Today’s devotion is Mark 4:30-32 which contains the Parable of the Mustard Seed.

 

“³⁰  And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 

                                      

 ³¹  “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil,

                                           

 ³²  yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.”  (Emphasis added.) Mark 4:30-32.

Much has appropriately been taught about the growth of the kingdom of God from this parable.  That is the primary message.  But, I also see a secondary message in this parable on which I would like to focus this devotion.

The kingdom of God provides refuge, rest, and comfort to the lowly as described by the phrase “so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.”  

In a strikingly similar verse, Psalm 84:3 states:  “The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God.” 

Obviously, the concern of the kingdom of God is not just for the birds themselves, but the birds are representative of the lowly.  If God cares for the birds, then we can trust God to also care for us.  “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent?  And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  ”But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  ”So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”  Matthew 10:29-31.     

Explaining this favor and provision for the lowly, James 4:6 simply states:  ”But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:3. 

 

^“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.”  1 Corinthians 1:27-29. 

                                                                

In conclusion, these images help us better understand and appreciate Matthew 11:28-29:  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  ”Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.”

Today’s devotion is Mark 4:21-23.

 

^“21  And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed?  Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 

                                             

 ²²  “For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.

                                      

 ²³  “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Mark 4:21-23.

Matthew 5:14-16 states:  ”You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  ”Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  (Emphasis added.) 

Thank you all for letting your light shine!  It inspires me, uplifts me, and helps me in other ways so much to hear the good things that you all are doing.  This devotion is so appropriate after yesterday’s devotion which I feared was too much about me and my Reformed doctrine blog.

We may fear that we are boasting or that we are too proud if we let others see our light.  Although it is true that we should be humble, it does glorify God and help others to see the good things that we are doing. 

First, it draws the lost to the truth.  Like ships lost at sea, it shows the lost ships where the safe haven is. 

Second, it stimulates others to do good works.  It is easier to join a good work than to start your own good work from scratch. 

Third, it knits us all together in communion as the church.  We better see ourselves, not as independent individuals, but as part of the church. 

In the following two paragraphs are three examples. 

A large group of you are Protestant Reformed Church ministers.  You have most faithfully kept preaching and teaching Reformed doctrine entrusted to you.  You let your light shine like a lighthouse beacon to me and others.  I was a like that ship drifting in the sea from church to church, denomination to denomination, doctrine to doctrine, and you brought me back to the truth of Reformed doctrine. 

One of you picks up a small child who has no legs and takes that child “hiking”.  You met this child when you taught her Sunday school, and God developed in you a compassion and a desire to help her further.  You carry her, so that she can experience the beauty and fresh air of the outdoors.  Now, because you told another friend of mine and invited him to go with you, you both go together, and you all can now also bring the girl’s other special needs siblings with you for a group hike.  You tell me that you are the ones who are blessed to be around such children.

Another one of you operates a Christian rescue mission in my county, appropriately called Suncoast Haven of Rest Rescue Mission, which feeds and clothes the homeless.  I feel that I do not have compassion or desire to help the homeless, but when I talk to you and read your newsletter, I feel like encouraging you, praying for you, and sending you an occasional check to help support your work.  I feel that “we” are fulfilling Christ’s mandate to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger etc.  Thank you for also encouraging me to start my Reformed doctrine blog and for also referring me to your computer specialist so that I could do it!

Thank you all for letting your light shine!

Today’s devotion is Mark 4:13-20 which contains Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower and the Soils (a/k/a Seed) .  The key verse upon which we will focus for today’s devotion is verse 20.

 

“²⁰  “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”  Mark 4:20  (Emphasis added.)

 

 

Much has been said and written about this parable.  This parable is contained in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke.  It would be interesting for me to one day compare in the future (“God willing”) my three devotions after I read this parable in each book and write my meditations.

 

Today, I feel lead to focus on the foregoing verse and highlighted phrase “and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit“, because I think it is important that we read through the whole Bible (not just selected passages) and that we meditate on what we read.  

 

^“2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
    ³  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
         Which yields its fruit in its season
         And its leaf does not wither;
         And in whatever he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:2-3.

