Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Monday October 19, 2009 and we are completing our studies in the book of Mark, please read chapters 14-16 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-october-19

Today's Message: Eyes Opened
In the world's estimation, when someone gives his time, talent, or tithes for Christ and His Church, it is sheer waste, but once our eyes have been opened to the worthiness of our Lord, nothing is too good for Him.

The world tends to base everything on material value, the more a person has of the finer things, the more he/she is respected and adored. Those who follow Christ, on the other hand, seek the things that please God, knowing that the finer things in life will come when we meet Jesus. Now, just because we follow Christ that does not mean we can not enjoy the finer things, it means that Christ comes before them and anything we get is the result of our faithfulness in serving God. No matter how much we talk about giving up worldly things for Christ the world will never get it. Simon, a leper who had been healed by Jesus, lived in Bethany, a small town less than two miles south of Jerusalem on the slope of the Mount of Olives. Just a few days before Jesus was crucified, Simon invited Him and the apostles to his home for dinner. “After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people. And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.” - Mark 14:1-3. Here are these men, whom are supposed to be men of God and instead of preparing for the Passover they are plotting a way to deceive Jesus and kill Him. Of course they have to be very sly about it because they knew that if anyone were to find out about it then it would cause an uproar. As Simon was entertaining Jesus and His disciples, a woman takes a very expensive ointment or perfume and pours it on Jesus head. The value of this ointment was worth about what a working man would make for a years salary.

You can probably imagine the look on the disciples face when this expensive ointment was just poured on Jesus' head, Judas was not the only one that would grumble over this act, the other disciples did as well. “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.” - Mark 14:4-11. There was an immediate reaction from the apostles criticizing her conduct. Judas was first to criticize her, as treasurer, he did not get the reason why the woman just wasted this ointment on Jesus. Since Judas had never recognized Jesus as Lord of his life he had no idea what a valuable gift this woman gave Him. There were very few real kind things that were done towards Christ before His crucifixion. Though many followed Jesus, most of them were out to get something from Him. As far as the so-called religious community and their leaders, they all continually were plotting to kill Jesus and take His life. Since Jesus will become the Passover Lamb very soon, this would be Jesus only anointing before His crucifixion. It was probably the lost opportunity to sell the ointment and pocket the money, coupled with the strong rebuke from Jesus and great honor bestowed upon the woman that angered Judas to the point of him betraying Jesus.

Our generation is no different than in the time of Jesus. Human nature remains the same. Every person must make the personal choice whether to accept or to reject Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives. Mary set an example of self-denial that is much needed in a world today. We should all join in with the Apostle Paul, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” - Philippians 2:1-5

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night
God Bless You,
Christina

Need More Inspiration?
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com/

Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study

Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Sunday October 18, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of Mark, please read chapters 12-13 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-october-18

Today's Message: Truth
Truth exposes the ignorance of all who refuse to recognize Jesus as the One True God and Creator of all things.

As Christian's we are constantly being tested of our faith, and it's not always God doing the testing. Many others who claim to be Christian's and even non-believers put our faith to the test. Have you ever had someone say to you, “You call yourself a Christian” or “You think you are better than me because you are a Christian?” In reality they are not questioning our faith, but their own, they know they are not right with God or living they way they should be and are looking for any fault to try to question or discredit our loyalty to God. It was the religious leaders that always questioned Jesus, looking for some way to find fault in Him and to discredit Him as the One True God, the Messiah, and the Creator of all things. “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. ” - Mark 12:28-34. Do you see the scribe's reply, “thou has said the truth?” The scribe realizes that there is only one God, but he still refused to believe that it was Jesus. The expression, "not far from the Kingdom of God", means that the scribe was close to entering the Kingdom of God, he had the knowledge and could almost see that the One standing before Him was the eternal God, but His eyes were blinded to that truth.

The scribes, whom although knew a bit of Scripture, represent men and their traditions. They are the ones that put their own thoughts down, and call it "of God". They are the ones that think more of themselves and how they appear to others, than how God looks down upon them. Jesus is watching them as they cast their money into the treasury. “And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”- Mark 12:38-44. Jesus is exposing these religious leaders for whom they really are. They them dress themselves up to look righteous, and place holy titles before their names, and that is suppose to given them righteous hearts. They take their seats in the front of public gatherings, and seek out the head tables at the times of feasts. They try to look so holy, yet what they do and say is not in Christ doctrine. This bunch of religious beggars are out there ripping off widow's houses and the defenseless when they are least able to help themselves. They put up a very religious pretense of what they do and in their prayers, but because all of their works they shall receive the greatest of all damnation and judgment by our Heavenly Father.

Jesus sat there and watched the people cast their money into the offering plate. He can see all the rich ones making sure the others saw the exact amount of how much they were giving. Jesus watches as this poor widow woman cast in two mites, which were the smallest piece of money that could be accepted as an offering. This little bit of money meant more to Jesus than all that the scribes gave. Why? The reason that it had such great value to God, is that it was all that she had. This says a great deal about this woman and her love for God. The others gave simply what was due, or the least that they could get away with. Many of the others gave within the framework of God's plan, and that is how it should be, however this woman gave her all. This woman is not going to have any bread when she gets home, but she does have the faith in God that she knows that He will provide for her. She cast it all into the treasury. It was her faith that caused her to give all that she had. It is also the faith that you have that will lead you in your giving that will get our Father's attentions.

Christian's have nothing to fear when we put our faith and trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the Truth, the Life, and the Way and if anyone questions your loyalty to Him all you have to say is, “I am a forgiven child of the Living God, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ” Praise God!

Today's Prayer:

Dear God,
Lord, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we seek to guard the truths and commandments entrusted to us through Your Holy Word.  We do not want to be swayed by man’s opinions and will not be if we are firmly anchored to our Rock, Jesus Christ, which can not be moved. We stand firm and strong when we, by conviction of the Holy Spirit, embrace Your teachings and refute that which conflicts. Help us to be sober and vigilant as our adversary the devil seeks to divide believers and destroy their faith. By the grace of God we will be strong, stand united, and overcome his attacks. In Jesus' Name........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and week
God Bless You,
Christina

Need More Inspiration?
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com/

Missed A Lesson?
Go to: Daily Bible Study
http://www.readytofollow.com/daily-bible-study

Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation