Passing the Test of Faith

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 7:24-30

Mark 7:28-29

But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” ²⁹ And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.”

(ESV)

The thought of tests usually conjures up negative images.  We may remember a tough test in school for which we felt unprepared and spent all night the night before the test studying.  We may think of our driver's test where we wanted our license to have the freedom of driving our own car but feared failure and not achieving that freedom.  It may be a medical test bringing fear the doctors may find some disease, or it may be a test we need to pass to land our dream job.

However, the testing of our faith in God is nothing to fear for it results in steadfastness, leading to perfection and completeness in Christ and lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).  A word of caution here, lack of nothing in one's life does not infer one having great material wealth but instead, great spiritual wealth through a relationship with Christ made stronger through testing from God.  This is the joy James speaks of when he reminds us to consider it all joy when testing comes. 

God tests the Syrophoenician Woman’s faith by,

1)      Jesus trying to sneak into town (Mark 7:24) – As God Jesus knew the woman’s need but is testing her to see if she will seek Him out or seek help for her daughter from someone else.  Her diligence in seeking Jesus out indicates she has passed this first test.  Life is full of trials and challenges.  The common secular belief is to fight and work hard through the challenge.  However, challenges like the demon-possession of her daughter are not something the woman in this text could work out for casting out a demon only comes through prayer (Mark 9:29).  The woman passed this first test by understanding her need required Godly intervention from Jesus who had already cast out demons. 

2)      By not letting her social status and heritage stop her (Mark 7:26) – This woman is a Gentile and someone a Jewish Rabbi could reject.  However, this woman has heard of Jesus casting a demon out of the man in the country of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1-20).  Word of Jesus casting a legion of demons into a herd of swine that drown themselves in the sea would have spread quickly due to the immensity of the event.  The woman obviously loved her daughter and upon hearing of Jesus casting out a legion of demons knew she must approach Jesus and take her chances on whether He would accept her. 

3)      Upon seeing Jesus, she responds with worship (Mark 7:25) – Even though the woman was most likely in a panic over what was happening to her daughter, she does not immediately plead with Jesus to cast the demon out but instead falls at Jesus’ feet in worship.  This indicates that not only had she heard of Jesus reputation of casting out demons but that she believed he had divine power and was worthy of worship. 

4)      Jesus appears to reject her, but she stands strong in her faith (Mark 7:27-28) – Jesus begins by calling the woman a dog due to her social status as a Gentile.  The choices for the woman in this test is should I just leave, or should I stay and respond.  However, due to a belief Jesus was a prophet from God or even God Himself, the woman stands strong by saying all she needs is the crumbs the children (the Jews) drop.  It is this response that causes the Woman to pass this test of her faith with Jesus telling her to go home for the demon has left her daughter. 

The Syrophoenician woman demonstrated steadfastness of faith and received the reward of her daughter being free of the demon that possessed her.  When we have a need, we must follow this woman’s example by seeking God, not feeling unworthy of God’s love, begin with the worship of God, and know that even crumbs from God can meet our need.  However, just like the example of tests in school, passing tests of our faith require regular study of God’s word and prayer.  With this diligent study, we are prepared to have the reflex action of turning to God in worship and knowing God loves us and wants to meet our need.  My prayer is that those reading this will become steadfast in faith by passing the tests of faith just like the Syrophoenician woman. 

A Worker Approved by God Delivering God’s Message

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  2 Timothy 2:14-26

2 Timothy 2:15

 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,^[b] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

(ESV)

Those employed by the government and even those in the private sector will understand the importance of proper handling of sensitive and important information.  This is primarily due to threats from an enemy of the state or a competitor using this information to bring down the government or organization.  While the Word of God is eternal and victorious, it still requires rightful handling, so people are not led into deception through wrong interpretation.  This is the main thesis of Paul’s teaching to his protégé Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:14-26.  In this text, Paul warns Timothy and the Church about mishandling the Word of God by,

1)      Quarreling about Words (2 Timothy 2:14) – Words have meaning and importance for they are how people communicate with each other.  There are many translations of the Bible that differ in their word use.  These differences in word use are beneficial in providing different perspectives of a text.  However, it can also be a tool used by the enemy, Satan, to cause quarrels and division in the Church.  This is not a new tactic of the Devil for he used it in the Garden of Eden to plant doubt in the hearts of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-5).  Should quarrels over different word use in translations occur, people should refer to the original text for the inspired meaning.  This does not require one to know Greek or Hebrew for tools like the Strong’s Concordance can provide this meaning and is even available online. 

