“For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God)’ (Mark 7:10-11)

God already owns everything.  It is entrusted to us for our use in this age.  We all know how to make excuses not to do things.  Do not play games with God or with one another.  We are to love our neighbor.  Above this, we are to honor our parents.  Help those who are in need and do not use God as your excuse for not helping.  From the smaller things, larger lessons are learned.  Learn the lessons.

Lord, You know the games I play with myself and others.  You have come to save me.  I need saving.  Bring me through the muddle of my thinking.  Sin effects my behavior so that I don’t seek to do what is right in Your eyes.  Remove those obstacles that are in the way of my being faithful to Your commands.  Guide me out of the fog of sinful thinking to see things as You intend for me to see them.

Come, Holy Spirit, and minister to my heart.  Though I resist, confront me where I need it.  Through all things, help me to understand what it means to be obedient.  Where I am selfish and seek to retain ownership, free me to be obedient as You direct me.  You know all that I need and what stands in the way.  Lead me to overcome these things in my way so that I may learn obedience from You.  Amen.

“Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”  He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition” (Mark 7:8-9).

How often do we hold to tradition and ignore the commandment of God?  This is not a simple question.  Jesus wants us to go inward and ask ourselves, “When have I done this?”  Following the Lord and leading others so that they may follow the Lord is more important than the way we do things.  That we do things a certain way is fine, but do not let that get in the way of being obedient.

Lord, You know where I have let my traditions get in the way of the heart that You desire.  Help me to understand that the traditions are to support my behavior and not the practice of the behavior itself.  Help me to live with others in relationship and not behind the wall of a specific practice.  It is to You alone that we are to conform ourselves and not to our ideas of how this is to be done.

Lord Jesus, You know fully what You meant in saying these words.  Teach me so that I can understand.  Guide me so that I humbly submit to Your commandments, even in those times where it may compromise my traditions.  Help me by teaching me all that it means to obey all that You command.  Lord, I want to be obedient to You above all things.  Teach me how to do this by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.  ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men’ (Mark 7:6-7).

Things do not seem to have changed much.  Some will do what they do only for themselves.  The Lord seeks our heart and desires that we humbly walk with Him.  He will lift us up and out of the mire of sin to learn how to love as He first loved us.  It is not just what we do or say on the outside, but who we are from the inside out that matters.  Our Lord will lead us into righteousness.

Lord, You know the wickedness that is in my heart.  You know the places where Your grace needs to wash away my sin so that I have a heart that loves You and my neighbor.  Guide me out of the mess of sin that is within me to see things through Your eyes.  Help to love You and others the way You do.  Teach me these things and, by grace, forgive me where I get snared in what is wrong.

Lord Jesus, Your grace is sufficient.  Through the trials of this age, You will teach me what it means to love others.  Guide me now and always to humbly walk in the way You would have me go.  Guard my tongue and help the cleanness You give come from within me and for Your sake.  Let my precepts be Your precepts.  Teach me to live faithfully and not in the vanity of this age.  Amen.

“The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?”  (Mark 7:5)

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles, but what comes out.  Yes, cleanliness is good hygiene, but the Lord has created us such that a little contamination helps our immune system.  Of course, in the past it was the opposite where lack of hygiene spread disease.  Sinful humanity tends towards fanaticism.  The Lord brings freedom and teaches us prudence and temperance.

Lord God, You have set all things in their course.  What You give us what is good and often this leads to our sinfully wanting excess.  Help me to live in the way You know I need to live, neither being fanatical, nor neglectful of the things needing to be done.  Help me to learn from You the balance I need in order that I may be guided always by Your goodness and mercy.

Holy Spirit, You know where my mind goes and the way I think of things.  Teach me to neither be defiant nor insistent as You lead me in living the life which Christ has called me to live.  Through Your guidance I can learn to respect You and others and not arrogantly insist that things be done the way I want them done.  By grace, You are more than able to lead me in the way of righteousness.  Amen.

“(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots)” (Mark 7:1-2.) 

The root of the tradition is good.  Cleanliness maintains health.  But there are times when it is not practical.  To wash is one thing, to make a ceremony of it every time is quite another.  It is not what we do that saves us, but the One who did for us what we could not do for ourselves, who saves us.  Practice common sense, but do not live just by traditions, but by the One who made all things.

Lord, I know You are not against traditions, only when they get in the way of my relationship with You.  Help me to live in relationship with You, doing what is needful, and being practical in daily life.  Lead me beyond those things which would hinder me and help me to understand clearly where I am making more, or even less, of things which may hinder me from walking in Your righteousness.

Lord Jesus, You instituted traditions, so I know they are not all bad.  Help me to learn from You where to place ceremonies in my life and where to set them aside.  Be the One who leads me, and walk alongside me today and each day, so that I may learn faithfulness from You step by step.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way of everlasting life.  Help me to abide in the life You have given me through grace.  Amen/

The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed.

