to make a big show or stoke ourselves up – all we need to do is have faith in Jesus… in who He is… in what He is able to do… in what He has already done, and come to Him. Faith in Him will save us.

Psalms: “But my enemies are vigorous and powerful; many hate me for no reason. Those who repay evil for good attack me for pursuing good. Lord, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me. Hurry to help me, my Lord, my salvation.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭38:19-22‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

King David, with enemies surrounding him and pressing him on every side, knew where His salvation came from. His trust – his faith was in the Lord. As long as he was with the Lord – by the Lord’s side, he knew that he would be saved. So he kept his relationship with the Lord clean through confession and repentance, and trusted completely in the Lord for his salvation.

Leviticus 10:1-20; Mark 5:1-20; Psalms 38:1-18; Proverbs 13:2-3

OT: “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them to do. Then fire came from the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has spoken: I will demonstrate my holiness to those who are near me, and I will reveal my glory before all the people.” And Aaron remained silent.” (‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭10:1-3‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

God had been very specific in describing how worship was to be given to Him. Meticulously, He went over every detail with Moses, and I am sure Moses meticulously rehearsed everything with Aaron and his sons. However, for some reason in the midst of the moment, after God’s fire had come down from heaven to consume the consecrating sacrifice, Nadab and Abihu felt compelled to offer worship in their own way. Perhaps it was something they felt they should do… or maybe it was something they saw the pagan priests in Egypt do – either way, it was out of line with God’s precise prescription. The reaction may seem harsh – but God’s glory and holiness was on full display, and they foolishly did something unholy in the presence of God’s manifest holiness. It wasn’t a punishment as much as it was a consequence of being extremely careless with a raging fire. That event teaches an extremely important point. The worship of God is not nor should not be dictated by the whims of our feelings or compulsions. God has been very specific in what acceptable worship to Him looks like. Though flames don’t shoot out of church altars around the world and incinerate careless worship leaders, the truth remains. God must be regarded as holy, and we should never feel at liberty to worship Him in any way we feel, nor treat His presence as something that can be toyed with. Those who worship the Father must do so in spirit and in truth.

NT: “They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore — not even with a chain… Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” “What is your name?” he asked him. “My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region… The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there. The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:1-3, 5-10, 12-15‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

After their harrowing experience with the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and His disciples arrived at the other side, only to be greeted by a raging demon-possessed man. This man, after years and years of giving himself over to unrighteousness , was completely ravaged by sin and full of demonic torment and suffering. He spent night after night crying out and cutting himself in an attempt to find some sense of relief. What he couldn’t do on his own, Jesus was able to do in a moment. Who knows how long he had been tormented by the demonic, but after a moment with Jesus, he was clean, clothed, and in his right mind. Demons who couldn’t even be brought under submission by chains were compelled to submit themselves to the overwhelming authority of Jesus. While Jesus may be humble and meek, He is also all-powerful and holy. Even demons are subject to His name. He can set tormented souls at peace in a moment. He can wipe away the ravages of sin in a moment, if we just bow down  to Him.

Psalms: “Lord, do not punish me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has pressed down on me. There is no soundness in my body because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have flooded over my head; they are a burden too heavy for me to bear… Lord, my every desire is in front of you; my sighing is not hidden from you… For I put my hope in you, Lord; you will answer me, my Lord, my God… For I am about to fall, and my pain is constantly with me. So I confess my iniquity; I am anxious because of my sin.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭38:1-4, 9, 15, 17-18‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

In this Psalm, King David is very honest about the affects of unconfessed sin. David knew what it was to walk in relationship with the Lord, and sin had been allowed to stand between him and the Lord that he loved. So many live with the bondage of sin and have no idea what it is to be free. Nevertheless, whether you recognize it or not, sin demands a heavy toll. David knows what he must do to be free. He must acknowledge his sin and confess his iniquity – and the God who is rich in mercy and abounding in love will forgive him, cleanse him, and put him in his right mind.

Leviticus 9:7-24; Mark 4:26-41; Psalms 37:34-40; Proverbs 13:1

NT: “On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:35-40‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Many people believe that when they encounter “storms“ it is because they did something wrong. Sometimes that is true. But there are times you encounter “storms” because you are doing right and following the Lord. The disciples would have been “safe” had they ignored Jesus and stayed on shore. Following Jesus actually took them into danger. As the water began swamping the boat, and Jesus was peacefully asleep in the stern, the circumstances began to overwhelm the disciples. They lost faith and began to panic, and actually accused Jesus of not caring whether they lived or died. The concern that Jesus had wasn’t that they were afraid – but that they allowed fear to overwhelm them and cause them to lose their faith. The Greek word for afraid here carries the connotation of giving in because of fear and becoming cowards. It is natural to be afraid, but when we are afraid we can take refuge in Christ by faith. We must not lose faith and fall into panic and cowardice. We are called to be men and women who faithfully and courageously follow Jesus, the Lord of All, into any situation and remain faithful through faith in Him until the end.