2)      Irreverent babble (2 Timothy 2:16-19) – The Bible has never been more readily available than it is today for we no longer need to carry a bound paper version of the text but can access it digitally using our smartphones, tablets, and computers.  Just as many translations can lead to clarity of understanding, the ease of access to the Bible can assist in one’s meditation on scripture throughout the day.  However, the enemy can use this ease of access to create an irreverence as the Bible becomes like the millions of other writings now digitally available.  When approaching the Word of God in any form, it is important for the reader to begin with remembering it is God speaking to us and begin with reverent praise and worship of God.  Many cults acknowledge a belief in the Bible and have it as one of their sources of inspiration, relegating God’s Word to something written by a person.  While there are many good Christian books, we must never place them on an equal plane with the Bible, the inspired Word of God.

3)      Handling the Bible with a wrong attitude (2 Timothy 2:20-26) - In addition to holding the Word of God with reference, one must approach it with the right attitude.  Paul uses the symbolism of vessels in a house with some of gold and silver for honorable use and some of wood and clay for dishonorable use.  We would not think of putting the finest food or drink into a cheap vessel but would place it in a vessel of gold and silver.  Likewise, when studying God’s Word, we must remove from our hearts anything dishonorable so God’s Word can do its transformative work in our lives.  This includes replacing youthful passions with the pursuit of righteousness, faith, love, and peace.  This also includes having a pure heart requiring seeking forgiveness of any sin in ourselves, forgiving those that have wronged us, as well as seeking forgiveness from those we have wronged.  We also should approach the Word of God with expectancy (Psalm 42:1). 

The Bible is the Word of God.  It is God speaking to his greatest creation, humanity.  As such it is more than just words on a page but instructions from God who loved humanity so much (John 3:16), He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for their sins to restore the broken relationship that occurred in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).  Therefore, when approaching the Bible, the Word of God we must not allow Satan to cause arguments or quarrels over trivial matters regarding interpretations of Words (2 Timothy 2:14).  Such quarrels do no good and lead to division.  Instead, let us use the differing word uses in various translations of the Bible to provide different perspectives of interpreting a text and refer to the original text for clarity. 

Viewing the Bible as God speaking to humanity requires handling it with reverence (2 Timothy 2:16-29).  This can be difficult in our modern society where the Bible is readily available through digital media for its ease of access can relegate it to other readily available information.  Let us, therefore, use this ease of access to read and study God’s Word more frequently while not losing the sense reverence for the Bible’s author.  This also involves approaching the reading and study of the Bible with an attitude of humility so the vessel into which God pours the content of His Word is honorable and not dishonorable. 

May we also remember that the Word of God is a sword (Ephesians 6:17), an offensive weapon that cuts.  May we not use the Bible to cut people down but to prune them of any unrighteousness making the vessel of their soul dishonorable.  The sword then becomes a powerful weapon used to wage war upon Satan through its declaration of truth as people rightfully handle it without quarreling over trivial matters, with reverence, and a right attitude. 

The Deception of Following the Heart

By:  Dale Weckbacher   

Text:  Mark 7:14-23

Mark 7:20-21a

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts,

(ESV)

In seeking life, liberty, and happiness, we often hear the term “follow your heart.”  While this term brings a perception of finding peace and unity in a divided and contentious world, the following of the whims of the heart is a deception leading to evil (Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23).  In this text (Mark 7:14-23), Jesus illustrates how it is what is within the heart of someone and not what they eat or drink that defiles a person.  Once again this illustrates why we need a savior, Jesus Christ, to rid our hearts of evil. 

This passage begins with Jesus calling the people to him instead of the people thronging to his as they have done when seeking a miracle (Mark 7:14).  While Scripture does not tell us why Jesus had to call the people to Him at this time instead of them seeking Him out, we can surmise that the crowd around Jesus this time were not seeking a miracle.  Not wanting to let the opportunity to teach slip away, Jesus takes this opportunity to teach.  Perhaps in the context of His previous discourse with the Pharisees and Scribes (Mark 7:1-13), Jesus speaks of how the food one eats does not defile them thus making all foods clean (Mark 7:19).  While the text does not tell us if any of the Pharisees or Scribes were in this crowd, it is Jesus removing another religious tradition that was holding people in bondage.  It also provides guidance by pointing out the real source of defilement in one’s life, what is in one’s heart.  Ending defilement in one’s life requires,

1)      Realizing that everyone has a defiled heart (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23) – Jesus concludes this passage with a list of the evil contained in the hearts of fallen people (Mark 7:21-22).  The fact that the hearts of people are a warehouse for such thoughts is why it is not wise to follow one’s heart.  This is why those choosing to follow Christ must experience an ongoing mental transformation that results in a heart transformation that liquidates the inventory of evil contained in the heart (Romans 12:2). 

