February 24, 2009, Lunch

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 9:32 am

S. "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hand." Psalm 90:12,17
"While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and 'sinners' were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him." Mark 2:15

O. Moses asks God to teach him how to live and to bless what his hands do for the Lord. Jesus is our teacher and he showed us how to be among the sinners. Wisdom comes from the Lord, and Jesus, who is Wisdom sets the example.

A. I want to be taught how to live so that God can bless what I do. According to the Bible, all I have to do is follow Jesus' example.

P. Lord help me to remember that you are my example in the way to live, and you are the Wisdom I need.

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 9:51 am

S. "He also said, 'this is what the kindgom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest is come.'" Mark 4:26-29.

O. When we witness to those around us, we may not see results right away. Just like when we plant a garden we do not see the plants right away. The word must first take root, then comes the stock until there is a head. The head contains seeds in it and can be used to plant in order to make more seeds. A Christian can plant a seed in someone and when it takes root and flourishes goes out and plants seed in another person. God is the one who causes the seed to grow, not we ourselves.

A. It is good to know that I am only responsible to plant seeds and God will take care of the rest.

P. Lord, help me plant the seeds and then let you take care of the rest.

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 9:58 am

S. "As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him, but said, 'Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.' So the man went away and began to tell in Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed." Mark 5:18-20

O. Jesus delivered a man from Legion. The man wanted to go with Jesus, but was commanded to "Go" back to his family and be a witness of all the good Jesus had done. Imagine being possessed and your family sees that part, then Jesus delivers you and you are in your right mind. Your family sees this instantaneous change in you. You would do more good for the Lord by staying in the community you live in than to go with Jesus to places where no one knows you.

A. I want to "Go" where God wants me to go, because he knows best where I can do the most for him.

P. Lord, help me to be obedient to where you want me to go.

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 10:02 am

S. "They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples." Mark 9:30-31a

O. Jesus and the disciples had just finished some busy days and needed time to spend along together. Jesus took them to a place where they would not be disturbed so he could teach his disciples principles of the kindgom of God. I wonder how often they took time out for teaching and learning! Since it was important for the disciples to be alone with the Teacher, we need to take time out to be alone with Jesus too, especially in the world as it is today.

A. I will take time out with Jesus alone periodically. I will listen to his voice when he says "Come, it is time to be alone with me."

P. Lord help me to hear and obey your voice.

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 10:09 am

S. "'I tell you the truth,' Jesus replied, 'no one has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in the present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." Mark 10:29 & 30.

O. We are to put everyone and everything below Jesus and not above. This could cause us to loose our family and possessions. But we are promised a hundredfold return if we obey, but this will come with persecutions, it is not free. Ultimately we will have eternal life in the age to come.

A. I will keep in mind the promises of God when I obey his word.

P. Lord, I thank you for being with me even when everyone else, including my family turns away from me.

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 10:14 am

S. "So they answered Jesus, 'We don't know.' Jesus said, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.'" Mark 11:33.

O. Jesus was asked by what authority he was teaching the things he taught. He answered them with a question about John's baptism, was it from heaven or men? They did not want to answer the question, because they knew how he would answer, so they said we don't know. Jesus did not answer their question either. Jesus did not always answer questions asked of him. He looked at the motive behind the question of the person asking.

A. I dont have to answer every question that is asked of me.

P. Lord, help me to know when to answer and when not to. Give me discernment in this.

roni · roni on March 12th 2009, 10:18 am

S. "And I charged your judges at that time. Hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly, whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike." Deuteronomy 1:16-17

O. Moses commanded the judges to judge rightly, and not to show favortism, whether rich or poor, black or white, male or female, etc. They should all be treated equally.

A. I am seeing more and more all the time that God loved the Gentiles as much as the Jews. I had not seen that growing up. It is amazing how blind I was to that fact.

P. Lord open my eyes and let me see the truth more and more.

Roni's S.O.A.P.s

February 24, 2009, Lunch

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