“In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again.  And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery” (Mark 10:10-12).

What does God intend?  That the two become one.  Yes, there are all kinds of reasons why divorce happens, but look at God’s intent.  He desires that the two learn how to unite as one.  Not one over the other, but two working as one.  So also, we are the bride of Christ and He is teaching us how to be one with Him.  It is not a power struggle, but a shifting, blending and growing that happens, just as should happen in marriage.

Lord help me.  I hear these words, but I am constantly striving and seeking for myself rather than learning from You how life is to be lived.  This principle goes beyond marriage to include all of the relationships I have.  Teach me what it means to pursue being who I am in the midst of relationship.  Teach me to not seek to exert power or authority, but live in the truth You have revealed.

Lord Jesus, You have given me the words of life.  You will lead me and I must follow.  Guide me this day to have Your righteousness come into all of my relationships.  Lead me according to the Father’s purpose to live out today those things which You would have me do.  Through all the turmoil of this age, guide me in the upward call You have given me so that I may live into the life You offer.  Amen.

“But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:6-9).

God made them and God made us.  In our world, we are encouraged to choose our identity.  We hear from the meaning of the first article in the Creed that God made each one of us.  Either God made you or else you get to determine who you will be.  It boils down to that.  The Son has come to make you in the image of Christ.  To live the Christian life is to be created each day and proceed as the Lord will make of you what He will.

Lord, this world promotes independence and seeking for the self, but You are the One who made me.  Help me to not fall into the trap of thinking that I am independent from You.  Help me to see that if You are not the One making me, I am on the broad road which leads to destruction.  Guide me in the way of living the life You give me no matter the cost so that I may be with You forever.

Thank You Lord Jesus for reminding us that all things have their being because of You.  You have come to lead all who believe into a life that is defined by righteousness.  Lead me in this life and help me to not be distracted by the constant noise of this world.  You alone must be the One who leads, for I am often confused by all of the conflicting ideas that swirl around me in this world.  Help me Jesus.  Amen.

“They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”  But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment” (Mark 10:4-5).

Moses wrote this law to allow them do what they were going to do.  This was never God’s intent, but came about because of man’s sinfulness.  It is because of our hardness of heart that these things were allowed.  Grace allows us to sin, but its purpose is to restore us so that we sin no more.  It is not an excuse.  The world looks for excuses, but our Lord desires that we learn to live life the way was created to be lived.

Lord, You know that I run with allowances thinking I am being faithful when I am doing things the way I want to do them.  Lead me away from such thinking in order that I may learn how to live life according to Your righteousness.  I know I have grace to cover my sin, but lead me to live needing less and less forgiveness and more and more encouragement to live according to Your will.

Come Holy Spirit and clear my mind.  You know where I look for excuses.  You know where I seek to do things the way I want to do them rather than obediently doing what is right in Your sight.  Guide me Lord Jesus according to all that You have taught me so that I live into this life for which You are shaping me according to the Father’s will.  I need to be saved from myself.  Save me gracious Lord.  Amen.

“Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.  And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” (Mark 10:2-3)

What was the custom of Moses?  What is the custom of the Lord?  Is there a difference?  The Lord allows us to establish customs for our needs, but it is always fair to ask ourselves whether or not our customs fully conform to what the Lord desires.  Our habits do shape us, but they are not the law.  Even the law is subject to the Lord.  Therefore, subject all things in your life to the Lord.

Lord, You know where I play games with myself, others, and You.  I am often seeking for a way around what is simply a matter of obedience.  I know You have given me grace upon grace, but help me to live not seeking to be forgiven, but to live righteously according to Your will.  Teach me how to think such that I seek first You and Your righteousness with a desire to do Your will.

Thank You Lord Jesus for being gracious.  In while yet I was (and still am) a sinner, You died that I might be forgiven.  I do come to You looking for excuses, but You offer solutions and the way of true life.  Lord, lead me with humility and in submission to the Father’s will no matter the consequences.  Guide me now and forever in the right way of living life so that I may follow You now and forever.  Amen

“Getting up, He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them” (Mark 10:1).

The Gospel is not just for our community or whom we think ought to have it, but for the whole world.  The Lord sends His Gospel where He will send it.  Sinners will segregate and separate, but the Lord includes people of every tribe, tongue, folk, and nation.  Jesus has come to teach us the way of everlasting life.  We need to be taught.  If we are conformed to Jesus, then we should be conformed to His custom.

Lord, You are the One who has given me faith.  You are the One who has established what is needed.  You are the One who has accomplished salvation for all those who believe.  You are the One who has given the words of eternal life.  You are the author and finisher of our faith.  You need to be the One who teaches us all that we need to know.  Help us to receive all that You will give for Your sake.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way and I must follow.  You know what the road ahead looks like, its temptations, and the places of difficulty.  Help me to look to You, my Rabbi, to teach me what I need to know.  Help me to adopt Your customs and not be guided by my thoughts or ideas, except where they have been conformed to Your customs.  Lead me Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:49-50).

