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Bible Pathways 10/15/04



October 15

Read Mark 6 - 7

In Today's Reading:

Apostles sent out; John the Baptist beheaded; 5,000 fed; Jesus walks on water; rebuke of the Pharisees; faith of a Syrophoenician woman

The Pharisees insisted the Law be observed as the scribes interpreted it; they believed in the Old Testament Scriptures, but they followed the tradition of the elders more than the Scriptures (Mark 7:3). They believed that Jesus' disciples were defiled because they did not ceremonially wash before eating as prescribed by former scribes in the tradition of the elders. It should have been a wake-up call to hear Jesus say: Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites . . . This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. . . . teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. . . . Making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition (7:6-8,13).

Later, Jesus explained to His disciples: Whatsoever thing from outside enters into the man, it cannot defile him. . . . For from inside, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness (sensuality), an evil eye, blasphemy (slander), pride, foolishness: All these evil things . . . defile the man (Mark 7:18-23).

Satan often suggests evil thoughts, but they only become sin when we accept them and dwell upon them. We are deceived if we assume there is no harm in dwelling upon sinful thoughts as long as they are never verbalized or physically carried out. The Holy Spirit led the Apostle Paul to write: The carnal (worldly) mind is enmity (hostile) against God: for it is not subject to the Law of God (Romans 8:7).

Christians have the responsibility, and the ability because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to be overcomers of sinful thoughts: Casting down imaginations, and every high (proud) thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (II Corinthians 10:4-5). A commitment to read through the Word of God with a desire to please the Lord will produce inward changes in conduct and attitudes that will affect all that we say, do, and think. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

Word Studies:

6:8 scrip = a small bag or purse; 6:10 soever = wherever; 6:20 observed him = was concerned for his safety; 6:25 by and by = before long or soon; charger = a large dish or platter; 6:33 outwent = went farther than or went ahead of; 7:19 purging all meats = declaring all food ceremonially clean.

Cross References:

For Mark 7:6-7: See Isa 29:13. Mark 7:10: See Ex. 20:12; 21:17; Lev. 20:9; Deut. 5:16
.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for The International Shortwave Radio Broadcast in honor of Bonnie Wilhite · BP Staff: Ilene Wallace · Government Officials: Rep. Michael Collins (GA), Gov. Carl Gutierrez (GU), Rep. Rush Holt (NJ), and Rep. Jim Leach (IA) · Country: Tunisia (10 million) in North Africa · Major languages: Arabic and French · Islamic state - no open ministry for Christ is permitted; strict surveillance of all Christian activities · 99+% Muslim; .3% Christian · Prayer Suggestion: Intercede in prayer for others (Numbers 14:13-19).

Memory Verse for the Week: I Corinthians 2:14



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