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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 23 March 2023:
Job 12:9 – Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?
All of creation testifies to the truth of God. Only a fool says in his heart there is no God. Today, there are many ‘sophisticated’ fools who, in the name of ‘science’ say there is not God. True science can only point to God, but there is a false secular religion guised as science which deceives many. Wisdom teaches that God is in complete control of all circumstances and works all things according to His purposes. Walk with God and trust Him through all things.
Mark 3:4 — And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
Since you have already read in Deuteronomy (the book most quoted by Jesus) about the Sabbath, you understand that the intent of the Sabbath was to stop work to acknowledge in faith that God was the provider. It was not intended for a day to stop serving others or ministering to their needs. A day of not working for self gives you even more time to simply love God and others.
Mark 3:14 — And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.
We are not called to simply know Jesus, we are also called to make Him known to others.
Mark 3:16-19 — He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Many extol the benefits of diversity, while others praise unity. God creates university (as in the universe) – unity in diversity, all His disparate creations coming to together according to His purpose, will, design and order for His glory. Apart from God’s Logos, neither diversity nor unity are profitable; on the contrary, diversity will eventually lead to hostility, and unity will lead to myopic group-think that organizes and amplifies futility and destruction. When diverse groups find ways to unify around the wrong things (man-made endeavors, philosophies, ‘-isms,’ and stratifications), they find more creative, comprehensive, and prideful ways to destroy. They create towers of Babel to glorify themselves rather than seeking the Kingdom of God. Humanistic unity which proclaims respect for diversity (often disguised in religious language) is ultimately perversity and futility, though it might seem noble.
Only in Christ can there be real unity in diversity, which was Jesus’s prayer for the church in John 17 — “…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:21-23) Unity in Christ is the mark of a godly family and church. And a church unified in Christ will have nothing to do with popular social trends which proclaim unity around the various man-made stratifications which only promote pridefulness and divisions. Race, ethnicity, gender, color, or creed are not virtues.
- Psalm 133:1 — Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
- John 13:35 – By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
- Galatians 3:26-28 — …for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 2:14 — For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility….
- Romans 6:5 — For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
While Christ-centered unity is the mark of a godly church and family, disunity and division are signs of ungodliness:
- 1 Corinthians 12:24, 25 — But God has so composed the body… that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 — I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
- Galatians 5:19, 20 — Now the works of the flesh are evident: …rivalries, dissensions, divisions….
- Jude 1:19 — It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
- Romans 16:17 — I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
- Titus 3:10 — As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
Jesus chose an incredibly diverse group of disciples from different walks of life, but perhaps more importantly, from different philosophical and political backgrounds —
“Simon Peter, James, John, and Andrew were all fishermen. (Mark 1:16–20) Matthew the tax collector (2:13–14; see Matt. 9:9) was content enough with Roman rule to represent the government in an official capacity. [Conversely] Simon the Zealot was a member of a group that sought the expulsion of the Romans and the regaining of Jewish independence. Jesus brought together into one body men who could not have disagreed more politically, at least when Jesus called them initially. Nothing but the effective call of the Messiah and common faith in the Savior could bring such people together. The same is true today. Jesus alone can unite people of varying backgrounds and who hold varying opinions into one body in service to the Creator. Additionally, we know that the regular band of disciples included not only the twelve Apostles but also many other men and women such as Mary Magdalene, Susanna, and Joanna [the wife of the manager of Herod’s household] (Luke 8:1–3). Christ’s church is not made up of one race, gender, or socioeconomic class; rather, it includes men and women from every nation (Rom. 9:23–24; Rev. 7:9–11).” (Table Talk Magazine, Ligonier Ministries)
Jesus tears down all divisive walls built by mankind. Is this truth evident in your family and church? Are you a messenger of unity in Christ alone or an advocate for unity around some man-made philosophy or idea, another gospel that is really no gospel at all? As ambassadors for Christ, we have been entrusted with one message, the message of reconciliation with God (reconciliation between people is a natural biproduct). While everyone else is talking about politics, talk about Jesus – “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2) But don’t be surprised if even ‘religious’ people treat you like the Pharisees treated Jesus – “And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him…. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” (Mark 3:2, 6) Final note: Isn’t ironic that animosity drove religious leaders to view healing on the Sabbath as unlawful but not plotting murder? Have you seen this spirit within the church and within society as a whole?
Mark 3:30 — And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”
Does your family think you are crazy because of your love and fidelity to Jesus? Are you a Jesus fan or a Jesus fanatic?
Mark 3:33-35 — “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
The real children of God are the ones who do the will of God, who remain faithful and obedient in thought, word, and deed. What you think, desire, and do reveals who you really are. Anyone can say they are a Christian, but God knows the heart, and actions reveal the truth of the heart.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 23 March 2023: Today, be a faithful ambassador of Christ who can be trusted with the real message of reconciliation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don’t get caught up in meaningless arguments. Stick to the Truth.
“When the church aligns itself politically, it gives priority to the compromises and temporal successes of the political world rather than its Christian confession of eternal truth. And when the church gives up its rightful place as the conscience of the culture, the consequences for society can be horrific.” (Chuck Colson, God and Government)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 