Faith

"Great faith merits great rewards. And wherever you set down the foot of hope among the goods of the Lord, they will be yours."

-Bernard of Clairvoux

The Heart of our Healer God

Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer. Simon and his companions searched for him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.” So he went into all of Galilee preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Earlier in Mark 1, John the Baptist's ministry is summed up and immediately after it has run it's course (at the baptism of the Messiah and the arrest of John), Jesus goes forth into the world and begins to preach openly. In the passage i have put up, we see the heart of God displayed in the anonymity of Jesus by His refusal of recognition and praise. All that we see here, at the beginning of Mark's Gospel, is the Son of God going off into "a lonely place" to submit His heart to His Father in order that He may do God's will. In doing this, He openly rejects the praise of men, even of His disciples. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the curing of the sick is all that drives Jesus here. He will not rest until all that the Father has appointed to Him have heard the Good News in the other towns. This is perfect love, this pouring out of the self of God alone is the motivation of God's Sacrifice for us in the beginning of His ministry and at it's end--the cross.

When we consider that Jesus requires us to be like Him, conformed to His teaching and life-purpose let us consider the difficulity of being sincere before God. Let us consider that our baptism and clothing into and of Christ and the difficulties that we will face. Let us keep before is this Scripture as a warning and a promise:

"I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”


Also, let the sharp edge of Christ's word pierce you as you consider the great humility of grace poured out and what it calls forth from us:

"But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

God, may Your heart be ours, and may we not be timid or forget to proclaim Your Kingdom to a people in the land of darkness. Bless the words of our mouth and the work of our hands as we await the Day. May You alone be praised!

“I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.” – Unknown Confederate Soldier

"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."

-Kierkegaard

Puritan Prayers

The Valley of Vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

A Puritan Prayer (Worship)

Glorious God,

It is the flame of my life to worship thee,
the crown and glory of my soul to adore thee,
heavenly pleasure to approach thee.

Give me power by the Spirit to help me
worship now,
that I may forget the world,
be brought into the fullness of life,
be refreshed, comforted, blessed.

Give me knowledge of thy goodness
that I might not be over-awed by they greatness;
Give me Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God,
that I might not be terrified,
but drawn near with filial love,
with holy boldness;

He is my Mediator, Brother, Interpreter,
Branch, Daysman, Lamb;
him I glorify,
in him I am set on high.

Crowns to give I have none,
but what thou hast given I return,
content to feel that everything is mine
when it is thine,
and the more fully mine when I have yielded it
to thee.

Let me live wholly to my Saviour,
free from distractions,
from carking care,
from hindrances to the pursuit
of the narrow way.

I am pardoned through the blood of Jesus-
give me a new sense of it,
continue to pardon me by it,
may I come every day to the fountain,
and every day to be washed anew,
that I may worship thee always
in spirit and truth.

"Now large crowds were accompanying Jesus, and turning to them he said, 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.'"

The more I think about the meaning of this passage, the more I come to grips with the fact that discipleship is an unsafe practice. Jesus comes forth to say, to the gathering of those following Him, that there are conditions that have to be met in order to be a true disciple. These conditions are outside of personal devotion and within a realm of sincerity. Jesus tells us that if we are to be His, we must cripple our relationships, our desires, and even the sum of ourselves in order to fully embrace Him - there can be no life outside of this. Let those within the numbers of the Church take to heart the admonition, may it sink deeply into our ears and transform us and our perspectives.
Discipleship, and sincerity before God will cost us our prosperity, our social status, our goals, and our dreams and any hope of gain in this world; but to those who see this as a condition for the crown of life, there will be no regret. To those who remember that these words are spirit and life, there is no room to draw back, for they realize that risking everything upon the premise of hope is a small act in comparison to what is in store for those who love God. Eternity awaits those who hear and keep to His words.

"Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns."