Make time to pray!

“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35

Dr. Jud Lake is a professor of Preaching and Adventist Studies at Southern University. Dr. Lake gave the devotional message on Thursday at the pastors’ morning meeting. I was really blessed and I would like to share it with you.

The book of Mark starts by talking about the ministry of Jesus. The book goes straight into it. The first chapter talks about Jesus calling the disciples, He casts out an unclean spirit, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, Jesus is preaching in Galilee, and Jesus heals a leper. You can just sense the busy-ness of Jesus.

Yes, Jesus was a busy person. But in the midst of the busy-ness of Jesus is verse 35. Let’s read that again: “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35

Jesus took time to pray. It didn’t matter how busy He was. He made sure to take time to pray.

How busy are you? Are you so busy that you have no time to spend with God? We see how busy Jesus was in His ministry. And yet Jesus still took the time to spend with God the Father. We are really busy and there is never time. But we can make time. This is really important, because spending time with God strengthens us, rejuvenates us, and brings us life.

Let us spend time with Jesus. Let’s make time to pray.

Jesus our Light!

“I am the light of the world.” John 8:12

Last night I was in the upper floor in my cabin at the campsite to cleanup the area. The space is limited and so it was not easy for me to move around. While I was cleaning up the area I heard a buzz and I freaked out. It was a huge wasp buzzing around my ears!

My instinct was to run away but I couldn’t. I had to protect my family! So I grabbed something to hit with and I waited my moment for the wasp to sit on top of the ceiling. But the wasp got smart. It flew around here and there but finally it started flying around the light bulb!

When the wasp would fly right in the middle of the bulb I could not see it because the light was too bright. It would just disappear from my eyes and I would only see it when it would fly away from the light bulb. Eventually I was able to catch it.

I was just fascinated that I couldn’t see the wasp when it would pass by the light because it was too bright. That reminded me of Jesus. Jesus is the light. And when we are in Jesus we can be invisible from the Enemy. That thought just flashed by in my mind last night as I was trying to ‘kill’ the wasp.

Let us focus on Jesus. When we are apart from Jesus we are open targets, but when we secure ourselves under Jesus who is our light, then I know I am safe.

Sweeter than honey!

“How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103

The 2014 Brazil World Cup started on Thursday! Hosted by Brazil, the world’s most popular sports event will last for a month with 64 awesome international soccer games. As a soccer fan I am very excited. But let me tell you a personal story that happened 12 years around the time of the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup.

My country Korea went all the way to the semi-finals which was a very historic moment for us Koreans. I was crazy for soccer I did not want to miss a single game. But then there was a conflict. My dad and I had planned a mission trip to China and we were to leave on the day of the World Cup finals. I wanted to watch the game so much. The only thing I had in mind was to cancel the mission trip to China, just because I wanted to watch a 90-minute game of soccer. I remember telling dad that I didn’t want to go to China. In return he scolded me pretty bad. I deserved it. Eventually we went to China as scheduled. I was really blessed on that mission trip to China. I still remember the things we did in China 12 years ago. What about the World Cup? I don’t even remember who won that World Cup in 2002 anymore, because it’s not even worth it.

I share this with you because similar foolish thoughts had come into my mind recently. I was really excited with this year’s World Cup, but I was slightly disappointed to know that I would be gone for camp meeting for 2 weeks right in the middle of the World Cup. When I realized my foolishness I repented. I did not realize that I would be receiving so much more blessing throughout the camp meeting period as I get to listen to the beautiful Words of God through chosen speakers.

If you have trouble deciding what to do when there is a conflict between secular things and godly things, then choose the latter. When it comes to listening to the Word of God nothing else can come in the way. Spending time with God is definitely “sweeter than honey.”

In Heavenly Places, p. 111,112

How many there are who go through life under a cloud of condemnation! They do not believe God's Word. They have no faith that He will do as He has said. Many who long to see others resting in the pardoning love of Christ do not rest in it themselves. But how can they possibly lead others to show simple, child-like faith in the Heavenly Father when they measure his love by their feelings?

Let us trust God's Word implicitly, remembering that we are his sons and daughters. Let us train ourselves to believe his Word. We hurt the heart of Christ by doubting, when he has given us such evidences of his love. He laid down his life to save us. He says to us: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Do you believe that He will do as He has said? Then, after you have complied with the conditions, carry no longer the burden of your sin. Let it roll upon the Savior. Trust yourself with Him. Has He not promised to give you rest? But to many he is obliged to say, sorrowfully, "Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life." Many manufacture for themselves burdens which are grievous to bear. 

Look steadfastly to Jesus. Behold Him, full of grace and truth. He will make His goodness pass before you, while He hides you in the cleft of the rock. You will be enabled to endure the seeing of Him who is invisible, and by beholding you will be transformed. Faith is not feeling. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.