Recently, God has been taking me through the story of His Son's last days on this earth. I know, that's kind of weird... It's Christmas, right? But I have been reading through Mark and that's where I am. Today I read in Mark 14 when Jesus tells all of the disciples that they are about to bail out on Him in his final hour. They just had a nice passover feast, they sang a Him, and He tells them they're going to bail. I can imagine how they felt. "We've been Your loyal disciples for all this time and now you tell us we're gonna leave! What's up with that?" We all know what happens next. They bail out on Jesus, He conquers death and rises. They believe, I mean truly believe, and God does some amazing things through their lives.

I've been there before... recently. I give God some nice talk about how I'm there till the end, through light and dark. Of course, everything is light when I say that. When stuff gets dark I have a tendency to bail. So what happened between Mark and Acts that changed the lives of these guys? I think that they stopped being skeptics. Sure, they followed Christ all through His ministry but there were just somethings that they didn't understand. They declared Him as Lord but what did that really mean to them? The whole death and resurrection thing probably confused them a bit. Then it happened! Jesus did it and it clicked. They realized that Christ isn't just someone that offers a good way to live. They realized that He is faithful. He is Holy. He is sovereign. He is worthy. He is the resurrected Lord! Who wants to bail out on that?
That's not just something to live for. That's something to die for. Also, the Holy Spirit happened (Acts 2). The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. The same Spirit that lives in us (Romans 8:11).

So, by grace, we can stand firm in the truth that the Holy Spirit will empower us to look to God in all of His holiness, fall flat on our face in reverence, and know that only He, in His sovereignty will guide us through for HIS glory alone.

Open the Gates...

7Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
9Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory!
Selah
Psalm 24:7-10


This Psalm was used in corporate worship. Some believe that they actually re-enacted this Psalm at the temple. A group of people would stand outside shouting, "Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in." Those inside would ask, "Who is this King of glory?" Those outside would reply, "The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!" The gates would then open up, representing the people's desire for the presence of God.


THAT'S a worship service.

I'm Still Alive

I just wrote a nice long blog about how I have been spiritually "asleep" and how I have been awakened by a verse in Mark 13. But then I deleted it. So, just read Mark 13 and maybe you can see what I mean.

bYe