DAY 151 - I Just Can’t Believe It

Mark 8:31-35  (NASB) ³¹And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³²And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. ³³But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."  ³⁴And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ³⁵"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.

I just can’t believe it. I just can’t believe that by being kind and serving her I can bring any change in that tyrant I have to call a supervisor. I just can’t believe that I can help best by leaving him alone – then he will really mess up. I wonder. How often does I just can’t believe it keep us from seeing the work of God, deprive us from experiencing the blessings of God, and prevent us from following the lead of God. How often does I just can’t believe it cut us off from God?

It had been an unbelievable three years with Jesus. Things had gone remarkably smoothly. The crowds were astonished at His preaching and so were the disciples. And then there were the miracles, the young boy snatched from death, the folks with failing eyesight who could now see, the stilling of the storm, the feeding of five thousand people. But then Jesus said he must go to Jerusalem and suffer and be put to death. "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” The disciples just couldn’t believe it. What was He talking about?  How were they supposed to deny themselves?

To deny self can happen only when we become aware that there is a conflict between what we want for our life and what God wants. We can deny ourselves only when we become aware that the plans we have made for our life, even the plans we have made for today conflict with God’s plans for us. We can deny ourselves only when we discover that the job we thought we had to have, the success we thought we needed to be happy, the relationship we just could not live without are in conflict with the job, the success, and the relationship God wants to give us. To deny self is based on this kind of awareness.

Once we become aware of the conflict we have a decision to make. If we say yes to God, we begin to sprinkle our days with words of yieldedness to God, as simple as saying “Ok, God. If that is what you want.” To deny self is to make decisions in the face of doubt and uncertainty and in a spirit of trust in God’s sovereign rule. To deny self is an awareness. It is a decision. Beyond the agony of our conflict with God comes the ecstasy of living in the flow of God’s will. Denying self brings peace within.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope March 19, 2000

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 150 - Gone Fishing

Mark 1:16-20 (NASB) 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.

Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John are fishermen. They use the skill of their minds and the strength of their bodies to catch fish. And they fish together as a community. They go out in separate boats but they help one another to find the fish, to cast the nets around the fish, and, when the catch is large, to help one another bring in the fish. It is a hard life but a good life.

And then it happened that a stranger came to their village. He was a stranger, but they had heard of Him. When John the Baptist had been arrested and executed they had heard that the stranger was the one taking John’s place. And today they met Him and something happened. They sensed the power and presence of God in this man and heard a call to their life that struck a chord, even though they did not really understand much at this point. They simply had a dim awareness.

And this is the way faith starts, with awareness, even with a vague awareness, a small awareness. Four fishermen leave behind their nets and begin a walk with this stranger, uncertain and yet sure that this is what they want to do. They feel a power and have a sense of excitement that bringing in a big haul of fish usually gives them.

Jesus came to a few fishermen at a time when people were looking for and hoping for God to show a grand display of power, and the only show of power is the awakening in these four of a sense of God’s presence and God’s call. The Kingdom came in the simple power of Jesus to influence these four fishermen enough that they left their nets and followed Him. These men were fishermen, and Jesus told them that He would show them how to do the same with people, to bring others into contact with God’s love and God’s grace and God’s call to their life. He would show them how to use all the skills of their minds and the strengths of their bodies to reach people who assume that God is distant and remote, and to bring them into God’s presence and love.

In a world where children have to be taken to soccer practice, and the dishwasher breaks, and there are bills to pay and deadlines to keep, Jesus meets us with an awareness of God’s presence. And I will make you… The call of God is not about what you and I have to do. It is about what God can do with us, as we mend our nets and do our jobs. Through us, God will touch the lives of others. It is not about what we have to do. It is about taking the next step with Jesus and believing what God can do with us. 

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope January 23, 2000

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 149 - A Calm in Capernaum

Mark 1:21-28 (RSV) ²¹And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. ²²And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. ²³And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; ²⁴and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." ²⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" ²⁶And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." ²⁸And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Today we generally do not talk about “unclean spirits” except in a superstitious way. We do not talk about unclean spirits, but we have been heard to say, “I don’t know what came over me. I just have a short fuse.” I hope that this passage from Mark and the man with an unclean spirit can at least raise some questions for us.