2)      Realizing a renewed heart comes through the gateway of a renewed mind (Romans 12:2) – The gateway to a renewed heart is a renewed mind.  However, a renewed mind is not automatic for Christians do not receive a mental transformation at salvation but forgiveness of sin.  Romans 12:2 describes this ongoing process that requires diligence and discipline on the part of one desiring to serve Jesus Christ.  This is diligence in the study of the Bible, regular and constant prayer to God, and meditation on what one learns from the study of the Bible.

3)      Meditation over Scripture renewing the mind brings a renewal of the heart (Joshua 1:8) – The key to this heart renewal is not simply reading the Bible to read it but reading it to find passages of scripture speaking to our hearts that we can meditate or mull over in our mind.  As we do this, we experience a renewal of our minds and hearts. 

4)      Prayer throughout the day helps one live free from the deceptions of the heart (Romans 12:9-21) – One of the marks of a true Christian is consistency in prayer.  However, this is more than praying once a day or over meals but constant prayer.  This does not mean Christians are to forget about working or doing the things needed in life but that they are to do them with a constant attitude of prayer.  By making this a practice in one’s life, his or her reaction to problems occurring throughout the day will not be a heart reaction of evil or sin but instead taking it to God as the communication line of prayer remains open. 

A true Christian does not follow their heart for they understand the defilement contained in their hearts (Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23).  Instead, a true Christian understands the need to renew his or her mind (Romans 12:2), meditate day and night on Scripture to bring renewal of their defiled heart (Joshua 1:8), and be in constant prayer throughout the day to keep the communication line with God open (Romans 12:9-21).  However, renewal of the mind and heart begins with one having a personal relationship with God through acceptance of Jesus as Savior.  If you have not done that, I invite you to please pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Those that just prayed should now continue the renewal process by finding a church or Bible study teaching the Bible.  This will bring a greater understanding of Scripture so you can start the process of meditating on the truths in the Bible.   However, this meditation is not like eastern meditation where one empties their mind of all thoughts and instead, a filling of one’s mind with truth from the Bible.  I also encourage those that just prayed to learn the practice of prayer throughout the day to develop the habit of going to God, instead of their hearts, for guidance as problems and challenges occur throughout the day.  May God bless all reading this post. 

Good Soldiers Serving a Faithful Commander

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  2 Timothy 2:1-13

2 Timothy 2:8-10

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, ⁹ for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

(ESV)

Like it or not as Christians, we are at war, but this is not a conventional war fought with conventional weapons and instead, a spiritual war requiring spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:12-18).  However, even the most effective weapon is useless unless it is in the hands of a trained soldier.  Armies at war also need a faithful commander that is not only concerned for the well-being of soldiers but also loves those under his command. 

Everyone professing faith in Jesus as their savior is a soldier in the war against evil and should engage.  Engagement for a good soldier for Christ involves, 

1)      Teaching others to teach (2 Timothy 2:2) – Matthew 28:19 tells us the mission of the church is making disciples.  A disciple is one dedicated to following someone or some ideal.  A disciple for Christ is one who follows Jesus Christ and the Bible.  Making disciples is a call to teach others what one has learned from the Bible so they can become disciples of Jesus as well.  From a group of twelve Disciples obedient to this mission, we have Christianity today which has spread globally.  However, as we see the state of the world, we realize the church has more disciples to make.  Therefore, we must follow the example of the first Disciples and continue making disciples. 

2)      Enduring suffering (2 Timothy 2:3) – Jesus did not promise his disciples a carefree life but instead promised tribulation (John 16:33).  Even though this is not popular in many churches today, it is the truth and something Paul endured and warned Timothy about.  Suffering for Christ is not something a believer should fear or avoid but an indication of a life lived in dedication to Jesus Christ.

3)      Avoiding distractions and staying focused on the mission from Jesus, our faithful commander (2 Timothy 2:4) – Modern society provides many distractions.  We have smartphones, personal computers, hundreds of television stations, and programs to watch.  While most of these things are not inherently sinful, they are time killers that rob us of time with the Lord.  A good soldier aware he or she is at war stays diligent and ready to attack or defend themselves through focusing on the instructions from their commander.  For a soldier for Christ, this involves making time daily to spend studying the Bible and making time with the Lord in prayer.

4)      Remaining obedient and diligent like an athlete or farmer (2 Timothy 2:5-6) – A good soldier for Christ also plays by the rules when competing and works hard.  While Christians should obey man-made laws, unless they violate the Word of God, Paul is not speaking of human laws in the text.  Disobedience to God is sin and gives the enemy a foothold to take down a soldier for Christ.  This stresses the importance of the diligent study of the Word of God, so a soldier knows the rules and serves in obedience to them.  In addition, a soldier for Christ works tirelessly, like a farmer, bringing in the harvest.

5)      Meditating on God’s Word to gain a better understanding (2 Timothy 2:7) – Simply reading the Bible and checking it off our to-do list each day is not enough.  Paul urges Timothy to think over what he has learned so he can receive greater understanding.  This is a call to meditate on the Word of God throughout the day.  This keeps the soldier ready should he or she need to engage in spiritual warfare. 

6)      Remaining centered on Christ and the unstoppable Word of God (2 Timothy 2:8-10) – A good soldier for Christ stays focused on serving their faithful commander and His instructions contained in the Word of God. 

Paul concludes this section with some comparisons.  While our aim in life is to preserve it, God asks us to share in the death of Christ.  This may seem odd but in doing so we open the door to sharing in Jesus’ resurrection and eternal life (2 Timothy 2:11).  Taking up the cross and following Jesus means enduring suffering.  While we do not want to endure suffering it is the path toward reigning with Jesus (Luke 9:23; 2 Timothy 2:12). 

Paul also offers Timothy some contrasts.  To deny Christ leads to Christ denying us (2 Timothy 2:12).  While this seems harsh, when viewed in the context of a soldier serving his or her commander, it illustrates the consequences of being a traitor.  Jesus publicly suffered humiliation and death for us so the least we can do is declare our loyalty to Him by not denying Him.  However, God is also gracious for even when we become faithless, He stays faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). 

Obedience to God: Tradition or Love for God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 7:1-13

Mark 7:8

You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

(ESV)

Traditions are an important part of any culture.  While it is July and in many places of the country, and world, it is hot with no hint of snow, let us take a moment to look at the traditions surrounding Christmas.  There is the exchanging of gifts, the lights, the busy stores, and full hotels due to those coming in to be with family.  While it is easy to complain about the stress or hassle of the season, we do it each year because of its tradition.  However, in each of these traditions, we can see a type of Jesus Christ. 

The tradition of exchanging gifts should cause us to remember that Christmas is about God giving His only Son so we can have forgiveness of sin and eternal life (John 3:16).  The lights remind us that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12).  The context of Jesus’ birth was people traveling for the Roman census leaving Mary and Joseph without a hotel room and Mary giving birth in a barn (Luke 2:7).  The busy stores remind us that Jesus birth came during a hectic time in the world. 

However, the Pharisees and Scribes approaching Jesus in Mark 7:1 are not coming to point to tradition as symbolic of Jesus and instead seek to condemn Jesus for not following their traditions.  Jesus has been busy healing the sick, casting out demons, and feeding five thousand from five loaves and two fish, and yet what they notice is the disciples not washing their hands (Mark 7:2).  The reason for this is tradition has blinded them to what was happening in front of them (Mark 7:3-4).  This prompts them to ask Jesus why he allows his disciples to abandon the traditions of the elders and eat with defiled hands. 

Jesus does not answer their question but instead quotes Isaiah 29:13-14 and accuses them of putting on a show of worshiping God.  However, instead of worshipping God, they prefer to hold on to their traditions and condemn anyone not following them.  While it is easy in hindsight to condemn these religious leaders, the words of Jesus are words the church must heed to ensure we do not hold tighter to church traditions and neglect the calling of the Church to spread the Gospel and make Disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). 

Unfortunately, church services today can more resemble a secular concert or self-help seminar that stirs up emotions rather than a place the spiritually sick go to and receive healing.  Ministers also hesitate to speak out against sin because of fear of offending attendees or having people pull their financial support.  It is time for the Church and those in the church to pause and ask why they obey God.  While tradition brings comfort and stability, it must not become something distracting us from obeying the mission God has for the Church.

After scolding them for their abandonment of God’s law for the traditions of men, Jesus provides an example.  In this example, Jesus points out that one can conveniently reject the commandment to honor parents by simply stating that whatever the parents have gained from them now belongs to God.  When a young person would do this, tradition no longer allowed them to do anything for their parents (Mark 7:9-12). 

However, tradition can also lead to the Church becoming overly judgmental as occurred with the Pharisees and Scribes in this text.  They were judging Jesus, the Son of God’s allowing his disciples to eat without first going through the ceremonial washing of their hands.  While washing one’s hands before eating promotes good health, this is not the issue with the Pharisees.  Jesus threatens their lofty position as religious leaders, and they are seeking a reason to accuse Jesus of blasphemy so people will quit following Him.  The church today faces many issues like gay marriage, abortion, and transgenderism for which it must take a stand.  Those choosing to continue living in wickedness will suffer the consequences of their decision (John 3:18) but judging them is not the mission of the church.  Instead, the Church must take a biblical stand on these issues and point those living in these sins to Christ the source of salvation through sharing the Gospel.  The job of judging and saving sinners is the Lord with Jesus providing the path to forgiveness on the cross.  The church mission is directing people to the cross. 

