Devotional Time with God

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Mark 12:30

I do often feel close to God when I sing worship songs. The words are like prayer and the melody is like a soothing calm to my mind.  Yet, God wants me to do more than that. Singing hymns is not enough. I must give God my all – my attention, my time, my shouts, my sweat, my talents, my money – as an act of trust.  I worship God because I want to give Him everything that I can give Him. God wants me to be sincere about it, too!

God simply wants me to bring me.

In Mark 16:1-20, the Bible described Jesus’ resurrection and the message that Jesus gave to His disciples to preach the gospel to everyone.

It’s clear Jesus’ command is to tell the good news to everyone that Jesus is God and He has risen from the dead.  It’s a clear message, even the eye witnesses accounts of two women, Mary and Salome, were written in the scripture, in an important event such as Jesus’ empty tomb discovery and the angel speaking to them. Jesus’ resurrection must be known to everyone.

I praise Jesus for His resurrection, for it’s the promise that I hold there’s more to life than living on this earth. There’s a heaven to look forward to, being with God, forever.

In Mark 15:33-39, Jesus was hung on the cross and the people were still not convinced He’s God.  But, Jesus bore the ugliness of this world and father God in heaven couldn’t even look at Him. Then, as Jesus always do, He forgave humanity, even during His last breaths.  When earthquake hit, then humanity realized their mistake and acknowledge Jesus as the son of God.

I read this passage and acknowledge that my sin I have to confess is the sin of doubt.  I had moments when I doubted my faith. I had moments when I question when/if God would  help me. I even had moments when I doubted my very own existence!

But, I’m rest assured, by God’s words, that I have a purpose in this life. I hold on to God’s promise of forgiveness and eternal life.  I look forward to giving Him all I got, for I am His, anyway. Jesus is the greatest example of this. He wasn’t afraid to die because He knew He had a greater purpose in His short life on earth.  He knew His father’s plan to rescue humanity from the burden of sin.

I pray Jesus, help me understand your words. Help me build my faith and strengthen it. You are the son of God, and I will follow your examples. I lay down my life so I may attain the higher purpose that you’ve set before me. Guide me, Lord, until it is finished.  Amen.

In Mark 14:3-9, Jesus defended a woman, against criticism from the people, for pouring expensive perfume on Him.

This is my sin, also: I judge people too harshly.  Either by how they look, their actions, or their beliefs (or lack of it).

Jesus always look at the heart and the intention of a person. That’s the truth. He knew what’s going to happen, so He knows what’s right.  I don’t know how, and I do make mistakes in determining people’s intentions.

Jesus commands that I put Him first, that means giving my best – not scraps, or seconds. I keep His promise that He will give me more for what I’ve given Him.  I must put Jesus on the highest regard. I must not take my focus from Him.

Each day, I pray that I can give Jesus the best that I have. God’s blessings are more important than worldly ones. I praise Him every day for that!

In Mark 11:25, Jesus said I have to forgive others so I may be forgiven by God for my sins.

Many times, I hold grudges. I despised people for doing what they did.  I didn’t like what they did, so in turn I will not like who they are.  It’s a sin of hate.

But I’m not perfect myself.  I can’t be a hypocrite and expect others to be clean, kind, or nice.  I have to forgive their mistakes.

Every day, I ask God to forgive my sins and mistakes.  I hold on to that promise that God will forgive me of my sins, no matter how small it is, or how many times I commit it.

Jesus is the greatest example when He was on the cross and asked the father in heaven to forgive humanity, for we know not what we’re doing. That is the truth: Jesus died for our sins.

Therefore, I must go out there and forgive others as well, for it is God’s command for me to obey.

In Mark 10:17-31, Jesus was speaking to a man who wanted to know what else he could do to have eternal life. Jesus plainly told him to follow the commandments and leave his wealth behind. The man was not happy with that answer and sadly couldn’t leave his money behind.

It’s my sin to hoard. It’s a desire to have what everyone else has – and more! I keep them all to myself, too! It’s a sin that I constantly ask God to forgive because living in this world require money. I can’t do anything without everything!

But I hold on to God’s promise, as stated in 1 John 5:3 – God’s commandments are not burdensome! It’s for my protection.  If God asked me to leave my wealth behind, so let it be done. I will not put money as my number 1 priority!  I put God first, family second, and everything else 3rd.  I can’t expect to get respect from this world through money.

God’s love language is by me following His commands.  That is the truth. I will follow Him, give up this comfort of my life, and receive my eternal life.

In Mark 9:33-35, Jesus was asked who, among the disciples, were the greatest. His answer was simply whoever is last and servant of all, is the best.

It’s quintessential Jesus. I have a pride to want to be the best in everything. I want to be recognized as someone who leads the way. I want to be first in line.  But Jesus is always humble. He never wanted to be famous. He only wanted to serve humanity. He only wants us to serve each other.

God’s promise is to make me better if I serve others and be humble.

I can’t be better in God’s eye if I only serve myself. I have to change my attitude and be humble, and serve others.  It’s also His command, indirectly.  It is also Jesus’ great example, as He’s the one who’s willing to sacrifice himself to save humanity.

I pray that God gives me strength to be able to resist the temptation of pride. The temptation to be above everyone else and not be sympathetic to others. I pray that God gives me an overwhelming love so I may see others without contempt.

I am thankful God is with me. I am thankful for Jesus.  I am last, so Jesus can be first in my life.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

James 1:22-25

I try to read my Bible, every day. I try to learn from it. I try to make it a part of my life.

But as God said, don’t just merely a reader – go and do it!  I don’t want to sit here, thinking I’m so high and mighty after reading the entire Bible, cover to cover, in multiple languages.  God is not impressed by my knowledge alone. God is more impressed with what I’ll do with His laws.

Will I obey and help the poor?  Will I listen and don’t be quick to anger or judge? Will I be transformed by changing all of bad habits into good ones, according to His word?  If I want to be a better person, I have to do what God’s words say!

In Mark 8:34-38, God commands me to “take up my cross”. This was what Jesus did for me when He died on the cross. He served people. He healed people. He gave people hope. He worked long and difficult to heal this world – and ultimately sacrificed Himself so we can be saved.

My sin to confess is that I don’t do enough to help others. I fear the consequences of giving too much money away. I fear what others think of me. I fear criticism.

But I hold on to God’s promise that I will be vindicated if I do the right thing. When I’m not selfish, I will be justified. When I help others, I will be rewarded.

The choices I made help shape my attitude. To be like Christ, I can’t be like this world. I don’t need to care about what others think. I must only care what Jesus think of me.

Thus, I will obey God’s command to go out there and be a light to this world. I need to be a good ambassador for Christ.

The ultimate example is Mother Theresa for doing good deeds. She sacrificed a lot, just to help others. Not many can match her dedication, but I must try!

I must also watch out for my pride. I can’t be too proud of my good deeds. I must focus the glory to God, for He gives me the strength to be un-selfish.

Truth to remember:

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Mark 8:36

I am so thankful that God sent Jesus to be the greatest example and teacher, I can learn from. He’s the blueprint for humanity. He gives me the ability to go forth and be helpful!

I will do what He says!

In Mark 7:31-37, Jesus continued to heal people, and this time a deaf and mute person. However, this time the emphasis was Jesus command to not tell anyone, but yet they still did.

I’ve pictured myself in the crowd so many times, I understand completely the excitement of seeing people get healed. Of course, I haven’t seen nothing, yet, because later Jesus would raise the dead.  If that doesn’t convince me that He’s the messiah, I don’t know what else will.

Despite of Jesus’ miracles, I have to realize that He’s here not to perform miracles.  Jesus is here to save me. Jesus is here because God so loves the world, He gave His only begotten son.  That’s all there is to it. I don’t have to do anything. I don’t have to say anything.

So it all comes down to me: How much do I love Jesus?  Enough to get to know Him? Enough to listen to Him? Enough to obey His commands? Enough to speak to others about Him? Enough to want to be like Him?

I need to say YES, to all of them!

In Mark 6:45-51, Jesus walked on water to the much surprised and scared disciples when they saw Him perform this miracle. Not only that, Jesus also calmed the winds so they could have an easier time rowing the boat back to shore.

I picture myself as one of the disciple, being scared by the sight of the extra-ordinary Jesus walking on water!  It’s an impossible feat. It’s an unusual sight. It just never been done before!

But Jesus did. Jesus made it happen. And He went on to calm the winds of my life, enabling me to move forward – with Jesus in the boat as I row to safety. God is always there to save my life. He’s there in the impossible ways imaginable. I think with human mind – limited in my capacities. I have to see it God’s way: Boundless possibilities.

I am to read God’s word, and obey. Through my faith in Him, I will not be afraid.