Could we call anxious striving being possessed by unclean spirits? Could we call addiction to alcohol, drugs, sex, or food being possessed by an unclean spirit? Could we call being possessed by worry or being trapped in a sick relationship an unclean spirit?

The action of Jesus raises hope for us. The action of Jesus raises hope for our deliverance and for the deliverance of others, others for whom we hope and others on whom we may have given up hope. Jesus still offers hope and heals by the power of His word.

The word of Jesus still frees us when it reaches us. The word of Christ frees us from anxious striving, from the struggle to try to build a life that best suits our needs and desires, from hammering together a life out of the bits and pieces of scrap lumber that come our way. The word of Jesus frees us to see life and that life is all a gift. Jesus has the power to heal every unclean spirit that comes over us. Do we believe that? Do we live with that awareness and confidence?

Jesus not only has the power to heal every unclean spirit that comes over us, but has also called us to be channels of that power. Do you believe that God could call you and give you the right words to free someone from an unclean spirit? If God does not use you and me how will God release others from unclean spirits?

Do we believe that Jesus has the power to release us from unclean spirits and that Jesus calls us to release others? And they were astonished at His teaching.  Can you believe it?

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope January 30, 2000

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 148 - Rumblings, Rumors, and Reality

Mark 1:4-11 (NIV) ⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” ⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

A man named John appeared in the desert, not far from Jericho on the banks of a shallow stream call the Jordan River. He wore a camel hair habit and a leather belt tied at the waist. John appeared denouncing Herod, saying that Herod’s wealth could not protect him from God’s wrath. And his words ignited a fire in Israel. John was like David taking on Goliath without a slingshot, only with words, hard words and honest words. And John was like the prophets of old, confronting the powers that be with a total disregard for his own life and with a consuming zeal for the righteousness of God.

 John awoke a spirit in the people that had been asleep for a long, long time. But then he did something else. He told the people to repent, to quit blaming others, quit feeling like a victim of the Romans, quit complaining.  He told the people to accept responsibility for what they had done wrong and sweep it outside. He told them they could do something that would make a difference. And that something was to repent, accept responsibility and be baptized. Baptism signals God’s forgiveness for those who take responsibility for the wrong they have done.

And for the people who had felt helpless, for those who had been assuming there was nothing they could do, this message was a heady thing. It was an exhilarating experience. It was a spiritually liberating recovery of freedom that they had given over to Roman occupation. How marvelous to emerge from the dark land of blame and of feeling helpless to the light and joy of having a choice. It just didn’t get any better than this.

But John said that there was more. There was One coming after him who would be mightier than he. When Jesus came and walked calmly into the water, bowing His head before John to be baptized, a white dove came and rested on His shoulder, a sign of all creation participating in revealing the truth of baptism.  What more could there be that would be any better than the freedom and relief brought to life by repentance? To be one who is beloved by God and in whom God is well pleased.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope January 9, 2000

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 147 - Lepers Wanted, Disciples Needed

Leviticus 13:45-46 (RSV)  ⁴⁵ "The leper who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry, `Unclean, unclean.' ⁴⁶ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone in a habitation outside the camp.

Mark 1:40-42 (NRSV) A leper^* came to him begging him, and kneeling^* he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ ⁴¹Moved with pity,^* Jesus^* stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ ⁴²Immediately the leprosy^* left him, and he was made clean

In Israel leprosy was the worst thing that could happen to you. You were declared unclean, and were forced to live among the stench, the resignation, and the hopeless suffering of other lepers. You were forced to wear a white shroud normally worn only by the dead. The leper who approached Jesus had been rejected by family and friends, and then it appeared that even God rejected him.

Leprosy reminds us that some pretty bad things can happen to us and the world can be a harsh place to live. The expectations at work can be unfair. Jobs can be deadly dull. Marriages become stale and just a shell of any real relationship. The tiny spot is malignant, there are bills to pay. In this harsh world, it is easy to develop a toxic faith, the assumption that God cannot or will not do anything about the harshness of life.

Jesus reached out His hand and touched the leper. He reached out through the stench, past the repulsive sight, past the taboos and all the advice telling Him to leave this man alone, and He touched him. Jesus touched him because the truth of God is a heart of compassion. You would not have known that just by looking at the man with leprosy. If that is all you saw, you might feel that God was unfair to let this happen. You might not have known this if you simply listened to what people were saying – stay away to protect yourself. That’s what everyone said. But everyone is not the truth of God. Jesus healed the man because the man left behind the resignation, the conclusion that said nothing could be done, the community who did not trust in God.

The leper gave Jesus the opportunity to heal him by kneeling, a sign of humility and willingness to receive whatever God chose to give. When kneeling is an act of the heart as well as knees we give God the opportunity to help us. The leper gave Jesus the opportunity to heal him by acknowledging the sovereign freedom that Jesus has, saying that Jesus has every right not to heal him if that is what Jesus chooses. If you will. Sometimes when we ask of God we ask like a drowning person, thrashing in water so hard for an answer that we resist any answer. But, here, there is no frantic thrashing in the water. There is simply openness and acceptance of whatever Jesus chooses to do. Jesus still seeks to touch us with the compassion of God, through another person or a moment of awareness. Give Jesus the opportunity to reach out and touch you with His compassion.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope February 13, 2000

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 146 - A Happening in the Home of Simon Peter

Mark 1:29-38 (NIV) ²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.  ³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. ³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” ³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Jesus and the disciples come to the home of Simon Peter. They enter the small mud brick house expecting to find Peter’s wife and mother-in-law busy preparing the Sabbath feast. They were expecting the smell of fresh bread baking and the aroma of pungent spices, but on this day there is no meal, for Peter’s mother-in-law is sick with a fever. Jesus finds her lying on a mat and stoops down to her. With His touch the fever is gone, immediately, and she began to serve them. She served them in the spirit of celebration that filled the home. As the day ends we can imagine the people gathered around Peter’s home. We can hear the rumble of conversations. We see the bright expectation in their eyes as they wait for their turn to be touched.

Very early the next morning, Peter awakens knowing that many more people would be coming that day to seek Jesus’ power for healing, and Peter finds Jesus praying in solitude. Jesus says to him, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” As Peter hears these words, how do you think he felt? The miracles of healing seem almost an aside to what Jesus felt was really His reason for being here. So what is going on?

Jesus had healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever, and we know what a fever does to us. It zaps us, drains us our energy, and darkens our interest in God and almost anything else except hoping for the fever to pass. The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law is a sign that God will come into our life when we are drained of all energy, when life has knocked the props out from under us, when we are feverish with activity to make our life better, and will heal us.

This healing is a sign that God will reach into our life and heal us, but there is a sign of something even more important. Jesus says “Let us go somewhere else so I can preach there also.” Jesus came to give the message of God’s loving rule in our lives. The power of His rule is seen in Peter’s mother-in-law. She served not because it was what she was supposed to do, but because of her gratitude to God. God comes in His Son to set us free so that we can see what we are here for.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope February 6, 1999

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles

DAY 145 -The Power to Make a Difference

II Corinthians 5:18-21 (NIV) ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus came to change the world. Jesus came to lift up our vision and to give us power to make a difference. In Christ, things were made right in a world that was cut off and alienated from God. There has always been the alienation that comes from insisting that we have our own way. There is the alienation of indifference to God, and the alienation of hostility to God, living in rebellion and resentment toward God. Today, we have a new kind of alienation from God. It is best described as living in a world that is spiritually hungry yet sees Christianity as an ancient compass in a Global Positioning world. Into this spiritually hungry world God sends you and me as ambassadors.

God sends you and me into this alienated world, representing God’s sovereign will. An ambassador of God is a special kind of servant of God. An ambassador has the authority to speak and the power to act on behalf of a ruler, and in this case on behalf of God. As those called to serve God and to represent God in this world I want to ask some questions.

How well do we represent God? Do we echo the yearning love of Jesus? Do we warn of self-destructiveness with an ache in our heart? Do we look upon a searching people with the gut-wrenching compassion of Jesus? Do we have confidence in God in places where people doubt God, disregard the love of God, and deny the power of God?

Are we aware of the power that God has given us to represent God and to make a difference? Are these simply Bible words to us or do they describe the reality of our heart and mind? Serving God sounds good, but what does it mean? It means that we see ourselves as servants of God, who have the authority to speak for God and to act for God in order to be of service to God.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope September 26, 1999

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles