Getting
to the 6 am bible study this morning made me happy. Not only did I
get to have the day off, but it started jumping right into the word.
AND, as a bonus, my friend Sonia visited from her mission in Mexico
and so we went out to breakfast afterward. I love her!
So
many blessings!
But,
since it had been a while since I had been at bible study, I was
unsure of where we would be in the word. It was nice to find that
today marked the beginning of the Gospel of Mark...the quick and
dirty gospel, as I like to call it. Mark moves at breakneck speed,
compared to the other gospels, and I've always been strangely
interested by that.
Mark's
gospel starts out immediately reaching for the Hebrew scriptures as
he introduces John the Baptist, who will come out of the wilderness
to signal the coming messiah, Jesus. Mark's gospel also immediately
places Jesus in sonship, meaning that he links Jesus as the son of
God in the New Testament to the prophecies of his person in the
Hebrew scriptures. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel...Jesus is everywhere!
Mark
makes sure that his readers see the continuity of Jesus' story, from
beginning to end, and I love it.
We
focused on this fact, and also zeroed in on the character of John the
Baptist, who was one of the greatest men who ever lived, and the man
who baptized Jesus. John was called to do a great work in baptizing,
but we discussed how he didn't worry about what he knew or didn't
know as he went about what he was called to do.
Isn't
that exactly the opposite of how we function? It's at least the
opposite of the way I work.
I
want to know exactly what is expected of me, for the most part,
before I jump in and attempt to do something. However, John focused
on what Gd told him to do and did it. He baptized in accordance with
God's will and wasn't distracted by his concerns of if he was, or was
not, capable. He was faithful, just like God is.
What
a crazy concept!
And,
not only did we talk about his willingness to follow what he was
called to, but we talked about the simplicity in which he lived. I
mean...locusts and wild honey? That is hardcore! We live in a
society that demands us to have more when we really don't need any of
it. I have so much that I don't need, and only recently am I
starting to notice that. I just made a picture display of my
favorite Haiti photos in my room to remind me how there can be joy in
a life of simplicity.
John
the Baptist led a simple life, so why can't I?
The
simpler our lives are, the more effective we can be.
The
less distractions, the more focus.
Selah.
After
we covered simplicity, we focused on the reason why John was
baptizing in the first place. He wasn't baptizing for salvation, but
for repentance and in acknowledgement of the need for a savior. This
is when we talked about repentance, and how it doesn't merely mean
that you're sorry, or that you feel bad.
True
repentance means changing your mind, and stepping away from what
you've been doing.
It's
not only acknowledging your mistake and your sin, but it's taking
steps to change it.
Sadly,
I think I mostly stop at the acknowledging part, and sometimes
continue on in my sin. It's easier to feel like I've repented if I
simply point out my struggles. But, changing my mind? Trying to
actually fix my problems? Psh, that's another thing all together.
Silly!
Ridiculous!
We
are called to not only change our minds in repentance, but to renew
them.
We
need to rely on the spirit, and acknowledge our need to be saved. It
doesn't matter how intelligent, beautiful, or articulate you are, if
you are not reliant on the Spirit, you will not be fulfilled.
As
Brian put it, the question is not, “do you have the Holy Spirit?”
but, “does the Holy Spirit have you?”
Live
in simplicity, and willingness to do what God has for you without
distracting yourself with minor details. And, live in genuine
repentance, changing and renewing your mind in light of your sin.
Never
forget your need for Jesus; He is Lord, Master, Teacher, and Savior.
In
Christ,
Lilia
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