Salt is a catalyst with the addition of fire.  It causes the refining fire to burn evenly.  We live in a time of tribulation and we are being tested all the day long.  Do not be burned by this world which is always seeking our destruction, but be led by the One who will refine you to become like Christ.  In Him alone do we live, breathe, and have our being.  He will bring you through the tribulation of this world to be with Him forever.

Gracious Lord, there seems to be much more going on than I can either see or understand.  I do need to be saved and You are the only One who can save me.  Help me dear Lord to see this simple truth.  Then, help me to submit to You in and through all things.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I live trusting You above all things.  Guide me to know that in You there is hope upon hope.

Thank You my Lord and Savior that You have come to lead the way through this age of wicked rebellion.  I have the infection and the disease has ravaged me.  Help me and lift me up so that I have Your saltiness and become refined according to the Father’s will.  Lead me in all righteousness for Your name’s sake as I grow in Your likeness day by day.  Be the One who leads me in living this life You have given me.  Amen.

“If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:47-48).

We think we see clearly.  We do not.  Would it not be better to see clearly in one eye than to see dimly with both eyes.  We may work hard to get ahead in this world, but would it not be better to be maimed so that we live spending time with the Lord, seeking His will, and studying the word He has given us?  We cling to what we know, but we have been offered to know by faith the One who we do not know.

Lord, You are not telling us to maim ourselves, but to live wholly for You.  Lead me so that I live according to Your word and not according to the things of this fallen world.  I cling to what I know, but what do I know?  Help me to live for what is right and true.  Grant me sight to see and a willingness to walk with You no matter what it may cost me in this life.  Help me to live not trying to save my skin, but seeking the life which You offer.

Lord Jesus, You gave up Your body as the ultimate and final sacrifice so that all who believe could enter the journey of becoming like You.  Help me, for I need more help than I can imagine.  Take me out of my skin so that I am willing to give up everything I know for Your sake and the sake of Your kingdom.  Guide me Lord in the way You know I need to go and help me each step of the way.  Amen.

“If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:45-46).

We live in a time where outward things are considered to be of ultimate importance.  The ultimate importance is living in peace with the One who made you.  Knowing that this life is limited and short, why do you cling to what is temporary when what is eternal has been offered to you?  Enter into the struggle to become what He will make of you.  Walk willingly with the Lord who is creating in you to be like Jesus.

Lord, I do not see clearly nor do I understand what all of this means.  I have heard and believe that You have spoken the words of eternal life.  Guide me so that I do not stop with the things of this world but press on toward the prize.  Help me to walk by faith even though I do not yet see what my heart longs for.  Guide me to live according to Your word no matter what the cost to this temporary body You have given me.

Lord Jesus, at first these words seem so harsh, but they make sense.  You have come to complete me in You.  I do not even know what this means, but I do know that I have my part.  Help me to be rid of whatever it is that would get in the way of my trusting in You above all things.  Teach me how to be faithful and to be willing to pay whatever the cost to complete the journey You have placed before me.  Amen.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.  If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, (where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched)” (Mark 9:42-43).

There seems to be much stumbling going on in our world.  The simple truth is that Jesus has opened the way for all who believe to come into life as it is meant to be lived.  He is the way, truth, and life and all must come through Him into eternal rest.  Any other way proposed is a stumbling block.  Do not hinder any who might see the light shining in the darkness.  Be an encouragement to all.

Lord, I have caused others to stumble through my careless words and thoughtless actions, but I know that You have called me to humbly submit to You knowing that You will work all things together for good for those who love You.  Help me to not be a stumbling block, but a faithful follower of the way You have established.  Lead me to live the life You have given me knowing that in You is all hope.

Lord Jesus, You are teaching us to live intentionally, being careful with all that we say and do.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to neither stumble, nor cause others to stumble.  No matter what it costs me in this world, keep me close to You through all that comes.  Guide me in the upward call You have given me so that I may be faithful by Your grace.  Amen.

“For he who is not against us is for us.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward” (Mark 9:40-41).

In this world, there are many who are against the truth of the Lord God Almighty.  Living in the wishful thinking that things can be the way they want them to be, they live according to what they want.  Such things are an illusion.  Do not be driven by what you think, but by reality.  Those who are not against the Lord will end up with and for Him.  It may not be in a way You understand, but trust the One who understands all things.

Lord, I do things the way I do them.  Others who do things differently are foreign to me.  Foreign itself is not evil or wrong, so help me to understand that different is different and that is all it is.  I am not the judge, You are.  Grant that I would learn this lesson of humility so that I do things according to Your will and not my own.  Guide me in Your goodness to do what is right in the Father’s sight.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who knits together Your body, the church.  Help me to humbly do my part and not take into my hands control of how things are done.  You are the Savior of us all.  Only in You do we have salvation.  You are the One with all power and authority.  Help me look to You for all things, including the mercy and grace I need to give to others.  May I look to You first always Lord Jesus.  Amen.