Everyone reading this who has not already done so should now take the opportunity to ask God to forgive their sins.  John 3:16 promises eternal life to those choosing to make Jesus his or her savior with John 3:17 promising no condemnation to those that do.  To free yourself from condemnation, please take a moment to pray with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Obedience to God is not a religious matter of adherence to age-old traditions and a matter of the heart.  When we serve God out of love for what He did for us in providing His only Son as a substitute for the death penalty of our sins, our obedience is not a drudgery but something we look forward to doing.  Everyone reading this should now take time to reflect on the great gift God has provided and obey as an expression of great love for God and what He has done. 

Passing the Torch: True to the Calling of God

By;  Dale Weckbacher

Scripture Text:  2 Timothy 1:1-18

2 Timothy 1:6-7

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

(ESV)

Biblical scholars believe the Book of 2 Timothy to be the last epistle written by the Apostle Paul prior to execution for his faith.  This epistle could have been an opportunity for Paul to complain about his wrongful arrest and instructions to Timothy, along with other believers, to petition for a stay of execution for wrongful imprisonment.  Instead, Paul uses this epistle to encourage his young protégé to press forward in the calling given to him by God.  Like Timothy, those reading this can find encouragement to press on and be true to the calling we each have in God.

Paul equates the calling of God in each of us to a deposit guarded by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:14).  The Holy Spirit also gives believers the power, love, and soundness of mind to remain true to the calling despite potential fear of rejection or persecution for faith (2 Timothy 1:7).  To remain true to one’s calling in Christ requires,

1)      Having prayer support (2 Timothy 1:3-4) – We all need a prayer buddy or partner that lifts us up daily to God in prayer and that we can go to when we have a need. 

2)      Having sincerity of faith (2 Timothy 1:5) – Just because one can recite scripture or pray with eloquence does not mean they have sincerity of faith.  Timothy’s sincerity of faith came from seeing the faith of his grandmother and mother who had strong faith.  While Scripture does not supply details of their lives, their mention by Paul must indicate Paul observed the strength and sincerity of their faith and how it positively impacted Timothy.  This illustrates the importance of being with other Christians, whether they are in our family or not because they supply an example of faith for us to follow. 

3)      Serving in the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6-7) – Prior to leaving his Disciples to be with the Father, Jesus commanded them not to immediately go out and minister, but to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5,8).  Jesus knew the heavy persecution coming to the early church and that to remain true to their calling to share the Gospel (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) the Disciples would need a connection to God through the Holy Spirit.  The good news is that anyone accepting Jesus as Savior has the Holy Spirit with them and inside them, giving them access to this power when needed. 

From this foundation of trueness to the calling of God in one’s life, they have no need to feel shame.  However, we live in an ungodly world where we can expect resistance to our remaining true to our calling and faith in God (John 16:33).  One of the main tactics used by the Devil in today’s society is the marginalization of faith.  The secular world brands Christians staying true to the Word as closed-minded and out of touch.  Secular society tells Christians and churches that God loves all people no matter their sexual orientation.  This has escalated to lawsuits against Christians refusing to bake cakes for gay weddings that destroy their livelihood.  Staying true to the Word of God in the United States can now come at the financial cost of loss of one’s source of income. 

The truth is that Jesus died for those in the gay community but He also hates the wickedness of homosexuality and those choosing to remain in that sin (Psalm 11:5).  God is love and already demonstrated that love for humanity by sending his only Son Jesus to die for the sins of humanity on the cross (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).  However, God is also righteous (Psalm 11:7) and does not tolerate wickedness in the world or in the life of a person.  God’s love for humanity is not an open door to continue living in sin, using the cross as a blanket to cover sin but an opportunity for one to reverse course in their lives and change.  Please pray with me now to begin the process of changing the course or your life,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

The cross is not an excuse to sin but an escape from the prison of sin that leads to separation from God.  I encourage everyone reading this to diligently study the Word of God and find a church teaching from the Bible so you can resist temptation like Jesus did (Matthew 4:1-11).  However, in our weak moments we may give in to temptation but there is no need to fear for God stands ready to forgive our sin (1 John 1:9). 

