Does Taking Hits Equal Powerlessness?

ALL – Psalm 53:1-6
ALL – Proverbs 11:4
OT – Numbers 14:1-15:16
NT – Mark 14:53-72

As men, we don’t like to be accused of being wimps. We’d rather get into a losing battle and show that we’re tough enough to fight than not put up a fight at all. People seem to think that if they can walk all over a man, he’s weak, but that if he puts up a fight he’s a man.

What about Jesus?

Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and began to hammer his face with their fists. “Who hit you that time, you prophet?” they jeered. And even the bailiffs were using their fists on him as they led him away. – Mark 14:65, The Living Bible

He was on trial for claiming to be the Christ, the King of all Creation, the Son of God. Obviously, His accusers didn’t believe His claim. But notice what they do to try to reassure themselves that Jesus is just some helpless, weak moron making foolish claims. They beat on Him. They spit at Him. And since Jesus doesn’t fight back, they think they’ve proved that He’s powerless.

Of course, the truth is that Jesus is the all-powerful God, so powerful that everything in all creation came into being just by His command. Apparently, taking hits without responding does not equal being powerless.

And Christians are His people. We are called to follow Him, even in this area of allowing ourselves to be abused at times. Don’t worry, Christian men. Letting yourselves be walked over won’t mean that you’re a wimp. You’ve got all the power in the world backing you. In fact, it’s the power of Jesus Christ and His gospel that enables us to put up with being abused.

So how powerful are you? Can you take a hit without dishing one out?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Willing Spirit, Weak Body

ALL – Psalm 52:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 11:1-3
OT – Numbers 11:24-13:33
NT – Mark 14:22-52

Good intentions fall short. As much as I would like to do a full day’s work, two hours of devotions, one hour of fitness training, four hours of family time, three hours of reading and an hour of cleaning the house into every day, I just can’t. I run out of energy. Out of time. I just run out.

Peter had made a promise to Jesus. He would never deny Him, even if it meant death (Mark 14:31). Wonderful intentions.

But then Jesus took Simon Peter and two other disciples with Him for a time of prayer. And how did that go?

“Simon!” he said. “Asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Watch with me and pray lest the Tempter overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak.” – Mark 14:37-38, The Living Bible

Who else hears in these words a hint of a warning about what it is that will lead Peter to deny Jesus in just a few hours? Jesus knows our hearts. But Jesus also knows our limits. He knows just how weak we are. And unfortunately, we’re very, very weak. That’s why we need Jesus to sustain us, to make us righteous, to give us strength.

Are you depending on Jesus today?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Why the Link at the Bottom?

Yesterday is an example of why the last comment in every email and every blog post is, “To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.” Some days, even if I manage to read at home, I have a hard time posting even the daily readings to my blog. My commitment is to post every day, but sometimes I fail. When that happens, I don’t want you to be left without knowing what to read. I link to a chart with the daily readings in the blog post you’ll arrive at if you click the link. Just in case you want to save it somewhere, I’m also linking to the chart here.

You might wonder, “If I have the chart, why bother keeping up with Matt’s devotional?” Obviously, you don’t have to. On the other hand, following a chart by yourself is a very different thing from reading the Scriptures with friends. And while we can’t be together in person, we can in spirit. I hope it provides you with a sense of personal encouragement from a friend to keep reading. I hope it also provides you with fresh thoughts and interactions with the Bible. I know that your participation has helped me. I feel personally encouraged to keep reading because I know that others are learning with me. Also, your reading gives me a sense of accountability, just as I hope my writing gives you. Some days, knowing that others are reading the Scriptures with me is my greatest motivation to keep going. I need you, and I really appreciate that you’ve been following the Scriptures with me.

But I don’t want you to be clueless about what to read when I forget to post anything. Which is why I want to make sure you have access to the daily readings through the links above. But just so you know for sure, yesterday’s reading was:

ALL – Psalm 21:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 5:1-6
OT – Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10
NT – Matthew 16:13-17:9

Keep up the GOOD work of listening to Jesus with me!

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.