"You don't know what you are asking, " Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" -- Mark 10:38

In this verse, Jesus is responding to James and John  who are plotting on how to sit one on the left side and the other on the right of Jesus when he sits on the throne of the kingdom.  They are seeking positions of power and authority.  They would like to be at the front of the line.  They wanted to say, "I am second."  But here, to say they are second would be really like saying they are first.  It's a popular thing these days to say, "I am second"... to Jesus.  Does that mean we're first among the non-messiahs?   While that's just a playful spin on words, it is here Jesus says to James and John and the others that "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.   "Second" seems to high.

Readings:  Leviticus 25:47-27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 10:22

He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." -- Mark 10:14

What does it mean to be like a child?  In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul speaks positively about putting an end to thinking and acting like a child.  Children are impulsive and have little self-discipline, as their brains are still developing.  Their prefrontal cortex is not in the driver's seat of their decision-making, and so they seek pleasure most of the time without regard to consequences.  We become concerned when adults haven't "grown up" and learned to control their actions in response to natural impulses.  And yet, Jesus says we need to become like them?  What-- impulsive and thoughtless?  Hardly.  Jesus is referring to the innocence and trust a wide-eyed child exhibits.  They have no real power to exert on their own in the world, and children still see the wonder in things as it's all still so new... do you look in awe and wonder at the things God is doing in our midst?  He's here in plain view.  Do you see?  Open your eyes now, then you'll be like a child again.

Readings:  Leviticus 24:1-25:46; Mark 10:13-31; Psalm 44:9-26; Proverbs 10:20-21

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." -- Psalm 118:24

What would you do with a free day?  In the One Year Bible, there are no readings for February 29th!  How will you let God work through you today?  It will be unlike any you've ever lived, because you've never experienced this particular day before.  Rejoice and be glad in it!

Peace,
Jeff

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.'" -- Mark 9:35

I wonder what it would be like to be a celebrity where you don't wait in lines.  In our culture, the rich and powerful and the celebrity get to be first-- more options, more opportunities, more choices.  They go to the best schools, work in the best positions, and live in the best places.  They are served by servants.  But in the Kingdom of God, Jesus teaches us that it is the one who is last who is first-- the servant is king.  The lesson for us in the middle?  Whichever way we drift, whether it's to the side of wealth, or to that of want, wherever we land, we are called to serve.  Don't get hung up on material things.  Focus on making a difference for God.

Readings:  Leviticus 22:17-23:44; Mark 9:30-10:12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19

"Everything is possible for the one who believes." -- Mark 9:23

One day, when my youngest was learning to ride a bike, I was watching her and noticed that she was riding strong with little need for the training wheels that were still connected to the back of her bicycle.  Clearly, she was ready to ride without them.  So I told her it was time to take them off.  She was a little hesitant, but agreed, not sure of herself.  We took them off, she started zipping down the road, lost her balance, and wiped out.  Crying, she said, "I'm not ready, Daddy!  You shouldn't have taken them off!"  The training wheels went back on.  Two days later, she came to me and said, "Now I'm ready Daddy!  Can you take the wheels off now?"  I said, "No, Baby, remember what happened the other day?  I don't want to take them off until you're sure you're ready."  She responded, "I'm ready Daddy.  PLEEEAASSSSE take them off!"  So I did.  She got on that bike and confidently zoomed down the road with no problem whatsoever.  When it came to stopping, I was watching her and holding my breath just a bit.  She tipped over, but immediately turned to me and said, "I'm okay!  Stay there!"  She got back on the bike and rode powerfully back to where I was watching.  "See, Daddy!  I told you I was ready!!"

Did my daughter get special lessons in the day between the two events?  Did she acquire any special skills that she didn't have the first time she tried?  No.  The difference was that she believed.  How much are we not doing because we don't believe we can?  You can do a lot more than you think.  You'd better believe it.

Readings:  Leviticus 20:22-22:16; Mark 9:1-29; Psalm 43:1-5a; Proverbs 10:18

"He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." -- Proverbs 10:17

There are a couple of different ways to look at "discipline".  There's discipline in the sense of consistent behavior and routine actions (the discipline of diet & exercise, reading, working, etc.), and there's discipline in the form of punishment and correction.  The first is internal-- "self"-discipline-- the other external, as when a parent disciplines a child.  Both lead to the same end, though.  Whether it's self-discipline, or submitting to corrective authority, it is for the sake of keeping us in line with healthy living and good choices.  When we are young, we have the opportunity to experience a great deal of external discipline from parents, teachers, and others in positions of authority.  As we mature, however, external discipline becomes more rare, and while we may experience this sort of discipline on rare occasion in the workplace or in society for committing crimes, if we live decent lives, others won't be disciplining us on a day-to-day basis.  Therefore, self-discipline becomes so much more important as we age.  The discipline you need to heed most is the disciplined placed upon yourself.   Decide the kind of life you're going to live, and shape your daily actions to match your heart.  This leads to the good life.

Readings: Leviticus 19:1-20:21; Mark 8:11-38; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 10:17

“Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.” – Psalm 41:1

I love the old illustration about strength in numbers where the teacher takes a thread and with both hands snaps it easily in two.  Then they take several strands of thread, wind them together, and they have string.  It’s a little harder to break.  Then they take several strands of string until they have twine… then rope… then cable.  You get the idea-- one alone is weak, many together are strong.  If you feel strong, I pray it’s because of the authentic relationships in your life.  The richest and strongest is not the one with money, but the one with friends.

Readings: Leviticus 16:29-18:30; Mark 7:24-8:10; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 10:15-16