The traditions of men are deep in us all.  Not that all traditions are bad – we all have them – but the truth is that we are to love, fear, and trust God above all things.  Yes, it is good to wash your hands, but will we go to hell if we do not?  There is the impure in body, and then there is impurity of the soul.  One can have an unclean body and yet be clean in heart.  We are called to follow the Lord.

Lord, you know that I need a clean heart.  Help me so that my traditions do not get in the way of my faith in You.  Help me to be clean, yes, but not for my own sake, but in obedience to all that You would have me do.  Give me a heart that questions why I do what I do in order that I would learn to be obedient to You in and through all things.  Teach me what it means to be faithful.  Only by Your guidance am I able to live a life of faith.

Lord Jesus, help me to see and understand the details of what I read in the Gospel.  In all things, keep my mind curious so that I seek the wisdom You offer.  Guide me by the power of Your Holy Spirit to seek faithfulness in all that I do.  Guide me to live according to Your word and not be caught up into the traditions of men.  Also, help me to not be hostile to tradition, but understand that traditions can guide, but that You alone must lead.  Amen.

“There were five thousand men who ate the loaves” (Mark 6:44).

How many People is the Lord able to take care of at the same time?  Not only all people, but all things in the universe are maintained by the Lord.  A sparrow does not fall to the ground that the Lord does not know of it.  The Lord is able to take care of all people at the same time.  In simple terms, the truth is that there is nothing that is not possible with the Lord.  With the Lord, all things are possible.

Lord, each day You provide enough for every living thing.  Of course, you were able to take what little was offered ,and made of it enough for everyone present.  Help me to understand that by trusting in You I am able to accomplish what You intend.  Teach me what it means to trust You above all things.  Guide me into this faith so that I put into action what You intend.

Lord Jesus, You asked a simple question of the disciples.  They did as You directed and then, with what we call a miracle, the crowd was fed.  Help me to trust You such that I listen to what You say knowing that You are more able to do all that You say.  Lead me in faith so that I believe and follow through with all that You command.  Overcome my unbelief.  Help me to trust Your word.  Amen.

“And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all.  They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish” (Mark 6:41-42).

They all ate and were satisfied.  What is it that we really need?  The Lord causes the rain to fall and the plants to grow.  The world feeds daily by His provision.  Too many act as though the very things we use each day are not miracles provided by the Lord.  The faithful ones are called to lives that are thankful for all that the Lord provides.  There is enough for everyone.

“Take and eat, this is my body, given for you.”  Lord God, You have provided all that we need.  It is right there before us.  Overcome the unbelief amongst those who call themselves Yours.  Help us to understand these things and act on them.  Help us to use the provision You give us and live as You are leading us in the way of the everlasting life You have offered us.

Thank You Lord Jesus for providing the means of grace.  In Your grace, You have given me all that I need.  Life is more than food or clothing for the body.  You are the author of life and have established the narrow way that leads to life everlasting.  Help me each step of the way, for you alone know all that is needed.  Guide me in Your goodness to see the everyday miracles that surround me.  Amen.

“And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”  And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass.  They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties” (Mark 6:38-40).

With the Lord, all that we have is enough.  Can you not see that He, through whom all things came into existence, is more than able to do all that is needful to provide for our every need.  He calls us together and provides all that is necessary.  Do we believe?  Do we trust that He is the One who will lead us all the days of our lives?  Come and taste and see that the Lord is always good.

Lord God, all things are possible with You, but I often doubt, and in my doubts, do not believe.  Help me to move beyond my own abilities to see that in You there is hope.  You give us hope beyond anything this world can provide.  When You tell us to do something, grant us faith such that we do what You command.  If You say that we should tell a mountain to be moved into the sea, help us to speak to the mountain.

Lord Jesus, in the example of Your life and ministry, You have demonstrated how to live a life of willing obedience to the Father.  Lead me to be in constant prayer.  Help me to do those things You give me to do.  Through all that comes, help me now and always to abide in the truth that You are always with me and leading me in the journey of faith.  Not by my will, but by Yours, guide me in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” (Mark 6:37)

Sometimes what the Lord asks of us seems so outrageous.  We think of earthly things and count the cost, figuring we cannot afford it.  Jesus, the One through whom all things have come to be, is able to do all things.  It is not just food for the belly that Jesus has come to give, but food for the soul which nourishes us and prepares us for life everlasting.  If the Lord asks for you to do something, He will provide what is needful.

Lord, You know where I do not fully believe and think only in worldly terms.  You know the places where I try to figure things out on my own and do not do what You would have me do.  Help my unbelief and guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to not act on what I see, but upon what You tell me.  Lead me into all righteousness for Your sake and learn how to step out in the faith You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You have become the living bread for our sake.  There is more than enough, for You have provided what money cannot buy.  Lead me in the way You would have me go and help me to believe in You when You ask me to do something.  Help me through my doubts in order that I may learn to obey all that You command.  You have told me to go.  Guide me to go where You send me.  Amen.