“It is impossible to escape the impression that people commonly use false standards of measurement — that they seek power, success and wealth for themselves and admire them in others, and that they underestimate what is of true value in life.”
― Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents
“It is impossible to escape the impression that people commonly use false standards of measurement — that they seek power, success and wealth for themselves and admire them in others, and that they underestimate what is of true value in life.”
― Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents
― Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents
NUMBERS 3-4
46So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. 47All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48numbered 8,580. 49At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.
Thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses.(4:46-49)
46So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. 47All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48numbered 8,580. 49At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.
Thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses.(4:46-49)
MARK 3:22-35
23So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.27In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
30He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
JOURNAL
Jesus' answer to the accusations of him having an evil spirit are brilliant. Yet they also present a true dilemma and question for me in my own life. What are my allegiances and motives and do those play against each other in a way that works against me? Jesus says that you can really only have one God...
Jesus is always able to keep focus, keep perspective and keep pushing towards the cross...towards punishment, torture and death. How? It's because he had one ultimate focus...obedience to God. He was completely sold out and committed to his mission. It didn't matter how difficult or what people thought or what he had to give up. He kept pushing, kept moving, never wavering.
This therefore is the spirit we get as believers...this is the power we receive...to keep focused on our God given mission, regardless of the obstacles. While we see this in Jesus, what is incredible is to read accounts of those who were filled with the same spirit. The account in acts of Stephen has always moved me. Stephen is accused, threatened and on the verge of public execution and instead of backing down, cowering in fear he comes alive and delivers an unbelievable sermon on God's sovereignty. He is then stoned to death with none other than Paul standing by watching and approving. I have no doubt that Stephens faith and boldness moved Paul and set the stage for his conversion.
It's just another reminder that every moment matters...even those that defeat us...our response and faithfulness may pave the way for another....
12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Jesus' answer to the accusations of him having an evil spirit are brilliant. Yet they also present a true dilemma and question for me in my own life. What are my allegiances and motives and do those play against each other in a way that works against me? Jesus says that you can really only have one God...
Jesus is always able to keep focus, keep perspective and keep pushing towards the cross...towards punishment, torture and death. How? It's because he had one ultimate focus...obedience to God. He was completely sold out and committed to his mission. It didn't matter how difficult or what people thought or what he had to give up. He kept pushing, kept moving, never wavering.
This therefore is the spirit we get as believers...this is the power we receive...to keep focused on our God given mission, regardless of the obstacles. While we see this in Jesus, what is incredible is to read accounts of those who were filled with the same spirit. The account in acts of Stephen has always moved me. Stephen is accused, threatened and on the verge of public execution and instead of backing down, cowering in fear he comes alive and delivers an unbelievable sermon on God's sovereignty. He is then stoned to death with none other than Paul standing by watching and approving. I have no doubt that Stephens faith and boldness moved Paul and set the stage for his conversion.
It's just another reminder that every moment matters...even those that defeat us...our response and faithfulness may pave the way for another....
12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
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