Pastor Bob DuPar
March 1, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Leviticus 24:1-25:46; Mark 10:13-31; Psalm 44:9-26; Proverbs 10:20-21.

Observation

I’m fascinated by the year of Jubilee and the provisions for the poor. What a great concept (as if any of God’s ideas aren’t amazing!) Also, what a lesson for God’s people to trust in His sovereignty and provision for them as well.

I love the Mark passage in today’s reading. Jesus becomes “indignant” with the disciples for wanting to turn the children away. I guess the disciples viewed children as another “not one of us” subclass. But, I’m glad that Scripture includes this description of Jesus embracing and blessing children. This helps to “flesh-out” the Abba Father passage, and it gives us balance in our perspective of God. When Jesus says, “…the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, ‘whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all,” it reminds us of God’s accessibility and His heart. However educated we get, however wise (in our own eyes!)… We need to always come to God with the simplicity, honesty and purity of a child.

I’m intrigued by Proverbs 10:21a, “The lips of the righteous feed many...” Often, the lips of the righteous correct, rebuke, and sometimes judge; but we forget that our lips are to encourage, build up, and benefit others. What a great question for self-analysis: “Do my lips feed others?” Or, “Do my lips leave others malnourished?” Sometimes it’s not just even the negative, hurtful things that we say; it’s also the empty, meaningless things that come from our lips – that have no eternal benefit or fruit.

Application

I need to constantly be reminded of that picture of the children coming to Jesus. Sometimes I complicate my faith, and forget what it means to approach God like a child.

As one who gets paid to “feed others” with his lips, the Proverbs verse really struck a chord. Do my lips feed, or merely entertain? Do my lips feed, or self-promote? Do my lips feed with faith that translates to action? Or, do my lips just talk philosophically and theoretically? These are the kind of questions I need to be asking myself on a regular basis.

Prayer

“God, help my lips to benefit others, for my words to be Your words. Your words are the only words of value and eternal significance and consequence. Help my words to bear fruit and make a difference.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 28, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Leviticus 22:17-23:44; Mark 9:30-10:12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19.

Observation

I think it’s hilarious that Jesus asks the disciples what they were arguing about in Mark 9:33. And, how pathetic that they were arguing over who was the greatest instead of grasping that everything was about the kingdom and not about self-promotion. How often we think it’s all about us! How challenging and appropriate are Jesus’ words for each one of us:

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

And, later the disciples are bothered that someone (“not one of us” in their words) was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Sounds like the disciples really had a “members only” mentality going on.

Finally, I love Psalm 44:6-8,

“I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise Your name forever.”

If we substitute our personal object(s) of security or confidence for the words: “bow” and “sword” it becomes more personal!

Application

My wife related a great Beth Moore quote the other day that ties in well with today’s passage. Beth said something along the lines of: “It’s a good humility check or check on whether your heart is in the right place if you get as excited about God doing great things in and through others as you would if He were to do those things in or through you.” Wow! That says it all. The disciples weren’t at this place, and many times I’m not either. What a good test of our heart and our motives.

I often say that my confidence and security and strength is in the Lord, and yet my life or my worries and struggles tell a different story. I would like to live out this truth as reality in my life.

Prayer

“God, thanks for all of the amazing things You are at work accomplishing. Help me to rejoice when others rejoice, and to truly share in the excitement of others when you do incredible things in their life or use them in mighty ways. Help me to be a servant and to aspire to Your definition of ‘greatness’ rather than the world’s.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 27, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Leviticus 20:22-22:16; Mark 9:1-29; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 10:18.

Observation

Many think that Jesus’ statement in Mark 9:1 refers to His transfiguration and I’m inclined to agree:

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

Mark 9:7 is pretty humorous because Peter is babbling on about building shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah and the text says that he is doing this because “he was so frightened he didn’t know what to say.” And, God sort of interrupts Peter and says, “This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!”

The description of Jesus’ transfiguration in Mark 9:3 is exciting because it sounds very similar to the way He is described in Revelation:

“His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.” I’m curious as to whether the people’s response to Jesus in Mark 9:15 was a result of the transfiguration: “As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.” Or, maybe that was just the normal response people had when they knew they were in the presence of God.

I’ve always been impressed with the father’s response to Jesus in Mark 9:24, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” What a genuine, desperate request – especially when it is on behalf of your son!

Jesus’ reply to the disciples in Mark 9:29 that some demons can only be cast out through prayer is interesting to me because it seems to teach that prayer is more than the pronouncement of “magical, spiritual words.” It is a spiritual battle, something that we agonize and persist in.

Application

I relate today to the father of the demon possessed boy. How often I approach God with an “if You can…” attitude. I do believe, but I need God to grow me in my faith and trust. I am also growing in my knowledge and experience of prayer. Prayer is not something that I rush through and then check off of my “to do list.” Prayer is one of the primary ways in which I meet God “face-to-face” and experience all that He has for me and all that He desires to say to me. If Jesus spent whole nights in prayer, how do I think that I can skimp by on less? And, looking at the power and success of His ministry, why would I want to deviate from the example He left for us?

Prayer

“Lord, would you meet me in prayer in such a powerful, tangible way that I would be drawn to it, to You, more and more. I desire to be a person of great faith. I long to see You do incredible things, in my life and in my ministry. God, I trust You completely and look forward to watching Your amazing plan and purpose unfold – and any part that I might play in that.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 26, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Leviticus 19:1-20:21; Mark 8:11-38; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 10:17.

Observation

Today’s horticultural laws struck me as probably having a practical application as well as a spiritual one. And, sure enough, that was the case. Here is what I found:

19:23 Fruit of Newly Planted Trees Forbidden
“When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten.”

Like many of God’s laws given to the Israelites, this one had a practical purpose rather than a spiritual one. The basic purpose of a tree’s fruit is to fertilize and reproduce itself. The fertilization takes place as the fruit falls to the ground under the tree and decays; the reproduction occurs as the seeds are consumed by birds—or the fruit-seed combination consumed by ground animals—and spread to other places in their droppings. If the fruit of a newly planted tree is picked and eaten the first few years, as people even today are wont to do, then the tree’s natural fertilization doesn’t occur, and though the tree may grow it is considerably weakened. This is the same as human beings who don’t have proper nourishment during their initial stages of growth and development.
Today, most horticultural advice is to not pick the fruit of a newly planted tree for the first 3–4 years, and allow the fallen fruit to remain on the ground and decay into natural fertilizer, but few people do. It was the same in the days of the Israelites. So to help them grow their newly planted fruit trees properly, God could either give them instantaneous horticultural knowledge, or give them a spiritual law based on his natural laws of fruit tree growth and development. Obviously, doing the first would have caused some problems, so in His wisdom He chose to do the second.

I wonder how different the condition of the “poor” would be today if we actually practiced Leviticus 19:10 (and other laws similar to it), “Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God.”

I like Mark 8:17-21 because Jesus refers to the feeding of the 5,000 and the feeding of the 4,000 as separate events. Often critics see these events as one and the same and therefore contradictory. Jesus clears this confusion. I also like the passage because it is clear that Jesus expected His disciples to learn and grow from their experiences with Him.

Jesus turns the discussion with each one of us from, “Who do people say I am?” to, “Who do you say I am?”

Too often I am like Peter having in mind “the things of men rather than the things of God.”

I want to be like the deer in Psalm 42, with a soul that pants and thirsts for God, the living God.

Application

I wonder how many of God’s laws actually have practical applications that we haven’t even discovered.
I am determined to learn from the past, especially personal experiences in which God has worked mightily and has taught me life lessons.
I need to consider ways to feed and nurture my spiritual appetite for the things of God, especially God Himself.

Prayer

“Lord, thank you for Your sovereignty – that You are always in control, and that I can rest in this assurance. Help me to trust You in all things. Help me to always see things through Your eyes and not merely my own perspective. Thank you for Your great love for me and Your plan for me which is bigger than I can comprehend.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 25, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Leviticus 16:29-18:30; Mark 7:24-8:10; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 10:15-16.

Observation

Today’s OT reading was an exhaustive lesson on sexual boundaries. God certainly left no question unanswered. God also kept warning the Israelites (in this passage and others) not to adopt the pagan practices of their neighbors. How often things can seem harmless because everyone else is involved in them.

I’m impressed with the Greek woman who persists with Jesus for the healing of her daughter. For a woman to approach Jesus in that time was one hurdle. And, the fact that she is a Gentile. Jesus’ words and interaction with the woman seem harsh in Mark’s account. But, when you read Matthew’s account (15:21-28) it becomes clear that the disciples are present and I believe Jesus is using this as a teaching experience – more for their benefit than the woman’s.

Application

I’m struck today with the idea of “persistence.” I’m persistent with God for my own needs, but how dedicated am I when it comes to the needs of others? This woman took a lot of risk to come to Jesus. How much risk do I face or open myself to? How determined am I to seek and find Jesus and the healing and wholeness which He offers?

Prayer

“Lord, grant me strength to persist – in trials, in prayer, in difficult relationships, in the ongoing battle against temptation and sin. Thank you for the victory which is mine in Jesus.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 24, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Leviticus 15:1-16:28; Mark 7:1-23; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 10:13-14.

Observation

O.K. let’s add bodily discharges to open sores and skin diseases. My fondness for Leviticus grows everyday! I feel like playing a round of biblical jeopardy: “I’ll take disgusting skin & bodily conditions for $500!” Yuck! Like I said before, I don’t think I would have ever opted for the priesthood. Priests were like the dysfunction and ailment magnet. I can’t imagine having all of these people with their contagious conditions coming to me. The priests must have been blessed with super immunities. Either that or they got protein shakes at Blenders everyday with a shot of multivitamin and immunity boost. And, like I said before, where did they get all this water to wash away the contaminates when they were out in the middle of the desert?

It’s interesting that Leviticus 16:8 seems to give us the origin of the term “scapegoat.”

Mark’s words in 7:6-8 convict me everyday I read them:

“These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”

I find it highly ironic that Jesus says, “Nothing outside a man can make him unclean…” after we’ve just read a slew of verses in the OT telling us what’s unclean and impure and how long it’s going to take us before we can be pronounced clean again.

Application

Mark’s words cause me to analyze my life to see whether I am all words and no action. Does God have my heart or just my rhetoric? Do I obey the things I want to obey and discard the commands that don’t fit with my goals and ambitions? Honoring God quite simply means obeying God. How well do I honor Him by this definition?

Prayer

“Lord, may I honor you with my actions. Would You help me to discover in my own life the truth of 1 John 5:3, “By this we know that we have come to love Him, that we keep His commandments and they are not burdensome.”