Psalms: “Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed… Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the person of peace will have a future. But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed. The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, their refuge in a time of distress. The Lord helps and delivers them; he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in him.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:34, 37-40‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

What is the key to being able to stand victoriously on the other side of challenging and fearful situations? Waiting for the Lord and keeping His way. If soldiers scurry and flee every which way when the enemy attacks, they will be defeated. But if the soldiers hold formation and wait for orders from their general – and then follow his orders precisely, they will be victorious on the other side. When things get tough… when your hours get cut, when your customers stop coming, when you lose your job, when all of your investments tank… don’t start scurrying around trying to save yourself. Wait for the Lord. Wait for His instructions – and then keep His way. If you take refuge in the Lord… if you place your trust in Him, He will deliver you and you will have a future of promise.

Leviticus 8:18-9:6; Mark 4:10-25; Psalms 37:30-33; Proverbs 12:27-28

NT: “He also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured to you — and more will be added to you. For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:21-25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus told the parable of the sower who sows seed on the ground. The seed is the gospel of the Kingdom and the word of God. The ground is representative of people’s hearts. There are 4 types of hearts: the hard heart, the shallow heart, the crowded heart, and the fruitful heart. The hard heart is influenced by the devil, the shallow heart is influenced by the flesh, and the crowded heart is influenced by the world. Only those who fully receive the word and allow it to go deep and become foundational and fundamental will produce fruit. Then Jesus spoke of a lamp stand. The only way a lamp stand can give off light is if it uses what it has been given. A lamp stand that is hidden is of no use and is producing no light. A lamp stand that will not use the oil that is in it will not burn brightly – and if the oil is not being used, it will not be replenished. So Jesus said, “Pay attention to what you hear… pay attention to what I am telling you.” You are filled with the same measure you are willing to be spent and used. If you are not putting to work the life and grace I am giving you, I’m not going to give you more. If you are continuously walking in My grace to do the things I have commanded, then you will be continuously filled. But, if you refuse to use what you have been given, then even what you have will be taken away. I see this so much in the church in the U.S. – people who want more, more, more of God… more of His presence, more of His grace, more of that wonderful feeling they get when they honor Him – but they aren’t willing to use what they have been given and obey His words. They are lamps sitting on the shelf, not willing to burn bright, but want more and more oil… waiting until they feel full enough. We don’t wait until we feel full enough to obey. God has given us what we need and will continue to give us what we need as we are faithful to Him and obey. If you want more of God, then do what God has called you to do… set your heart on fire and blaze bright… glorify God as a life poured out for Him, and you will receive more, and more, and more – as much as you need.

Psalms: “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just. The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous and intends to kill him; the Lord will not leave him in the power of the wicked one or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:30-33‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Why does the mouth of the righteous utter wisdom and speak what is just? Because the word of God has been allowed to get rooted in his heart. Because he has paid attention to the words of God, and by putting them to action, has allowed them to become foundational and fundamental to his life. Does the wicked on lie in wait to try to knock us off God’s path and destroy our lives? Yes he does. But the righteous one who has God’s word hidden in his heart and on his lips, compelling his steps is not easily shaken. And God will not allow the righteous person to be held in the devil’s power nor be condemned by his accusations.

Proverbs: “There is life in the path of righteousness, and in its path there is no death.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:28‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

When we pay attention to the words of God, apply them to our lives, and walk according to them in loving obedience, we find abundant and everlasting life.

Leviticus 7:28-8:17; Mark 3:31-4:9; Psalms 37:21-29; Proverbs 12:26

NT: “His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him and told him, “Look, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside asking for you.” He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭3:31-35‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Jesus’ family thought He had lost His mind, and they were there to try and restrain Him – to talk some sense into Him. When they showed up while He was ministering and asked Him to step outside, He didn’t oblige. Instead, He used it as an opportunity to teach about the family of God. We all come from families – some healthy and some dysfunctional. Some families are moral and upstanding, while others are quite the opposite. When we come to faith in Christ and become His disciple, obeying the word, will, and ways of God, we enter into a new family. No longer are we tied to our natural family tree. We are grafted in – adopted into – a new family with a holy heritage and an incredible inheritance. God becomes our Father, Christ becomes our Lord and elder brother, and faithful disciples around the world become our spiritual moms, dads, brothers, sisters, and children.

Psalms: “A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord supports him with his hand. I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread. He is always generous, always lending, and his children are a blessing. Turn away from evil, do what is good, and settle permanently. For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones. They are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:23-28‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

A good man’s steps are established by the Lord. God leads our steps like a general leading troops into battle. A righteous man is in lockstep with the Lord’s commands and directions. A man who is marching in perfect step with God is a righteous person, and the Lord will make his footsteps strong and sure. The phrase ‘takes pleasure’ is translated from the Hebrew word chaphets. Chaphets means to desire, delight in, or take pleasure in. When we chaphets God’s way, He chaphets our way. When we make God’s way our primary desire, God takes pleasure in what we are doing. Everything else in this passage is framed within that truth. God supports the righteous so that when they do fall, it isn’t a hard fall. God does not abandon the righteous, but is always generous to them. The righteous are kept safe by the Lord forever. The last phrase there, “the children of the wicked will be destroyed” is sobering, but there is hope for the children of the wicked as well. At any time, a child of wickedness can choose to chaphets God’s way and be adopted out of the family of wickedness and into the family of God. We aren’t destined to follow in the footsteps of our mothers and fathers if we choose to follow in the footsteps of our Heavenly Father through faith in Jesus Christ.

Leviticus 6:24-7:27; Mark 3:20-30; Psalms 37:12-20; Proverbs 12:25

NT: “Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.” The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.” So he summoned them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand… Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” — because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭3:20-25, 28-30‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

How many people are there out there that give their lives to the Lord only to be thought of as crazy by their friends and family… that they are going through a phase and will grow out if it and return to normalcy. When you see things as either being of the kingdom of darkness or the Kingdom of Light, you no longer want to be “normal” as defined by those who are in the dark. Jesus was walking in the Kingdom of Light and His family were in the dark. They thought He was crazy. The scribes, experts in the law, actually had evil motive behind what they were saying. They, of all people, should have recognized that the miracles Jesus was performing were acts of God. But out of self preservation and pride, they knowingly said Jesus was possessed by the Devil, even though they knew He wasn’t. So Jesus addressed the scribes first, corrected their error in logic, and warned them that they were getting close to crossing the line of no return. Ultimately, it is God who will determine when someone has crossed that line. It os our responsibility to keep our ears, eyes, and heart attuned to the Lord and His Holy Spirit so that we don’t become so hardened to the things of God that we would knowingly cross that line. The good news is that there is abundant forgiveness before crossing that line for all who humble themselves and rapidly repent. I’ve heard it said, that anyone who is respectfully concerned about crossing that line, probably isn’t in danger of it.

Psalms: “The little that the righteous person has is better than the abundance of many wicked people. For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports the righteous. The Lord watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever. They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger. But the wicked will perish; the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures, will fade away — they will fade away like smoke.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:16-20‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Which is better: momentary titillation or everlasting joy and satisfaction? The blessings that God gives us last for eternity. At best, the things that we can scrounge together in our own strength will last the length of our extremely finite lives. If we grab and hoard in our own strength, we have what we have for as long as it lasts. But, if we trust in the Lord and allow Him to lavish us with His blessings of life, peace, joy, satisfaction, contentment, etc., He won’t allow anyone or anything to take those away – not even death itself. For those who trust in the Lord, that is a good word!

Proverbs: “Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Good word’s are so necessary, especially in these days of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. What is a good word? First of all, it must be true and not a lie… not false hope or flattery, but founded on truth. It must be encouraging – a word that fills with courage as it simultaneously dispels fear. It must also be edifying – a word that builds and does not tear down and demoralize. What better “good word” is there than the gospel of the Kingdom. Gospel means good news, and that is what the gospel of the Kingdom is for those weighed down with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. It is founded on truth, full of encouragement, and incredibly edifying. People need to hear the gospel – the full gospel.

Leviticus 6:1-23; Mark 3:7-19; Psalms 37:7-11; Proverbs 12:24

NT: “Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” …Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭3:7-11, 13-15‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Despite the animosity from the religious leaders, crowds continued to flock to Jesus… from every region of Israel. The crowds were so large that He was in danger of being crushed. The people were trying to make Him into a national celebrity. How tempting that must have been. How easy it would have been for Jesus to get swept up by His “success” and begin catering to the crowds and maintaining His fandom. Thankfully, Jesus was not interested in celebrity. He was not concerned about His status. His desire was to serve His Father and serve those entrusted to Him. Instead of staying with the crowd, He stole away and went to the Secret Place to spend time with the Father. In Luke 6:12, we see that He spent all night in prayer with the Father, getting strengthened and receiving wisdom on how to proceed. Apparently, part of the wisdom He received from the Father included selecting 12 men from among His followers to be His ambassadors and delegates. 12 men that He would pour into that would later become the leaders of His church. Jesus did not assume anything. Before He did anything, He sought the will of His Father in prayer. He waited on The Father, submitted to the Father, and did nothing outside of His word. Even Jesus did not lean on His own understanding, but waited on understanding from the Father. This kept Him from being swept away by celebrity and missing the purpose for which He was sent. If Jesus lived this way, how much more should we?

