February 18

Leviticus 6:1-7:27, Mark 3:7-30, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 10:3-4 

Pray: Read or watch the news for very long and you can’t help but be filled with anxiety. Our world is filled with evil people doing evil things. To make matters worse, those things seem to be getting closer to home. Yet, in the midst of all that we decide if it is worth worrying over. We read from David, “Don't worry about the wicked…they soon fade away…they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good" (Psalm 37:1-3). Give the Lord your anxieties, your worries, your concerns. He’s ready to listen and ease your heavy burdens. Pray.

Read: We continue reading the very important instructions given to the people regarding sacrificial offerings made to the Lord. These sacrifices, remember, were essential for the salvation of the people. The blood of the animals covered the sins of the people. When we move to the Gospel of Mark, we find crowds of people flocking to Jesus. Perhaps if pastors spoke more of Jesus, and spoke of Him accurately, we would have the same thing today. Jesus also chooses the 12 apostles and makes a case against accusers who say He is possessed by Satan. The Psalm addresses, head-on, a multitude of human emotions. It speaks of worry, delight, stillness, patience, anger, rage, and peace. The way through them all? Trust. Then, Proverbs gives us a word of encouragement followed by a word of challenge.

Edify: Accusations. Jesus faced many of them during His time on earth. He still endures them today. In Mark 3, Jesus, the Son of God, is accused of being possessed by Satan because He casts out demons! Jesus responds, “A kingdom divided...will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart” (v. 24-25). Who is your enemy? If you're married, remember the words of Scripture: “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one” (Ephesians 5:31). When you fight with your spouse, you fight with yourself...if we take the Word of God seriously. Your spouse is NOT your enemy. Satan may be trying to destroy your family by creating issues, causing arguments, and working division. Don't allow it! Even if you’re single, you have relationships that Satan will absolutely try to destroy by any means possible. He came after Jesus by way of the religious leaders! He won't grant you an exemption. How do we work through our issues, deal with conflict, and come out of it better? The answer is found in Mark’s words from verse 27, “Only someone even stronger” than our troubles and our conflicts has the power to heal all wounds and mend our relationships. His name is Jesus!

Practice: Do you feel restless? Never content? Most have felt this at some point. Some, however, live with it as a constant companion. What misery that would bring. I am reminded here of the addict who can't seem to wait for the next and better high. It’s the alcoholic who doesn’t really know how to function without the drink in his/her hand. To be sure, it doesn’t stop there. It's the sexual addiction that drives the person from a loving, intimate relationship with their spouse to searching web pages, then personals, and even affairs and beyond! Why? The Lord, “refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked” (Proverbs 10:3). If what you crave does not honor the Lord, you will never be satisfied. Further, if you crave anything other than the Lord, you will not be satisfied. It is only He who can meet the deepest needs of your soul and mine. Your restlessness, your discontent…they are warning signs along the road to destruction. Turn! Now! Turn to Him.