Have Faith

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."
(Mark 11:22-23 NKJV)

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. (Mark 6:5-6 NKJV)

If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
(Psalms 66:18 NKJV)

"Have faith." How often is encouragement offered using this platitude, without distinguishing where to place that faith? Jesus said, "Have faith in God." He then said faith can move a mountain into a faraway sea—assuredly. And at one time, lack of faith actually limited Jesus' power!

This is consistent with His other astonishing statements: "He who believes in Me will do greater works than I do." "Ask what you desire and it shall be done for you." And, "With God all things are possible."

Of course, Jesus put qualifiers on His promises about the power of prayer to move the hand of God. We must abide in Him, and His word must abide in us. We must ask in His name, that is, consistent with His character. We must forgive others. We must forsake sin both in deed and in the heart. We cannot doubt in heart what we ask for in word.

The heart's attitudes affect God's answer to prayer. Imagine the power behind abiding in Jesus closely enough to know His heart, and making His will our own.

Heavenly Father, Your goodness is without limit. Your compassion and mercy are unfathomable. Your grace abounds far above what we might ask. Please make our hearts right with You, so that we may ask for what You long to give us and unleash Your power in our lives. Please increase our faith!

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

The Hour is Late

And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. Now the next day ... Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. (Mark 11:11-12;15-16 NKJV)

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise ... but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise ... both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore ... what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness ...?
(2 Peter 3:9-12 NKJV)

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed ...
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
(Psalms 46:1-2,10 NKJV)

It is often perceived that Jesus rode into Jerusalem and immediately lost His temper over the nonsense at the temple. He actually slept overnight on what He'd seen there before patiently returning to clean house. Perhaps He gave the money changers and sellers a last chance to repent once they realized the King was on the premises.

The King has left the premises, but He promised to come back. He is giving everyone a chance to repent in the meantime. Some need to repent of rebellion, ask forgiveness, and receive salvation. Some of us need to repent of being lukewarm Christians. Some of us need to repent for doubt which delays obedience.

And all of us can continually ask the question, "What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?" What is Jesus waiting for us to do?

The hour is late. When the King returns, will He find me doing what exalts Him as God?

Father in heaven, thank You for looking at me with love and not condemnation. I do not wish to disappoint You. Please make my heart to be still and know Your voice, to embrace what You ask of me, and to do it without delay. Please make all Your people ready for Your Son's return.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

Going up to Jerusalem

"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem ... and they will mock [the Son of Man], and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." Then James and John ... said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" (Mark 10:33-38 NKJV)

"Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." (Deuteronomy 5:32 NKJV)

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.
(Luke 9:51 NKJV)

I shudder to think of the times I've been as insensitive as Jesus' disciples. He describes His horrific death, and they respond by jockeying for position. Might that request for position on the right and left of Jesus have gone through John's mind when he stood at the foot of three crosses?

God plans for us a journey going up to Jerusalem. Like drunkards unable to walk a straight line, we inevitably veer off the path He designates, and seek an easier route slightly to the right or left. The only way to stay on course is to resolutely set our faces to follow in Jesus' footsteps.

The empty cross not only symbolizes Christ's resurrection, but also the vacant cross each of us faces, waiting for us to take our place upon it—every day. The surest path to fullness of resurrection life is via the cross, laying down the will of Self.

Lord Jesus, how did You say "yes" to every step going up to Jerusalem when You knew what awaited? You are our God. Please give each of us the endurance to stay the course—to say "yes" as You lead step by step, to learn to walk in Your ways, and to follow You all of our days.

"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." ~ Dietrich Boenhoeffer

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

You Shall Not Covet

Jesus answered ... "You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' " (Mark 10:18-19 NIV)

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of captivity.
You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol or worship them ...
You shall not misuse the name of your God ...
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it sacred ... on it you shall not work ... nor those who serve you, so that they may rest, as you do...
Honor your father and your mother ... that it may go well with you ...
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not deceive others.
You shall not desire your neighbor's spouse ...
and you shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor."
(Deuteronomy 5:6-21, author's paraphrase)

I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known lust [is sin] unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." (Romans 7:7 EMTV amplified)

Mark quotes Jesus using a rather strong word to forbid coveting. Translated "defraud," the Greek apostereo means "to deprive by fraud." The Old Testament commandment "you shall not covet" actually used two different Hebrew words, forbidding us to chamad ("delight in") another's spouse, or to avah ("wish for") any thing else another owns.

Dishonor, murder, adultery, stealing and lying indeed deprive another's right to respect, life, marital privilege, ownership, or the truth. Sin begins in my heart by coveting. And my wrong desire first steals from me. It will not go well with me. I suffer hatred. My spouse loses my affection. I fail to enjoy what God has given me. I yield to the "father of lies."

The world says, "Feelings aren't right or wrong, they just are." The Bible soundly rejects that notion. We are told that "though we walk in the flesh ... [we wage war with spiritual weapons] ... bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

This is not impossible. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

Lord of Eminence, who looks at the heart, how gracious You were to look beyond our wicked thoughts and see our potential for love. Thank You for deliverance. Thank You for creating us anew. Please help us rely on You, and walk away from the sin that no longer holds us captive.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

Prayer and Fasting

And when [Jesus] had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast [the demon] out?" So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:28-29 NKJV)

"You fast ... this day, To make your voice heard on high.
Is it a fast that I have chosen,
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the LORD?
Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?"
(Isaiah 58:4-6 NKJV)

I wept and chastened my soul with fasting.
(Psalms 69:10 NKJV)

The discipline of prayer and fasting is a tragic anomaly in American Christianity. Even when we attempt it, I suspect few of us are able to fully shed our obligations and dedicate ourselves to the kind of fasting the Bible describes—weeping, afflicting ourselves, immersed in prayer. Fasting done well apparently builds fellowship with God and imparts sensitivity to what grieves Him.

I confess that I rarely manage more than what amounts to a 24-hour hunger strike. The flesh may be slightly subdued for a time (a good thing), but the spirit experiences little of the humbling, brokenness, and sorrow that build spiritual muscle and bend the Lord's ear.

The Bible never addresses prayer and fasting as an "if you fast" matter, but always takes it for granted as a "when you fast ..." matter. It is evident that Jesus was quite familiar with fasting. If we are His disciples, we'd do well to imitate Him, despite full schedules and busy lives.

King of the Universe and Eternity, how is it that You call us "friends"? Is it barely possible that You long for the same fellowship, affection and love that we do? Do You indeed seek out hearts with whom You might share Your deepest feelings? Please teach us how to be faithful friends.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy