What Do You Pledge Allegiance To?

King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream and demanded his wise men interpret it. When they couldn't, he threatened to kill them all, including Daniel. Daniel prayed to God and received the dream's meaning – a vision of empires rising and falling, with God's kingdom ultimately prevailing. Daniel interpreted the dream for the king, giving credit to God. The king was impressed, recognized the true God, and spared everyone's life. Daniel's faith and wisdom saved himself, his friends, and the other wise men.

We Are Sojourners

The Book of Daniel tells the story of a young man exiled from his homeland who remains faithful to his God despite the challenges. Just like Daniel living in a foreign land, Christians today are seen as living in exile, away from their true home in heaven. The passage offers three ways to navigate this exile: remembering we are temporary residents, staying separate from worldly influences, and keeping faith in God's salvation.

The Second Triumphal Entry

Palm Sunday remembers Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey while crowds celebrated. This event fulfilled prophecies and foreshadowed Jesus as the Messiah. Shortly after, the disciples asked Jesus about the end times. Jesus answered that the exact timing is unknown, but there would be various signs including wars, famines, and persecutions. These are not a reason to panic, but a reminder of a new world to come. The most important signs are the abomination of desolation and the Son of Man returning. Jesus’ teachings urged the disciples to be alert and prepared for the coming of God’s kingdom, while not being mislead or worried by worldly troubles.

Strength Through Humility

In Mark 10, Jesus predicts his suffering and death while his disciples, focused on earthly power, miss his message. James and John seek high positions, revealing the disciples' ambition. Jesus corrects them, emphasizing that true greatness comes from serving others, as he himself has done by sacrificing his life. This passage highlights humility as the key to understanding Jesus' teachings and the path to true strength and fulfillment.

Beware the Leaven

Mark 8 tells a story of Jesus warning against following human expectations for the Messiah. Jesus criticizes the focus on worldly power and teaches that the true path lies in following God's will, even if it means suffering. Peter exemplifies this failing by rejecting Jesus' message of sacrifice and clinging to the idea of a conquering Messiah. The chapter serves as a reminder to follow Jesus on his terms, focusing on God's plan rather than our own desires.

Jesus and His Miracles

While Jesus engaged in various practices like prayer and teaching, a key aspect of his ministry was being close to suffering. He calmed the storm not just to show power but to demonstrate his presence during hardship. He ventured into dangerous areas to heal the possessed man and the bleeding woman, prioritizing their well-being over his own comfort. Even when rejected by his hometown, he continued seeking opportunities to help those in need. This emphasis on proximity to pain serves as a powerful lesson for us, urging us to actively engage with the suffering around us, offering compassion, support, and practical help whenever possible.

Jesus and His Parables

In Mark 4, Jesus teaches through parables, concealing the Kingdom of God for some while revealing it to others. He does this because the parable's meaning depends on the listener's heart condition. Birds, stones, and weeds represent obstacles within and around us that can hinder understanding, while Jesus faithfully sows the seed of God's love and kingdom. Parables also point to the indescribable glory of the Kingdom, which surpasses human language. As followers of Jesus, we are called to teach about this Kingdom, sharing its love and truth while recognizing that hearts can be open or closed to its message. Ultimately, God brings the increase, and all the good we experience here is just a glimpse of the true glory to come.

The Cost of Ministry

Mark 3 portrays Jesus' growing ministry and its challenges. He heals a man on the Sabbath, sparking tension with religious leaders over tradition. His popularity attracts crowds, but also escalates conflict with the Pharisees. Even his family worries about his intense activity, seeking to intervene. Jesus responds by forming a new "family" with his disciples, emphasizing spiritual kinship over physical ties. Despite opposition, his message of God's love and discipleship continues to draw followers, reminding us of the eternal reward found in serving him.

A Gift Not a Burden

Mark's Gospel, written for Gentile converts, aims to prove Jesus as the Son of God. Despite the author's early abandonment of Paul, he matured and became a valuable minister. The Gospel builds toward the question of Jesus' identity, presenting evidence like his Sabbath teachings, where he challenged the Pharisees' restrictive interpretation and emphasized the day's intended joy and rest.

Fighting the Devil

Though Jesus faced hardship and temptation in the wilderness, this wasn't God abandoning him, but the Holy Spirit guiding him toward spiritual growth. Through fasting, solitude, and scripture, Jesus prepared for the challenges ahead, reminding us that spiritual practices strengthen us against the devil's deceptive tactics. Hearing God's Word (the Bible) is key to overcoming these deceptions, leading us closer to Christ and ultimately defeating evil. Remember, even Jesus faced a "more opportune time" for darkness, but through faith in him, we too can overcome.

Solitude & Silence

While yearning for Christ-like growth and closer connection, we recognize God's transformative power through practices like prayer and solitude. Accepting our varied stages in faith, we trust God to author and perfect our journey, multiplying His beauty, truth, and love within us as we humbly follow Him and spend time with Him in silence and solitude.

Fasting Like Jesus To Be Fruitful Like Jesus

Jesus' life provides a roadmap for preparing for what God has in store. While often associated with miracles, Jesus' power stemmed from daily practices like prayer, fasting, solitude, and serving. These "practices of engagement" and "abstinence" help us encounter God, curtail worldly desires, and develop a prayerful connection that equips us for life's challenges and empowers us to bring God's glory into the world. By looking to Jesus' example and implementing these practices, we can confidently step into whatever God has planned for us.

The Gift of Prophecy

Unlike fortune telling or gossip, prophecy is a divine gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit to uplift and guide God's church. It goes beyond human intuition, offering Spirit-led insights often aligning with Scripture, that may reveal future glimpses or serve to build up, convict, and ultimately express God's heart for his people. It's a powerful tool for edification, demonstrating God's active presence within his community.

A Heart of Pilgrimage

While we celebrate Jesus' first advent with faith and his second with hope, it's love that fuels our present. Guided by Thomas Kelly's call to embrace our "joyous burdens" of love, we can delve into Psalm 84 for guidance. As pilgrims yearning for and praising the Lord, we should develop a heart for His house, a spirit of constant gratitude, and a willingness to walk the path He sets before us. Empowered by Christ, we can find joy in serving Him through the good and hard times, just as the pilgrims anticipated reaching Jerusalem. So, let's dedicate this year to practicing love, embracing our specific tasks, and journeying with a grateful heart towards God's kingdom.

Jesus Brings Joy

Skip the fleeting joys of the world that crumble under life's weight. Instead, discover Biblical Joy: a confident assurance, rooted in Christ and empowered by the Gospel. This Joy shields you from despair, grants perspective on pain, and ignites your purpose. Find it by drawing close to Jesus, the source of this unshakeable Joy He gifted through His sacrifice.

Jesus Brings Peace

The world lacks peace due to the pervasive influence of sin. The ultimate solution lies in accepting Jesus' sacrifice and establishing a relationship with Him. Jesus, born as the Son of God, is the divine manifestation that addresses the root cause of sin. Despite the mystery surrounding His simultaneous divine and human nature, He lived, died, and rose again to pay for our sins. This profound act of sacrifice, symbolized by His birth and crucifixion, brings peace, healing, and restoration to humanity.