Isn’t it funny how that as simple as the message of the gospel of our salvation is, that there are so many , even so called religious people, who still work hard at overcomplicating what God has done all by Himself in providing His Son Jesus as a ransom for the sins of all who believe? In our lesson today, our pastor teacher Landis Fisher highlights this enigma in a lesson from our ongoing study through the gospel of Mark that he calls: “Cultivating Childlike Faith”
So, listen in, sip some tea, and enjoy as we pray along with our teacher.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 103:1 – 18 (KJV)
Psa 103:1 A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psa 103:6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. Psa 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. Psa 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. Psa 103:9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. Psa 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psa 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. Psa 103:16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. Psa 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; Psa 103:18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 9:30 – 37 (KJV)
Mark 9:30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. Mark 9:32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him. Mark 9:33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? Mark 9:34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. Mark 9:36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Mark 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) The thriving quest of humanity is to endeavor to attain higher heights in such things as knowledge, wealth, business and social stature, fame and power and so on among ourselves. People are always in competition for success and elevated authority in life. But what the LORD Jesus requires for ultimate blessing is cultivating childlike faith by leaning and depending on Him as a child would upon his parents. #2) Unlike purely human teachers, Jesus taught that the way to exaltation was through humiliation; i.e. being humble under the mighty hand of God as a sovereign loving Father who knows and cares for us intimately; and warns that those who are the cause of any of His to stumble were at great risk of serious judgment. #3) As we continue to carry the message of the gospel into all the world, let us continually cultivate and maintain that childlike trust in God through Jesus Christ and remember Christ as God’s child Who humbled Himself to the very deepest things of His Father’s perfect will, all on behalf of such as us.