 

So, how do we meditate on God’s Word?  There are certainly different ways.  One way is my example of  writing down my meditations and sending it to family and friends.  It forces me to consider what is most important about each text, reach conclusions, ”perfect” the meditations, and “accept it” by applying it to my  overall beliefs and life.  Someone could read my devotion and later challenge me:  “Bill, didn’t you write …?”.

 

As I check my “Gold Mining” Tag on top of the Home Page of my Reformed Doctrine Blog located at Click here: Reformed Doctrine Blog , I started doing this around 1992.  I started by writing on paper an actual letter and mailing it to only my best friend, Harry Sieplinga, about my struggles in life and my attempts to discover and apply Scripture to my life during that time.  These letters were known as “Letters to Harry”.  Around October 1997, I selected the 52 best letters and bound them in a “book” with a new title “Gold Mining”, and I gave copies of the book to a small group of family and friends.  Around April 2008, I started my Reformed Doctrine blog to put these 52 letters and other new “daily” devotions on the internet for the general public.  

 

As you know, I  am a layman.  I have an “About Me” tag on top of the Home Page which states the following:  “Although I do my best to present true teachings, these are my teachings (by a layman) unless otherwise attributed.  Moreover, these teachings are not necessarily the teachings of the Protestant Reformed Churches, the Presbyterian Churches of America, the Christian Reformed Churches, or any other denomination.  The reader is advised to follow the example set forth in Acts 17:11:  “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”   Thank you.”

 

In conclusion, I do not intend to pretend that my way is the only way to so meditate on God’s Word.  But, we are called to “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds”.

                                           

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  Hebrews 10:23-25. 

 

I hope to encourage you, clergy and laymen, to consider how you and others can better ”hear the word and accept it and bear fruit”.   

Today’s devotion is Mark 4:1-12.  The verses upon which we will focus for today’s devotion are 10 through 12.

 

^“10  As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 

                                    

 ¹¹  And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,

                                   

 ¹²  so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.”  Mark 4:10-12. 

It may seem strange, even harsh, that Jesus would say:  “those who are outside get everything in parables,  so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.”  Doesn’t  Jesus want everyone forgiven and saved???

First, we need to be careful that we don’t curtail our preaching and teaching or “veil it” to make it less clear and understandable.  We are commanded to ”… Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  Mark 16:15  “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”  2 Timothy 4:1-2. 

But, today’s Scripture does support Reformed doctrine, “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP” that God does unconditionally elect those whom He chooses to save.  “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16. 

Consistent with this doctrine is the teaching of regeneration or birth by the Spirit in John Chapter 3.  “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  ”That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  ”Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’  ”The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:5-8.  Just as the wind blows where it wishes, the Spirit of God regenerates or gives spiritual birth to those whom He wishes.  Only those whom are regenerated or given spiritual birth by the Spirit of God will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Consider that even if one received “around the clock” (24/7) crystal-clear preaching and teaching by the best preachers and best teachers but was not regenerated or given spiritual birth by the Spirit of God, that person would still not understand, would still not seek God, and would still not be forgiven and saved.  “¹⁰as it is written,
         ”THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 
          THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
          THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 
          ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
          THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
          THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”  Romans 3:10-12       

This is “Total Depravity”, the “T” in “TULIP”.  Even though we “backed up” to this teaching of “Total Depravity” in today’s devotion, this really should be the starting point of our thinking of the doctrine of salvation.  For then, we better understand that such “Unconditional Election” is not strange nor harsh, but it is our only hope for salvation. 

 

When we better understand our “Total Depravity”, then we better understand “Unconditional Election”.  There is no condition that we can supply by ourselves, whether it be works, faith, or anything else, that can motivate God to elect us.  When we better understand our “Total Depravity”, then we better rejoice in God’s grace to us.    

Today’s devotion is Mark 3:31-35.

 

^“31  Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. 

                                     

 ³²  A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.”

                                           

 ³³  Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

 ³⁴  Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!

 ³⁵  “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”  Mark 3:31-35.  (Emphasis added.)

How can we do the will of God?  A good first step is to pray.  In The Lord’s Prayer, our Lord taught us to pray:  “… “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”.

