DAY 34 - Change Your Ways

Mark 1:14-20 (NASB) ¹⁴Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, ¹⁵and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." ¹⁶As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁷And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." ¹⁸Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. ¹⁹Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. ²⁰Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

Don’t miss the evidence of God’s rule in the call to the disciples though nothing spectacular happens. Nothing that seems very religious happens. Four people simply walk away with Jesus. They can return in a moment if they want. Yet, in this very common experience we see the Kingdom of God coming into the lives of four people. Those of us who know the stubbornness, the suspiciousness, and the sheer hardened indifference to “change our ways” can appreciate the power and authority in the call to the disciples. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Do you see it? Do you recognize the evidence when it happens? Do you experience the power?

Repent and believe. We often say repentance means “turning,” turning from the world, or sin, or evil, and turning to God. Literally, that is true. But I think repentance is also “turning on.” It is a kind of awakening from a darkness that we did not know we were in as we are turned on to the light we now see. Have you had this experience of repentance, of waking up to a fault or failure you did not know you have?

Belief is the other side of the coin of call. Belief is also a new awareness. Belief is seeing and sensing the sovereignty of God in the life of Jesus, in His preaching and teaching, in the hope He gave people, in His confrontation with people, and especially in His death and resurrection.

Whatever belief may feel like on the inside, it is ultimately and finally something we do. We make a change in the way we have been acting toward someone, finally ask the question of someone. Belief is our response to God’s call. It may be only one step, giving in to a nudge or to some pressure to do the right thing that we have somehow been resisting. Belief is waking up to a new kind of sovereignty and desiring to follow it. The call of Jesus energizes the timid recesses of our soul, brings forth hidden reserves of confidence, conviction, and decision-making that we did not know we had.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope January 26, 1997

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 33 - Not To Condemn But To Save

Numbers 21:4-8 (NIV) ⁴They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; ⁵ they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" ⁶ Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. ⁷ The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. ⁸ The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."

John 3:14-17 (KJV) ¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: ¹⁵That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Life can seem like we are dancing our way through a snake pit. Sometimes we dance through rather successfully; other times we get snake bit. We try to be conscientious in our work and something goes awry. We try to be a good friend and are betrayed. We want to have a good marriage and it does not work out. We try to do everything right with our children and something goes wrong. We are sailing along in good health, and then we get the test back from our doctor. Sometimes we may wonder if God is the one throwing in the snakes.

If we believe God is throwing the snakes into the pit of our life, we read God wrong. The misery of the snakes was a natural consequence to a lost confidence and faith in God. The pole with the serpent was given as a way to keep faith and confidence in God alive and active.

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in Him and accepts God’s gift may have eternal life. Jesus raised on the Cross calls us to faith and confidence in God. At a time when God seems most distant, the Cross says, “God cares.” There are consequences to behavioral choices, and the consequence of accepting God’s gift of Jesus’ death is life. This is the strange paradox. What looks like death gives life. In our worship, daily devotional time, and in prayer we must focus on God’s gift of life in Him until the eyes of Christ rest on us and, like the sun, penetrate our pride and our worry, our bitterness and rebelliousness.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope March 9, 1997

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 32 - What Does Jesus See in You?

John 1:45-49, 51 (NKJV) ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵¹ And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (KJV). Without guile means without pretense, without deceit, sincere, and honest, a straightforward kind of person. Nathanael was a genuine, sincere seeker of God, and yet there was blindness of prejudice and resistance in him. Do you understand what it is like to desire God, to seek God’s reality, and yet also to resist the One whom you seek?

Nathanael wants to see the heavens opened and God ‘s angels descending and ascending as they did on Jacob’s ladder, but he is sure that could not happen in Nazareth. Philip does not argue with the resistance. He simply says, “come and see.” Come and find out for yourself.

Despite his reservations and resistance, Nathanael accepts. He meets the One who says Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile... when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Jesus is declaring to Nathanael the kind of person he really is, one who may resist and yet one who is genuinely seeking God. And for Nathanael it is like the lights come on. He has met someone who knows him better than he knows himself.

Do you know what that is like, to meet someone who knows you better than you know yourself? They see potential in you that you did not know you had. They may also see faults that you did not know you had. And they can communicate all of this to you in a way that makes you glad?

Come and see. You will sense someone who knows you better than you know yourself. It will dawn on you that God’s grace has grabbed you and will not let you go. You will discover that the One you have been dimly seeking is seeking you with a fierceness that you did not imagine, and a care and concern for you that you did not think possible. Listen then to what Jesus says, you – will – see – heaven - opened. Jesus is speaking to Nathanael. Is He speaking to you? Come and see.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope January 19, 1997

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 31 - What’s the Point?

Mark 1:4-11 (NASB) ⁴John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ⁶John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. ⁷And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. ⁸"I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." ⁹In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; ¹¹and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

You are my beloved Son. Here the key is beloved. The term has to do with Jesus’ own awareness of God as His father, with His sense of mission to communicate love to others, and with His desire to bring others into the enjoyment of that relationship that was so real to Him.

And His baptism confirms His conviction and His mission. To know that we are beloved is to sense God’s care and commitment to us. Beloved is sensing in our soul the truth of God’s commitment to us. Is that a reality to you? Does that awareness daily influence your life?

Do you know people who have been well loved by their parents, by others, and yet do not sense themselves beloved? And do you know people who were not well loved by their parents, who suffered painful rejection and yet at some point in their life they heard the message from God, “You are my beloved”?

Beloved is a gift we receive from God. And the gift makes a difference in our lives. If we know ourselves to be beloved, can we still be angry, irritable, and resentful? Can we be frustrated or discouraged? Could we casually drift away from God’s love and God’s will? Yes, we certainly can, but not forever. Knowing that we are beloved is a powerful force that rightens us and motivates us to live in the life God wants us to have.

Many of us have been baptized in water. Have we been baptized in the truth Jesus came to give, that we are beloved? That is the point Mark makes. Have we gotten the point?

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope January 12, 1997

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 30 - Spirituality: Clarity and Conviction Needed

Hebrews 12:1-3 ¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Spirituality has to do with seeking connectedness with a sacred being, with a Higher Power, with God, and literally means to rebind or reconnect. There are different understandings of spirituality in our society, but they seem to share three common threads: awareness or a sense of awakening, the search for “something more,” and a connection to something greater than our own egos.

Jesus is the example of true spiritual living. He is the example of faithful living. In Him we see that spirituality is not an ethereal, other worldly experience, but is having a bond with God to deal with the battles of life here and now. In Him we see that spirituality is not a life of pure peace and calm, but also of the shame of the Cross for the sake of the joy set before Him.

Jesus is not only an example. He is the author and initiator. That means He is active in our life. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, and even as we lose sight, Jesus is at work to bring us along the path. When we wander from the path, when we drift from His good will for our life, He brings us back.

“To fix our eyes on Jesus” is to understand God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. “To fix our eyes on Jesus” is not only a way of understanding but also a way of living. We pursue our way in life according to His direction and with His help.

When we begin to worry about money, when we fret about lack of time, when we get irritated, when we fail, the Author and Perfecter intervenes, makes us aware, brings us to our senses, and calls us back to His way of living in the world.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope October 13, 1996

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 29 - The True Secret of Success

Exodus 16:11-16, 21-23, 31 (NIV) ¹¹ The LORD said to Moses, ¹²"I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' " ¹³That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. ¹⁴When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. ¹⁵When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. ¹⁶This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' " ²¹Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. ²²On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. ²³He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' " ³¹The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

Matthew 4:2-4 (NASB) ²And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. ³And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." ⁴But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"

"If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." The temptation is in the word “command.” Take charge. Take command, and demand that these stones become bread. You need it. You have a right to it. You deserve it, and you can do it. Indeed, we have been taught to believe we will be rewarded with success according to our hard work, discipline, and our dogged determination. Jesus says that we do not live by this dogged determination for success, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

That was the lesson taught to the people of Israel in the wilderness. God commanded manna in the morning and the people collected enough for each day and were satisfied. God commanded. The people responded. And it was enough. In the wilderness the people learned that their life depended on and came from their answering God’s call. The story is repeated throughout the scriptures. Noah was called out of the moral decay around him, told to build an ark and was given life. Abraham answered God’s call to leave the splendor of Haran to give birth to a new nation that would be a blessing to all people. Moses was called to deliver the people from bondage to life in the Promised Land.

When we live as a called person, we do not expect God to do for us what we can do for ourselves. But as we face each day, we gather the manna. We read. We study. We think. We pray. We ask and we talk with others. Then we go about our work, doing it as best we can, and trusting that God is at work for us and that God will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

When we live as a called person, we gather the manna, and we do it in trust, in dependence, and in response to God. The question is no longer whether we are succeeding or failing, but whether we are sensing and answering God’s call.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope September 15, 1996

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 28 - State of the Heart Morality

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV) ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Leviticus 19:18 (NIV) Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV) ³⁴Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

How many of us would like to find the “one thing?” How many of us would like to find one simple answer to the dilemmas and the difficulties we face in life, from raising our children, to doing well in our work, to generally coping with and leading a good life?

The Pharisees had a way to cope with life. They had six hundred thirteen laws. One need only follow the wisdom and advice of those laws to cope with and lead a good life. But sometimes following the six hundred thirteen laws was hard and confusing. They were constantly arguing about how to narrow that list down to the really important laws, to the “one thing.”

Jesus says the “one thing” is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” The answer was pure orthodoxy, taken straight from the Hebrew scriptures. Jesus connected this pure personal devotion to God with care and commitment to people. The answer is simple. The “one thing” is to love God with a passion and to love others with compassion.

And yet the answer is also “confrontive.” It confronts the heartless Pharisee who has such zeal to the right thing and such hardness of heart in doing the loving thing. Can we see it in ourselves? We do the right thing, but without the heart and love and compassion of Jesus Christ. We lead decent lives but our hearts have become crusty and hardened. Jesus confronts our tendency to do what is right but to do it without love.

Preached August 25, 1996

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell