SURFACE OR SIGNIFICANCE

SCRIPTURE: Mark 2:23-3:6

VERSE FOR TODAY: "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel" (Matthew 23:24, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Search Me O God"

I grew up in a rural area in borderline Appalachia, so it's not surprising that I am offended when TV portrays country people as foolish because they are unsophisticated My disgust for that practice is motivated, not by my fear that people will think I am that way, but my realization that the makers of those TV shows have missed the point. They have looked at surface actions and not the true significance of a way of life.

That perspective is the opposite of the one with which I  was brought up, and it's the opposite of the one Jesus wants His followers to have. He was frustrated by the fact that the religious leaders of His time would get so caught up in what constituted work and when it could be done that they forgot to do anything that was really important. They even tried to stop those who were doing important things, including Jesus.

If we are honest with ourselves, we may realize that there have been times in our lives when we have focused more on unimportant details of how something was done than on the true character of what was being done.Christ calls us to examine those times from His perspective, not our own.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Dear Gather, You look at things for their true purpose without any of this world's confusing distractions. Help me to do the same. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR YOU

SCRIPTURE: John 17:1-1

VERSE FOR TODAY: "For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me" (John 17:8, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "My Jesus, I Love Thee"

The work of ambassadors is to build relatioships between the ones who send them and those to whom they are sent. An ambassador's success is measured in the quality of the relationship built and in the length of time the relationship continues. Jesus was God's ambassador to this world, sent to build relationship between God and man, and made possible an eternal relationship. He prayed that the relationship would continue, despite those who would try to disrupt it.

We also are God's ambassadors to this world. Would our evaluation of the completion of our task here be the same as Christ's Have we pointed each person we've met to the One who gave us our mission?

Today take your job as an ambassador seriously, aw Jesus did. Think of at least one person you know who us missing out on a relationship with God, and do what you can to start building that relationship.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Dear God, Your Son completely sacrificed Himself so that we might have a relationship with You. Let us be so moved by gratitude that we sacrifice ourselves so that others may know You. Amen.

SENTENCED TO LIFE

SCRIPTURE: John 5:19-29

VERSE FOR TODAY: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believe him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: " I'll  Live for Him who died for Me"

The story is told of a militar leader and preacher who became friends during a time when their country was ruled by an anti-Christian government. Eventually the military leader was ordered to execute all those who would not forsaked their  Christian beliefs. He went to his friend and begged him to simply say that no longer believed. His frustration grew as the preacher continued to refuse. Finally he shouted, "Don't you realize that I have your life and death in my hands?"

The preacher answered quietly, "No; you may have power to sentence me to death, but you are asking me to give up the only one with the power to grant me life."

Our world is full of people who claim the right to judge others and to tell them how to live. That judgmental spirit is present inside and outside the church. Jesus is the one who has truly been given the authority to judge, but His emphasis is not on condemnation; it is on the promise of life in Him. In the same way, God wants our focus to be on proclaiming life, not death. People you will encounter today are facing death and hopelessness. What can you do to proclaim the giver of the most abundant life imaginable?

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Dear Lord what a marvelous thing it us that, in spite of all we have done to deserve death, You seek to bring us life! Help us to glory in that life and to take it to others. Amen.

DRINKING AT THE SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 17:5-10

VERSE FOR TODAY: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him (Jeremiah 17:7, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Springs of Living Water"

Just about all of us have a tendency toward being conservative in some ways. We have a measure of comfort in things as they have always been. "It may not be do great, but I know this place. I know how to do these things. I know what to expect." People who live in a house that is about to fall down are often slow to accept the opportunity to live in a place that is sound and clean and safe. We may not want to try next old, or new machines. "These computers! I could never use one of them."

It's bad enough to miss out on the opportunities if life for better health and higher productibility, but it is far worse to allow in sin and to starve spiritually. A hard head and a hard heart trust the dirt and the death and won't drink the clean water. Dr.David Grubbs once knew a Zimbabwean who kept drinking from a filthy pond because "well water doesn't have any flavor."

But happy is the one who trust in the Lord! Our strength is renewed, our lives are strong, and we produce fruit that blesses a lot of other people. If that's new to you, try it. You'll like it very much

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Thank You, Lord, for Your readiness to open our eyes so we cançc see the old for what it is and the new for  the possibilities there. When it comes to New things You bring, help us be accepting. Amen.

CREDIT TO WHOM CREDIT IS DUE

SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:8-18

VERSE FOR TODAY: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughput all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20, 21, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "To God Be the Glory!"

Another miracle. This time it was Paul who found a man in need of healing cripple from birth. This man, weak physically but strong in faith, obeyed when Paul told to get up.

The crowd was amazed! Who were these men? They must be god's! Blindly they began all out worship.

You'd have to admit, humanly speaking, the attention would be great. One minute you're a nobody and the next minute you're a God. People are adoring you,  bringing you gifts, even sacrificing to you.

When God uses you in a special way, how easy it would' be to let that go to your head. "Yes, I must be a special person sent from God." How quickly How guickly we can deluded into thinking that we are special! How easily we can lose sight of who the great physician really is.

The roar of the fan club did not tantalize Paul and Barnabas.

They pointed the people to God and gave credit to Him.

We need to do the same. If we follow Jesus Christ, we will get attention (good otherwise). We may witness and even participating in exciting situations. Are we willing to say, "He must increase but I must decrease"?

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Almigty Father, may there be less of me and more of You in all I say and all I do. To You alone belong glory and praise. Amen.

ARE YOU SICK

SCRIPTURE: Mark 2:13-22

VERSE FOR TODAY: ON hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "My Faith Has Found a Resting Place"

A friend of mine once told me about a project that he had been preparing at work. He was just about to take it to present to the board of directors, and he could hardly wait to hear their response. When I saw him again after the meeting, he was a very different person. The board had voted down his proposal with only minimal consideration. I asked him if he tried to convince them, but he said, "How could I? They just didn't get it."

It can certainly be said that many people who were alive during Jesus's time on earth "just didn't get it." But I am impressed by the fact that Jesus didn't give up on them or on sinner of other types. He went out of His way to make His message and purpose clear. Some people realized their need for Him and others didn't, but He offered salvation to all.

Is there anyone in your life that you've written off as hopeless? Maybe you even feel that way about yourself. Read today's  verse again, and this time put your name and the name of the "hopeless" person you know in place of the word sinners. Does that make clearer why Jesus came? Does it make clearer the message we should give others?

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Our Father, thank You for caring so much for us, even while we were sinners, that You sent Your Son to the world with the purpose of calling us to You. Help us to live our lives in thankfulness, making the same call to those around us. Amen.

FINALLY HOME

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 22:1-7

VERSE FOR TODAY: "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed us he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book' (Revevation 22:7, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: " When We All Get Heaven'

It was a long, hard journey. There were patches of sunlight along the way, but much of the road was dark. There were pitfalls, and soon there were bruises and scars. Almost crippled now the traveler trudged on. And with the last faltering step he crossed the threshold and uttered words on whispered joy: "Home. . .home

 . . .I'm finally home!"

Joy flooded over his bruised body, bringing healing and overwhelming peace. All of the struggles, all of the pain had vanished in the joy of the moment. He was finally home.

Do you sometimes feel like this weary traveler? The goal of Heaven is before us, but the way becomes cloudy. Sometimes we get so confused that we even wonder if we're  on the right path. That's when we need to reach up and take the hand of our Savior, because He will lead us home.

No more pain! No more suffering! No more death! No more night! When we get to our heavenly home, our joy will be unspeakable. The praise will never end. Healing will take place, and the wounds will be no more.

Jesus, who was wounded for our sins, will stand before us and welcome us home. Then we can shout in joyful praise, "Home! I'm finally home!"

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Jesus, we can hardly wait to see Your face.plesse, help us not to keep this promise of Joy to ourselves,but to share it boldly. Thank You for Your gift of Salvation and hope of eternity with You. Maranatha, Lord Jesus! Amen.