The Heidelberg Catechism states in Question and Answer 124 concerning this part of The Lord’s Prayer:

Question 124. Which is the third petition?

Answer. [a] “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”; that is, grant that we and all men may renounce [b] our own will, and without murmuring [c] obey thy will, which is only good; that so every one may attend to, and [d] perform the duties of his station and calling, as willingly and faithfully as the [e] angels do in heaven.

[a]: Mat. 6:10
[b]: mat. 16:24; Tit. 2:12
[c]: Luke 22:42
[d]: 1Cor. 7:24; Eph. 4:1
[e]: Psa. 103:20

In renouncing our own will, Matthew 16:24 states:  ^“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”  Titus 2:12:  ”Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

 

Without murmuring obey thy will, Luke 22:42 gives us the example of Christ:  “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”  . 

 

In performing the duties of his station, Ephesians 4:1 exhorts us:  ”Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.”   1 Corinthians 7:24 also exhorts us:  ”I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” 

 

Willingly and faithfully as the angels obey God’s will in heaven, we conclude with this praise to God:  ^“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”  Psalm 103:20.

Today’s devotion is Mark 3:22-27.

 

^“22  The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 

                                            

 ²³  And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?

                                              

 ²⁴  “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

 ²⁵  “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

 ²⁶  “If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!

 ²⁷  “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.”  Mark 3:22-27.

A footnote to the foregoing verse 27 referred to Isaiah 49:25, and I thought it best for today’s devotion to present the simple but powerful message through the following Scriptures that our LORD is like a victorious warrior.  He indeed is our Savior. 

It is good to be reminded how oppressed by Satan and sin we were and how much in misery we were. 

It is good to be reminded that there was no other to intercede and save us. 

It is good to be reminded that He has set us free from our misery and our slavery to Satan and sin.   

It is good to be reminded that “His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him”. 

^“10  There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death,
         Prisoners in misery and chains,
    ¹¹  Because they had rebelled against the words of God
         And spurned the counsel of the Most High.
    ¹²  Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
         They stumbled and there was none to help.
    ¹³  Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
         He saved them out of their distresses.
    ¹⁴  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death
         And broke their bands apart.
    ¹⁵  Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness,
         And for His wonders to the sons of men!”  Psalm 107:10-15.  (Emphasis added.)

^“16  And He saw that there was no man,
         And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
         Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
         And His righteousness upheld Him. 
 ¹⁷  He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
         And a helmet of salvation on His head;
         And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
         And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. 
 ¹⁸  According to their deeds, so He will repay,
         Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
         To the coastlands He will make recompense. 
 ¹⁹  So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west
         And His glory from the rising of the sun,
         For He will come like a rushing stream
         Which the wind of the LORD drives. 
 ²⁰  “A Redeemer will come to Zion,
         And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the LORD.”  Isaiah 59:16-20.  (Emphasis added.)     

“²⁵  Surely, thus says the LORD,
         ”Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away,
         And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued;
         For I will contend with the one who contends with you,
         And I will save your sons. 
 ²⁶  “I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh,
         And they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine;
         And all flesh will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
         And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”   Isaiah 49:25-26.  (Emphasis added.)

Luke 4:18
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.  HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,”  (Emphasis added.)

^“13  The LORD will go forth like a warrior,
         He will arouse His zeal like a man of war
         He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry
         He will prevail against His enemies.”  Isaiah 42:13. 

Zephaniah 3:17
“The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior.  He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”  (Emphasis added.)

^“1  O sing to the LORD a new song,
         For He has done wonderful things,
         His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.
    ²  The LORD has made known His salvation;
         He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
    ³  He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
         All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”  Psalm 98:1-3.  (Emphasis added.)

We have passed through Scripture which has evoked in me two devotions titled “The Law of the Sabbath defers to the Lordship of Christ.” and “The Law of the Sabbath defers to the Fruit of the Spirit.”  Some may think:  “Why is it so important to understand the nature, authority, and the role of the Law?”  