A life lived true to one’s calling in Christ is a life lived in obedience to God’s Word.  While Satan will try to derail us from this calling by making us feel out of touch and closed-minded, believers must resist the temptation to compromise and stand firm against wickedness.  While this may not be easy, the reward of eternity with Christ and having a clear conscience of living for Christ is well worth the price.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Jesus is Never too Busy to Meet our Needs

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Scripture Text:  Mark 6:53-56

Mark 6:56

 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

(ESV)

Word of Jesus miracles has spread with crowds waiting at every place Jesus goes.  What is amazing about the word spreading about Jesus’ miracles is there were no mass or social media in existence to get out the word of Jesus’ miracles but only word-of-mouth.  The common belief in our modern age is that bad news travels faster than good news, but it would appear the exploits of Jesus were so grand that news is spreading like wildfire. 

We also observe that whenever Jesus met a crowd of people, he would make time to minister to their needs (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:30; 19:2; Mark 10:1; Luke 5:15; 9:11).  However, crowds later would cry for his crucifixion.  The reason for this change in attitude in the crowds is an unrealistic expectation that Jesus would establish a Godly earthly kingdom and throw out the Roman oppressors.  This is an unrealistic expectation that ignores the fact that before there can be a Godly kingdom on earth, God had to re-establish His relationship with humanity lost in the Garden of Eden.  Jesus ministry on earth involved showing compassion on fallen humanity demonstrated by the performance of miracles and the ultimate demonstration of compassion, dying for our sins (Romans 5:8).  Jesus then resurrected from the dead showing his mastery over death and returned to God the Father, promising to return later to establish a Godly Kingdom on earth (Acts 1:10-11). 

Jesus priority in his ministry was to die for the sins of humanity.  During His ministry he saw the suffering of people, the result of sins curse on humanity and never failed to show compassion to suffering people by always taking time to minister to their needs.  Jesus has not changed and still has the same level of compassion for those suffering in a fallen world.  Jesus is never too busy to hear the prayers of His people and why He should be the place we go when suffering.  While Jesus is never too busy to minister to us, we are often too busy to spend time with Him until we are suffering.  While each of us is busy with work, family, and even church activities, we must discipline ourselves to take time out of each day to pray, study, and meditate on the Word of God.

1)      Pray – Relationships grow closer through communication.  Those reading this who are married understand the problems in a marriage relationship when there is a communication breakdown.  In a similar fashion, a relationship with God breaks down without communication.  Prayer is how we communicate with God.  Unfortunately, some people do not pray because they do not know what to say to God.  The good news is God already knows what we need and is waiting for us to ask.  The last part of James 4:2 says we do not have because we do not ask.  However, the first part of the verse speaks of murdering, coveting, fighting, and quarreling for what we do not have.  The lesson this verse teaches us is the importance of asking God for what we need instead of taking it from another.  Since God already knows what is in our hearts, the words we say are unimportant.  Instead, we must be honest with God about what we need and how we feel and express our love for him when praying. 

2)      Study – The Bible is the Word of God but not reading it is another form of communication breakdown.  A dusty Bible is the sign of a dusty soul meaning that a Bible not read indicates a person that does not spend time in regular communication with God through hearing what God has to say in the Bible.  Our busy lives take us through a dark world with the Word of God being a light lighting our path through the world’s darkness (Psalm 119:105).  Do not go out into the darkness of the world without taking the flashlight of God’s Word.

3)      Meditate – The word meditation, unfortunately, has a negative connotation with Christians equating it with eastern religions.  The difference in biblical meditation is it is not an emptying of the mind to listen to one's inner self or heart but instead an emptying of the mind of worldly thoughts and filling it with Scripture.  Biblical meditation is a mulling over of something found in our regular reading of Scripture until it becomes part of our life.  Taking John 3:16 for example, most reading this can recite it from memory.  Meditating on this passage by taking time to mull over its meaning and implication in our lives gives it deeper meaning and application in our lives.  God loves us so much, even though we have sinned and rejected Him, that he sent His Son.  He did not send His Son to conquer the evil in the world but instead sent Him to die for our sins.  Jesus satisfied the death penalty of sin in our lives and by believing and confessing Jesus as Lord of our lives (Romans 10:9-10), we can now enjoy eternal life with God.  Through meditation on this verse, the words moved from something we know to something we can hold in our hearts, letting us know the extent of God’s love for us.  I recommend taking a passage of Scripture speaking to your heart as you study the Bible and write it down, email it to yourself, or text it to yourself so you can take time throughout the day to mull it over. 

A God who is never too busy to minister to our needs wants to spend time with His children.  This requires us to take time to pray, study the Bible, and meditate on Scripture daily to establish healthy communication and a deeper relationship with God.  God is never too busy for us so let us not be too busy for Him. 

