“I was born for a controversial world, and I cannot escape my destiny. John Quincy Adams”
22“ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.’ ”(23:22)
MARK 1:1-22
9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
JOURNAL
So Jesus is baptized and immediately the spirit of God sends him out into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Ok to really digest this is a little unnerving. Instead of receiving comfort and love and people affirming him...God sends Jesus right out into the fire. Direct temptation, loneliness and hunger...what??
This really does expose my erroneous idea of God and conflict. This is why Jesus was born...for conflict, battle and ultimately to defeat death and sin. Of course it makes sense that as soon as he is affirmed as the Messiah he is sent out to be tested. It makes sense but it definitely comes from a different mindset than what currently exists in our culture. We collectively dream of success for all the benefits it promises to give us...wealth, notoriety, comfort etc. But again that's not what we are promised and that's not why we are in this world.
It seems logical to want to avoid, yet conflict is not to be avoided but rather is to be accepted. We are to here to build God's kingdom...that means that we will face sin, difficulty, conflict and we are to meet it with the power, love and discipline of God. The victory has been assured but the battles must still be fought.
So Jesus is baptized and immediately the spirit of God sends him out into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Ok to really digest this is a little unnerving. Instead of receiving comfort and love and people affirming him...God sends Jesus right out into the fire. Direct temptation, loneliness and hunger...what??
This really does expose my erroneous idea of God and conflict. This is why Jesus was born...for conflict, battle and ultimately to defeat death and sin. Of course it makes sense that as soon as he is affirmed as the Messiah he is sent out to be tested. It makes sense but it definitely comes from a different mindset than what currently exists in our culture. We collectively dream of success for all the benefits it promises to give us...wealth, notoriety, comfort etc. But again that's not what we are promised and that's not why we are in this world.
This really does expose my erroneous idea of God and conflict. This is why Jesus was born...for conflict, battle and ultimately to defeat death and sin. Of course it makes sense that as soon as he is affirmed as the Messiah he is sent out to be tested. It makes sense but it definitely comes from a different mindset than what currently exists in our culture. We collectively dream of success for all the benefits it promises to give us...wealth, notoriety, comfort etc. But again that's not what we are promised and that's not why we are in this world.
It seems logical to want to avoid, yet conflict is not to be avoided but rather is to be accepted. We are to here to build God's kingdom...that means that we will face sin, difficulty, conflict and we are to meet it with the power, love and discipline of God. The victory has been assured but the battles must still be fought.
5But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
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