Psalms: “Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated — it can only bring harm. For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:7-11‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

With so many profiteering from others’ misfortune, taking advantage of other people’s fear and desperation to line their pockets, or unjustly rising to the top on the backs of others, it can be easy to get incensed and burn with indignation. How do we prevent ourselves from getting caught up in the anger and vitriol? We stand silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him. We wait to hear what He says on the matter. We wait for His wisdom and His instructions. Instead of living in anxiety and anger, we put our home in Him. We humble ourselves and trust completely in Him. Eventually the evil will burn itself up. We don’t want to be part of that fire. Instead we want to be part of God’s righteousness that shines like the rising son bringing an end to the darkness.

Leviticus 4:27-5:19; Mark 2:23-3:6; Psalms 37:1-6; Proverbs 12:21-23

NT: “On the Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to make their way, picking some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” …Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a shriveled hand. In order to accuse him, they were watching him closely to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath. He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand before us.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:23-24, 27-28, ‭3:1-5‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

God gave the Sabbath to the people of Israel after they came out of Egypt. When Moses presented the Sabbath, only a few things were prohibited: cooking, gathering fuel, carrying burdens, or transacting burdens. It was to be a day of rest. Over the years, tradition added to that short list of prohibited activities, and instead of being a gift of rest, the Sabbath had become a crushing burden. Jesus was not about to to bow down to man-made traditions instead of giving deference to His Father’s desires and original intentions. When given a choice between keeping their traditions and healing a man, the Pharisees chose to allow a man to remain crippled and unable to provide for himself than to bend their overbearing requirements. This hardness of heart angered Jesus. The Sabbath, which was a gift to man, was now being used as a tool of oppression by the Pharisees. God desires to give rest to those who trust Him and follow Him, yet we can take something as precious as rest and make it burdensome – to the point that “rest” makes us anxious. What are some of the things that you have loaded on yourself that were never required of God? Trust the Lord, and obey Him precisely, and He, the Lord of Sabbath, will give you rest.

Psalms: “Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong. For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants. Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:1-6‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The word translated here as agitated means to kindle and burn. King David is saying, don’t allow envy to be kindled nor burn with jealousy by those who are unethical or unjust in their doings… who do things to serve themselves and couldn’t care less for the people around them. They may get what they are after, but their “reward” is only temporary. Instead, trust the Lord… obey His word, will, and ways… embrace fully what He has for you… make His desires your desires, and He will supply you with all that your heart truly desires. Delight here means to be pampered, like a loving husband does for his wife. Don’t take things that you want, allow the Lord of Sabbath to pamper you with all the glorious things He has for you, and you will discover that what He has for you is far better than what you thought you wanted. If you live, fully trusting in the Lord, satisfied with His riches, you will shine with His glory and be a sign and wonder that glorifies Him.

Leviticus 4:1-26; Mark 2:13-22; Psalms 36:10-12; Proverbs 12:19-20

NT: “Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. Then, passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.”” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:13-22‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Jesus brought a new perspective, a new way, and new life. Sinners and tax collectors were the outcasts of society and were considered dirty and perhaps unredeemable. Jesus didn’t come to merely live a holy life and then die, He came to bring sight to the blind and set captives free. He was the physician and He was there to heal the sick, not hang out with the “healthy.” While the Pharisees refused to associate with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus made it a part of His life’s work. The truly unredeemable people are not tax collectors and sinners, but those who refuse to place faith in Jesus and admit their need for salvation. Jesus brought a new way of liberty and life in Him, not an overbearing religious system of endless rules and regulations. Jesus’ way was a way of joyful liberty in Him, not oppressive legalism. Would there be appropriate times to mourn and be somber? Yes. But in Christ, even during sad and somber times, there is still indescribable joy. Jesus did not come to put a holy patch over our lives. He didn’t come to just cover up our sin. The life that He has for us can’t be held in rigid hearts of stone. Jesus came to make all things new. He came to make us new, completely remove our sin, and give us new hearts of flesh that were alive in Him. Jesus did not try to fit the glorious kingdom life into the rigid rules and regulations of the Pharisees. He did not look for a place of compromise with other lifeless religious systems. No, He brought something completely new. A new perspective, a new way, and new life in Him.