Mark 7 - 9.17.26

Scripture: Mark 7:15, 21

“Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them... For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come.”

Observation

Sin is an inside job, not just an outward act. Like James 1:14–15 warns, actions always start as desires rooted deep in the corazón (heart).

Application

Daily corazón (heart) check before Christ, my life proved this verse! The drugs, alcohol, and violence I put out were just the overflow of a sick, broken corazón (heart). Jesus gave me a brand new corazón (heart) on the cross, but my daily job is to protect it. Today, I will guard my thoughts, check my motives, and refuse to let anger or pride take root before they turn into sinful actions.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for cleaning me from the inside out. Search my corazón (heart) today, root out any hidden sin before it speaks or acts, and let only Your Spirit flow out of me. Amen

- Leo Rodriguez

Mark 6 - 9.16.26

Scripture

 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” (Mark 6:32)

Observation

A crowd followed Jesus to the wilderness to hear from him. Jesus spent a long day teaching them. The disciples were worried that they were in a remote place, and the people would not be able to get anything to eat. They asked Jesus to dismiss the crowd so that they can go to nearby villages and get something to eat.

Jesus in response tells them to give them something to eat (verse 37). The disciples responded in disbelief - did Jesus expect them to spend a fortune to buy food for thousands of people (verse 37). Jesus asked them, “how many loaves do you have?” (verse 38).

There was a young boy whose mother had packed five loaves and two fish for his lunch (John 6:8). When the disciples were asking around for food, he brought it to them and they brought it to Jesus. Jesus multiplied it, and made it enough to satisfy five thousand men, and an unnumbered crowd of women and children.

If the boy had held on to his food, it would just have been enough for one meal for him. When he gave it to Jesus, he multiplied it - enough for a crowd of five thousand men, their wives and their children! And with 12 baskets of leftovers!

Application

Sometimes God asks us to trust him with what we have, before he multiplies it. Before I continue on this, I want to clarify that the Bible does not teach us that if we give God money, he is obligated to give us more. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme.

This is about an act of faith and trust. When the widow of Sarephath was looking at her last meal with her son before facing certain death before her meal, Elijah asked her to use that flour and oil to make him bread! She ended up having enough flour and oil every single day for the rest of the famine. (1 Kings 17:8-16)

When the widow who was in debt asked Elisha for help to deal with her creditors, he asked her what she had - she had some oil in her house. God caused it to multiply, and she was able to sell it and pay off all her debt. (2 Kings 4:1-7)

The biggest ask was to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love — Isaac—and …Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering ..” (Genesis 22:2). When Abraham put Isaac on the altar, God gave Isaac back to him and did not let him go through with the sacrifice. And in return, God gave up his only begotten son (Jesus) to complete the sacrifice and pay the price for the sins of all of Abraham’s sons and daughters.

What does surrender mean to you? What is God asking you to give him - to trust him with? Would you surrender your hopes, your desires, your ambitions, your plans and your most treasured prizes at his feet?

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for loving me and making me your own. You are the most precious gift I have (2 Cor 9:15).You are my Lord and Master, and everything I have - I have received from you, and it all belongs to you.  Lord please show me any areas of my life that I have not surrendered to you. I know that I am not my own, and that I am bought at a price (1 Cor 6:19-20). May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight (Ps 19:14). Make my life a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to you (Rom 12:1). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen. 

- Asha Chacko George

Mark 5 - 9.15.25

SCRIPTURE:  Mark 5:6-8

“When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of Him.  He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  In God’s name don’t torture me!’  “For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you impure spirit.’”

OBSERVATION:  A man with an impure spirit saw Jesus get out the boat, and came from the tombs to meet Jesus.  He had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus get out of the boat from a distance, he ran and knelt down before Him.  Even though he was demon possessed, he was able to recognize Jesus, the Son of the Most High God!  He knew Jesus was powerful!  He begged Jesus not to torment him! Jesus asked his name, and as the demons spoke through him, they replied, ‘Legion’. because there were many!  They kept begging Jesus not to send him out of the region. The demons begged Jesus to send them into the herd of pigs that were feeding on the hillside. 

Jesus gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank and were drowned! The men who had tended them ran off and reported it to the people living in the town and country side, and they went to see what happened.  They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.  The eye witnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs.  The man who had been delivered wanted to stay with Jesus, and go back with Him in the boat. Jesus insisted that he go back to his own people and report to them how much the Lord had done for him, and how He had mercy on him.  So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed!

APPLICATION:  When we experience deliverance from God, we are to openly share our experiences with family and friends.  No matter what we’ve been delivered from, we are not to keep it hidden! We are to give God all the glory for what He has done!  We may not experience the same horrible struggle that this man had, but nevertheless, the same God Who delivered this demon-possessed man is also able to deliver us from anything that we may be struggling with!  All we need to do is to recognize that Jesus, the Son of the Most High God is all-powerful, and is able and willing to come to our aid when we call out to Him! 

Throughout the entire Bible, we are able to see the powerful ways God brought deliverance to His people. Those who were there to witness these miraculous events changed the course of history because they shared what God had done!  We as Christ-followers have been called and commissioned to go out and share how God has delivered us from our sins.  Our testimonies have the power to change lives! 

PRAYER:  I once was held in bondage and chains by the enemy… BUT GOD came to my rescue me and delivered me!  I’ve been set free to proclaim His holy and powerful name, and to give Jesus all the glory! Amen

- Robin Orefice