Fighting the Good Fight

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Scripture Text:  1 Timothy 6:11-21

1 Timothy 6:12

 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

(ESV)

The Apostle Paul is bringing his first letter to his mentee Timothy to a close with words of encouragement to flee from false teaching and instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).  He then reminds Timothy that he is in a fight for the faith and must fight this fight with confession of the goodness of God and His grace (1 Timothy 6:12).  Paul reminds Timothy as well as all who profess faith in Jesus as Savior to make the good confession of faith just as Jesus did before Pontius Pilate when facing crucifixion (1 Timothy 6:13-16). 

It is easy to praise God and speak of His goodness when all is going well but in 1 Timothy 6:11-16 the Apostle Paul reminds us that we are to make this good confession of praise to God in both the good and bad times.  In another epistle, the Apostle Paul wrote of learning to be content in both the good and bad circumstances (Philippians 4:11-13).  It is this attitude of Godly contentment that gives us stability as we fight the good fight for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The present issues facing the United States and other parts of the world are an attempt by the enemy to derail the Church from the fulfillment of its mission to spread the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  For example, secular culture asks Christians to be tolerant of gay marriage and abortion with some even falling for the deception to accept these lifestyles as a means of showing the love of Christ.  The common belief among Christians is that God loves the sinner and hates sin, However, Psalm 11:5 tells us that God hates the wicked.  The context of Psalm 11 is God sitting in His Holy Temple.  The demonstration of God’s love happened with God the Father sending His Son Jesus to die for the sins of humanity.  However, God does hate the wicked who reject this gift of salvation by continuing in their wickedness.  While God’s love is unconditional in that it is available to all, it is conditional in that one must accept the gift. 

In the Garden of Eden God created humanity as both male and female with the intention of both sexes leaving their parents to join in marriage (Mark 10:6-9).  When viewed in this context we cannot interpret this verse to mean the joining of two males or females in marriage but that from the beginning God intended marriage to be between a male and a female.  The obvious and logical reason for this is procreation which cannot occur between two males or two females.  While a gay couple could adopt a child, there still must be copulation between two members of the opposite sex for conception to occur and the birth of a new life.  Therefore we can safely conclude that gay marriage is a perversion of what God intended.

Abortion is murder, something every civilized society does not condone.  The real motivation behind legalizing abortion is not about a woman’s free choice over her body but a desire to have sex with anyone and the ability to legally murder any baby resulting from illicit sex.  As with all sin, the sin of abortion has now escalated to infanticide with states in the United States even condoning the murder of a baby surviving an abortion. 

However, even though God hates sin and the wicked committing such sin, one does not need to remain in their wickedness for we have a God given conscience.  Unfortunately, this conscience can become seared or rendered useless through continued devotion to deceitful spirits and teachings (1 Timothy 4:1-6).  Unless the wicked in the world follow their God-given conscience and repent of their wickedness before the searing of their conscience they risk continuing in wickedness and incurring the hatred and wrath of God.  I know this is not popular teaching, but it is the truth of scripture (Psalm 11:5).  However, a turnaround from this fate is possible with one making a confession of Jesus as their savior (Romans 10:9-10).  Even those reading this with seared consciences due to many years living in wickedness may now feel a tug on their hearts to change.  If that is you, it is not too late to abandon wickedness and receive salvation through Christ.  If you feel that tug on your heart, please take a moment to pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

If you just prayed, God has forgiven and forgotten your wickedness.  His offer of love through Christ on the cross has now become personal with your acceptance of the gift.  God will never love you more than he does now for salvation is not based upon our works but simply accepting the gift of God’s grace which you have just done (Ephesians 2:8).  However, any new relationship grows through connection with each other.  In our relationships on earth, this happens through face-to-face connection and regular connection through phone calls, texting, or social media. 

God, however, is not present with us for face-to-face connection meaning that we must connect by faith through the belief that God exists.  Fortunately, we do have the Bible, the Word of God to help us understand God.  Contained in the Bible are the Gospels which provide a narrative of the teachings and works of Jesus who as God in the flesh provided an example of how one can live a sinless life in a wicked world.  However, after Jesus ascended, God did not leave us alone in a wicked world but gave us the Holy Spirit who empowers us, gives us counsel and helps us interpret the Bible (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4; John 14:26).  I pray that all reading this connect with God through His Word so we can better fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:11-12). 

Jesus Knows our Situation

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Scripture Text:  Mark 6:45-52

Mark 6:48

And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night^[a] he came to them, walking on the sea.

