Our theme this week is about acknowledging and living under God’s authority, particularly in Jesus.
Without getting too dramatic about it, a great reminder is demons acknowledging God, but not willingly living under Him (James 2:19).
Our first question is whether we confess Jesus as our Savior from sin (and being grateful for his unique role in that aspect of life).
The question then becomes “How are we living under His authority”?
The goal is living under his authority as Lord of life and as Savior from sin. They are to be inseparable.
Oh Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that you have authority not just to forgive sins, but that you had the authority to lay down your life for my sin – and had the authority to take it up again (John 10:18).
I acknowledge your authority as Savior and as my master. Please help me to live under that authority and use the Immersion devotions this week to solidify that concept in my life.
In your name I pray – under your authority I pray and live, Amen.
Read: verses 1-6 twice.
Mark: the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response from the Lord.
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
Read the entire account. When considering God's mission, this facet fits very comfortably in the skin of life-long Christians. Sin and forgiveness of sin are central even in the miraculous and crowd-awing healing of a disabled man.
Jesus comes to forgive sins and this story shows that even his other (secondary) actions point toward the ultimate goal of bringing forgiveness.
But don’t make the mistake of seeing this story as limited to forgiveness of the previously lame man. It was about forgiveness for those watching Jesus exercise his authority also: “But,” Jesus said, speaking to the teachers of the law “I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – and then healed the man.
The teachers of the law, like everyone in the crowd also need forgiveness in Jesus’ name. But they need to acknowledge him as Lord. Like He told another teacher in John 3, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of the Spirit – and in this case the Holy Spirit which teaches that Jesus is Lord.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For You are with me;
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Imagine yourself as one of the persons in the crowd of today’s story – or one of the friends, or even the lame man or a teacher of the law. Then zero in our your imagined thoughts and emotions and talk with God about them.
Every Wednesday highlights part of who we are as God’s children. Jesus invites us into a world that Peter describes as “participating in Divine nature” and “escaping the corruption in this world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4). Elsewhere, he describes the evil spiritual realm as warring against your soul (1 Peter 2:11). Jesus has much to teach us, and seeks to draw us to himself that might learn from him how to live and live well.
In Christ I am called to live a holy life under the authority of my Lord and Savior Jesus.
We have acknowledged in the previous weeks that in Christ I am born of God and cared for as his beloved child.
It is then part of our lifestyle to live as “born of God” and acting like his beloved child.
Two weeks ago we described that in Christ we are disciples who are following Jesus and learning from him.
Part of being his disciple is to be living under his authority and letting him rule our decision-making with his teachings.
Your rod and your staff they comfort me.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; Believe also in me.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Finish these thoughts:
Lord Jesus Christ,
Today, we introduce a new wrinkle to Immersion. In looking for a time to do a review, we placed it on Thursday as a midpoint of the week knowing that many of you mentally begin your week on a Monday.
It's also kind of midway between trips to Father's house on weekends to worship with your brothers and sisters.
So it serves as a great time to take a look at your day or week and re-center yourself around the Lord and around his will. This wrinkle consists of three parts: Review (your day or week), Repent (as necessary) and Return (if necessary).
As you review your life, you will likely find sins that you did not want to commit or places that you failed to act properly. Acknowledge these and let Jesus forgive for whatever sins you have rise to the mind.
The third part is to return to God from whatever idol or lack of focus you have had. In doing so, you will find yourself renewed as described in Romans 12:1.
This week we're going to extend this into tomorrow's discipleship point as we build it around the reading from 1st Thessalonians.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
Review your day and repent as necessary, return God to His rightful place and prepare for the rest of your week.
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Our Discipleship Point is built around the first of the four worlds we frequent. There is the world of family, the world of the work or pleasure, and that of the church; then there’s the world of you and God.
He's to be central not just to your personal life, but to all of your other worlds as well.
Using snippets of today’s Word, ask a few questions to evidence his proper place being secure in your heart and mind, thoughts and actions, attitude and awareness:
… It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable… that no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Father God, I desire to let you have your proper place, your centered place, your central place in my life. Help me by your Holy Spirit to identify any idol or person, any anxiety or pleasure that has nudged you out of the way. I want you to have your rightful place on the throne of my heart.
In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
This gospel story from Mark adds a dimension to the Matthew nine version that fascinates me.
It includes four friends bringing their disabled friend to Jesus to have him healed. I love the faith of his friends who end up being integral to this man's healing and forgiveness.
Wouldn't you just be thrilled to be a part of someone else's awesome encounter with Jesus?
Imagine yourself peering down the hole in the roof you just torn open and seeing your friend receive his heart's desire from Jesus Christ?
Ask God for a heart for your friends like we see in this Gospel story. Don’t stop there; ask which people – family, friends, acquaintances – God might already have placed in your world to for you to love on.
Thoughts on letting Jesus’ authority have its rightful place in your life, and God the Father having his rightful place on the throne of your heart:
Lord Jesus Christ, on this day of worship for so many around the world, I give you your rightful place in my life. Sweep off and out any part of my heart that has risen up against you and has sought to displace you. I include my own ego and my anxieties that plague me. I want nothing but you in the center of who I am and all that I live for. In your name I pray, Amen.
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