Day 170: Crossing The Rubicon
"Jesus said to him, 'Go, for your faith has healed you.' Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.'"—Mark 10:2
Anderson asks, "Are we ready to cast our old lives aside and follow Jesus? Will we also go forward with a new vision from Jesus and refuse to look back?"
These are two questions or at least variations of two questions that I was asked before I was
baptized—the third time: once as a baby, once as a teen, and then again as an adult. Apparently I needed a lot of cleansing. (lol) Interesting thing is that when I became a member of Church of Christ, my first two baptisms didn't count in their eyes. I think my teenage one was probably when I truly accepted Christ as my savior. It didn't count in the eyes of the church because I "prayed Jesus into my heart," rather than using their way which was a 12 week study series, followed by a confession (having to write out every sin I could possibly remember and sharing that with those who studied with me) and then finally a baptism. I personally do not see any of this in the above scripture regarding the man Jesus healed. To follow Jesus, you simply need to follow Jesus. I know there is a bit more to it than that according to later scriptures regarding receiving the Holy Spirit. I suppose that a 12 week study works as a way to learn what it means to follow Jesus since we cannot physically walk with him in the traditional sense. I just feel as if Christianity today makes everything so complicated and rather rote. The heart is beating, but it's like it's caged.
Day 171: Waiting Until The Fog Clears:
"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, 'If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.'"—James 4:14-15
Though there is a part of me that believes the end of the scripture to be true or that yes, that is what we ought to do, it still gets to me a bit. I know it is basically saying "God's will be done," and there is much good to come of that, but somehow it makes me feel far from God.
Day 172: Practicing Sabbath All Week Long:
"This dear woman, daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn't it right that she be released on the Sabbath.?" —Luke 13:16
This scripture reminds of me of something I read earlier this morning that spoke of Jesus and what he would do.
1. He openly questioned the religion of his upbringing.
2. He quoted scripture from his " Bible" said it was wrong and did otherwise.
3. He encouraged others to move beyond the commandments in scripture to follow their heart.
4. He openly embraced people his " Bible" forbade him to associate with and he was NOT trying to convert them to his religion.
5. He never asked to be worshipped and did not start a new religion.
6. He did not believe scriptures were the "Word of God." (He clearly called them "The word of Moses.")
7. He was shut out, shunned and eventually killed by religious leaders.
8. He never asked anyone to pray a "sinner's prayer" or to ask him into their heart.
9. He rarely attended religious gatherings and, when he did, it was often to denounce their practices.
10. He put "meeting human need" over any kind of religious activities or exercises.
I would much rather do as Jesus would do.
Day 173: The Crying Ceases When The Music Comforts:
"Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will heart their cries and comfort them."
—Psalm 10:17
I completely agree with Anderson when he he says, "There is something deep within each of us that is touched by music. It resonates in our hearts and souls and heals us from the inside out."
I can't imagine my life without music. It reaches my heart quicker than any words can.
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