In the Word with Pastor Mike

Jesus' response to the suffering of the cross serves as a model to every believer in Christ. Rather than responding with retaliation or even defense, He responded with silence. A silent rust in His Father who Jesus knew would judge His situation righteously.

At the very moment of Jesus' final preparations for the cross, we find him in an atmosphere that is just dripping with humanity and all of its inconsistencies. But it is here that the total consistency of Jesus stands out. He doesn't run from the inconsistency of man; he runs toward it and dies for it!

Jesus gave commandment to his followers to be faithful until He returns. But He gives an extra responsibility and assignment for a group within the group known as the "doorkeepers"!

The common people heard him gladly! What a tremendous statement on the simplicity of faith. Our Lord came to this earth to reach those whose hearts have been humbles to believe what he says without overthinking it.

Rather than attaching ourselves to so called "approved" religious practices, we must attach our practices to a true heart of worship.

Jesus teaches His followers to deal with their fear in following Him by remembering why they are following Him. 

Jesus desires us to be great, but not by man's standard. He desires a greatness in us that reflects the gospel. The greatness that He modelled for us himself!

In the rush and busyness of life, it is so easy to shift our focus away from Jesus and move it toward the many other things that are takin place. This creates a lost perspective of the power and provision of Christ that is available to us. We must seek to keep Jesus first in our priorities if we will enjoy the fruit of his joy.

Religion will often pit tradition against the truth of God's Word. These two can live in harmony when they are given their rightful order in priority. Tradition must always take a back seat to truth and never be mistaken for being on in the same.

God is all-powerful and none can deny this, but there is a sense in which we can limit the Lord through unbelief. Yet even though others may put a cap on God's working in their lives, we can continue to listen, respond in faith and grow in our walk with Him. Jesus preached to the masses, but He sent out the few!