 

There is article posted in the Reformed Reader blog titled:  “Duty of the Christian: Distinguish Between Law and Gospel”  posted by Reformed Reader on December 10, 2009.  Here is the link to that article -

 

Click here: Duty of the Christian: Distinguish Between Law and Gospel « The Reformed Reader

 

The article quotes John Colquhoun (d. 1827) in A Treatise on the Law and the Gospel, p. 141:  “To know the difference so as to be able to distinguish aright between the law and the gospel is of the utmost importance to the faith, holiness, and comfort of every true Christian.  It will be impossible otherwise for a man so to believe as to ‘be filled with joy and peace in believing.’  …”  (Emphasis added.)   

 

Galatians 3:10-12 speaks even stronger.  ^“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”  Galatians 3:10-12.  

                              

“But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6. 

 

So, what is this Law of which we have been released?

 

What is this Law to which we are dead?

  

Is this Law, of which we have been released and to which we died, just a set of useless and outdated Jewish customs, rules, and rituals?

  

Is this Law, of which we have been released and to which we died,  just a needless extension, or even a corruption, of the Ten Commandments? 

  

Or, is this Law,  of which we have been released and to which we died, foremost the Ten Commandments?

 

The Heidelberg Catechism generally answers that question in Question and Answer 92 as the Ten Commandments.  It should be noted that the Heidelberg Catechism is not answering this question specifically in reference to Galatians 3:10-12 or any other specific text using the term “the Law”, but it should at least raise the possibility that the use of the term “the Law” in Galatians, Romans, and elsewhere, would at least include the Ten Commandments.  

  

Question 92. What is the law of God?

Answer. God spake all these words, Exodus 20, Deut. 5, saying: I am the Lord thy God, which hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them; for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy; six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5. Honor thy father and they mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord they God giveth thee.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.

In Romans 7:6, we read:  “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6. 

 

So, what is this Law? 

 

The following verse, Romans 7:7 answers that question.  ^“What shall we say then?  Is the Law sin?  May it never be!  On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”  Romans 7:7.

 

Romans 7:7 makes it clear, at least to Romans Chapter 7, that “the Law” includes foremost the Ten Commandments.

 

Consider Galatians 4:21-24:  “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.  But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.  This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.”

 

What does Mount Sinai represent but foremost the Ten Commandments where God handed them down to man?!  

 

The purpose of this devotion is not to lay out every Scripture defining “the Law” but rather to point to the possibility that “the Law” includes foremost the Ten Commandments, and that therefore we better be careful to not portray our being dead to the Law and our being released from the Law in Galatians and Romans and elsewhere as just being dead to or released from useless and outdated Jewish customs, rules, and rituals, or as just being dead or released from needless extensions, or even a corruptions, of commandments.

Rather, when Scripture talks about us being dead to the Law and our being released from the Law in Galatians and Romans and elsewhere, it refers foremost to the Ten Commandments.  “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.  “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6.

 

Today’s devotion is Mark 3:1-12.  We will focus on the first 5 verses.

 

^“1  He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. 

                                                   

 ²  They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.

                                               

 ³  He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!”

 ⁴  And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?”  But they kept silent.

 ⁵  After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”  And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”  Mark 3:1-5.

This is another time when it seems so right that one Scripture should follow another Scripture.  Just when I was fearing that my devotion yesterday may seem antinomian (against Law), this Scripture follows.

Here, through the healing by Jesus in this Scripture, we better see that our freedom from the Law is not just an opportunity to indulge our lusts, but rather our freedom from the Law is an opportunity to truly do more good than what we would do by merely our attempts to obey the Law.  The Spirit leads us to do good and produces the fruit of the Spirit within us.  ^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23. 

Let us make it clear that we are certainly not maintaining that the Law is bad.  “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”  Romans 7:12. 

The problem is sin within us.    

^“Therefore did that which is good (the Law) become a cause of death for me?  May it never be!  Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.  For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.  For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.  But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.  So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.  For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.  But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.  I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.  For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.  Wretched man that I am!  Who will set me free from the body of this death?”  Romans 7:13-24.     

Is there any hope for us?

^“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.  Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 7:25 to Romans 8:4.

Today’s devotion is Mark 2:23-28. 

 

^“23  And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. 

                                        

 ²⁴  The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

                                               

 ²⁵  And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry;

 ²⁶  how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?”

 ²⁷  Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 

 ²⁸  “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:23-28.

Consider the fact that Jesus does not attempt to argue that outside of His Lordship, on its face, what both He (Jesus) and David did was lawful on the Sabbath.  For the direct accusation against Himself and His disciples, Jesus did not at least first directly defend Himself, but rather Jesus pointed to the example of David.  Even then Jesus referred to what David did as “which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests”. 

Consider that when Jesus states, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath”, Jesus is not just limiting one commandment of the Law to this application.  Jesus, in effect, is stating:  “The Law was made for man, and not man for the Law.”  This teaching is consistent with Galatians 3:22-27 stated below after the following comments.

Consider that David is a type and shadow of Christ, but David is also a man as Christ was also a man.  Also consider that Jesus refers to Himself as “the Son of Man”, identifying Himself with men, compared to how He could have identified Himself in His unique position such as “Son of God”.  Considering this point, we should not think something like:  “Jesus, as God, can break the Sabbath.”  But rather, we can better understand the importance of Jesus’ statement:  ”The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” 

This Scripture for today helps us to understand the Law and the role of the Law. 

Some people think of the Law as so preeminent that it is above even God like some philosophers might rate form above substance.  Some may think of God as just, because He complies to the higher standard of the Law, rather than thinking that the Law is just, because it complies to the higher standard of God.  I think the following verses help us to better understand the nature of the Law and the fact that it derives its nature, position, and authority from God.  “The works of His hands are truth and justice; …” Psalm 111:7 and “The sum of Thy Word is truth,…” Psalm 119:160.

So, what is the role of the Law?  For Christians, the role of the Law is to be our tutor to lead us to Christ.  “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”  See the following context which which contains this quote.   

^“But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.  Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”  Galatians 3:22-27. 

As an analogy, high school students graduate and are no longer under the authority and supervision of their former high school teachers.  For those going to college, in effect, the high school teachers “turn the students over” to the college professors, or in other words, the high school teachers “defer” to the college professors.  Likewise, the Law turns us over to and defers to the authority and supervision of Christ. 

In conclusion, drawing the specific teaching of today’s Scripture with the rest of the Scripture presented today, we can better understand that the Law of the Sabbath defers to the Lordship of Christ.  All the Law defers to the Lordship of Christ.

Today’s devotion is Mark 2:21-22. 

 

^“21  “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results.

                                  

 ²²  “No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”  Mark 2:21-22.  

As Christians, we are like new unshrunk cloths and new fresh wineskins.  We are new creations.  ^“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17. 

This is certainly “Good news!”.  First, it is simply “Good news!” in the most common and simple meaning.  Second, as you can see in the Scripture below, the word “new” is used many times to describe Christians and their life, and all these “new”s are good.   

Consider all the good “new”s in the following Scripture: 

Romans 6:4
“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” 

Romans 7:6
“But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”

2 Corinthians 3:6
“who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Galatians 6:15
“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”

 

Ephesians 2:15
“by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,”

 

Ephesians 4:24
“and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

 

Colossians 3:10
“and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him–’

 

Hebrews 8:6-12

^“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.For finding fault with them, He says,
         ”BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD,
         WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT
         WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 
         NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS
         ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND
         TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;
         FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT,
         AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 
         FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
         AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
         I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
         AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
         AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
         AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 
         AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
         AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’
         FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME,
         FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 
         FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,
         AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”

 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.”

Hebrews 9:15
For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

 

Hebrews 10:19-20
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,”

 

 

In conclusion, let us look at the Scripture for today’s devotion and consider the meaning of its terms.  The “old garment” is the Law.  We have already seen that Christians are like new unshrunk cloths. Thus, “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment” is more understandable.  Christians are not forced to be bound the Law.  They are released from the Law “having died to that by which we were bound”.   “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6   

 

“New wine” is the Spirit and newness of the Spirit.  We have already seen that Christians are like new fresh wineskins.  Thus,  “No one puts new wine into old wineskins, … but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins”.  Nonbelievers do not receive the Spirit nor do they receive newness of the Spirit nor can they walk in newness of life.  Rather, the Spirit and the newness of the Spirit are given to Christians so they can walk in newness of life.  “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”  Romans 6:4