(ESV)

We live in a digitally connected age where individuals can instantly converse with others from around the world.  Logic would lead to the belief this connectivity would result in a reduction in loneliness.  However, both emotional and social loneliness decrease with greater face-to-face connection but online connection results in lower social loneliness but greater emotional loneliness.  (1)  While attendance of church services online can provide a social media connection with a church community, we miss the vital face-to-face connection that helps alleviate emotional loneliness. 

The account of Jesus’ walking on the water contained in Mark 6:45-52 illustrates the supernatural power of God through Jesus over nature.  Jesus does the impossible, walks on water, and silences the storm.  However, this account in Scripture also illustrates that while there was a physical separation between Jesus and His Disciples, He was aware of the Disciple’s situation and performed a miracle to save them. 

When struggles come, it is normal for us to believe we are experiencing something no one else has ever experienced.  This is especially true when we lack face-to-face connectivity lacking in emotional connection with others.  Through face-to-face connection, one is not only able to voice their struggles with others with them able to offer advice, but we can also provide emotional support beyond what words can express.  For the Disciples, this face-to-face connection was with Jesus Himself, but Jesus was not with them in the boat during the storm. 

While Mark 6:45-52 does not provide insight into the emotions of the Disciples while struggling in the storm, The fact that they did not recognize Jesus walking on the water but instead believed He was a ghost and were terrified indicates they had much fear.  Their physical separation from God resulted in fear trumping faith in their lives leading to them not even recognizing the Lord coming to save them.  When in the middle of a struggle in life, fear can have a paralyzing effect on people lacking any emotional connection of faith with others.  While the digital age allows people access to the same Bible teaching online and in person, the lack of emotional face-to-face connection starves the feeding of faith in one’s life, allowing the emotion of fear to thrive.  In addition to regular face-to-face connection through church attendance,  an emotional connection with God comes through,

1)      Prayer – When the only form of communication was a face-to-face connection, the idea of prayer could have seemed awkward since people were unable to see God’s face while praying.  However, in the digital age where people regularly communicate with faceless people over their phone, through texting, and over the internet, it should be easier.  Just like when sending someone a text or email, we can imagine God hearing us and coming to our aid just like He did for the disciples (Mark 6:48).  However, our prayers to God must consist of more than presenting a list of wants, needs, and desires, and offer worship, praise, and repentance following the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15). 

2)      Reading and studying the Bible – The absence of the opportunity to sit down and talk to God face-to-face means we cannot hear words directly from His mouth.  However, God has provided His Word, the Bible for us.  While this resembles a connection with others online, lacking any emotional connection, it has an emotional connection for those choosing Jesus as their Savior through the Holy Spirit.  This is because Scripture represents more than just words on a page for a Christian and are words directly from God.  The words of the current song from David Crowder illustrate this emotional connection.  Please take a moment to watch and listen to the video for the song.  Due to the presence and counsel of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian, the words of the Bible come alive and offer transformation in one’s life through their application (Romans 12:2). 

3)      Meditation and application of the Bible in our lives – The Word of God becomes powerful in one’s life when it moves from being something we know mentally to something we believe in our hearts.  This is when we establish an emotional connection with God.  Meditation can be a confusing concept for Christians as they confuse it with eastern meditation which is the emptying of the mind and connection with one’s inner self.  Biblical meditation is what is meant by Romans 12:2 and consists of emptying the mind of worldly thoughts and mental renewal by filling it with biblical thoughts.  Instead of an empty mind influenced by the deceitful thoughts of one’s heart (Jeremiah 17:9), biblical meditation results in a mind full of the Word of God becoming the center of one’s heart. 

While there is a delay in our physical connection with Jesus is while we serve as ambassadors for Christ in fulfillment of the Great Commission (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:9-10), we do have a connection through God’s Word.  This connection differs, however, from an online connection lacking emotional connectivity in that it has the dynamic of the Holy Spirit that came after Jesus ascension and physical separation from His followers.  Our connection with God through His Word does not lack physical connection as it continues to have a physical connection with God through the Holy Spirit. 

The greatest comfort for a follower of Christ is the knowledge Jesus is fully aware of their situation.  Christians can also find comfort in knowing that while God is no longer on earth in flesh His Holy Spirit is with them wherever they are.  We may, like Job, not understand why things happen in our lives but can find comfort in knowing Gods plans for us are good and that all things happening in our lives will work out for our good (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28).  I pray all reading this will find peace in knowing God is aware of their situation and in control.     

1. Moody, Eric J. Internet Use and Its Relationahip ro Loneliness. www.liebertpub.com. [Online] CyberPsychology & Behavior, July 5, 2004. [Cited: June 30, 2019.] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/109493101300210303.