Pastor Mark’s Devotions, May 13

Posted on 2020-05-13 in BLOG, Devotions, Pastor's Notes, pastors pen | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

“The Path to Reopening”

“The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.” Leviticus 23:1-2

Governor Inslee has appointed four phases as a pathway to reopen our economy and allow people to assemble. Interestingly enough, God appointed four feasts in the Old Testament, as a pathway to acknowledge him and assemble his people together. Not only that, but within these four feasts, Jesus also points to understanding how God is using this pathway to open up his eternal Kingdom and assemble his people forever.

God directed Moses to establish four feasts: (Leviticus 23)

  1. The Feast of Unleavened Bread – Passover
  2. The Feast of Weeks – Pentecost
  3. The Feast Trumpets – Day of Atonement
  4. The Feast of Tabernacles – Ingathering

The first feast: The Feast of Unleavened Bread began with the celebration of Passover. Passover was the celebration to remember God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. During this Passover meal, the Israelites ate roasted lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, and drank wine to recollect God’s strong arm setting them free. It is during this Passover meal that Jesus celebrated his Last Supper with his disciples. It is at this meal that Jesus brought new meaning to this gathering. He identified himself as the Passover lamb. In the breaking of the bread and drinking of the third cup of wine, Jesus established himself as the one who’s body would be broken and blood would be shed for the redemption of all people.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to follow the Passover celebration. For seven days, the people of Israel were to eat bread made without yeast. Bread made without yeast represented both “bread of haste” – for when the Israelites left Egypt – they had to leave in a hurry and did not have time to allow bread to rise. Yeast also represents sin. In preparation for the Feast of Unleavened bread, the Israelites were to remove all items containing yeast from their households, representing the removal of sin from their lives. This first of four feasts was focused upon God’s salvation. Passover was to point to God who opened a pathway for the Israelites to be free from slavery. Jesus followed the pattern of this feast but pointed to himself as the pathway for all people to be free from sin.

The second feast: The Feast of Weeks is also called the Feast of First Fruits. This feast began with the first grain of harvest. After seven weeks, counting off 50 days, Israel presented an offering of new grain to the LORD. This feast was also called “Pentecost”, as the feast was celebrated 50 days after the beginning of harvest. It is during this Jewish festival that God sent the Holy Spirit as a sort of first fruits, beginning the harvest of God’s Kingdom. Pentecost is the day that power was bestowed upon the disciples. The early church formally assembled after this event and they began to spread the Gospel message to the world. Paul points to the evidence of the “first fruits” in the hearts of believers through the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5. He says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Through the Holy Spirit, God opened up phase 2 of his path into his Kingdom. In phase 1, salvation was made secure through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In phase 2, the power to live out that salvation is provided through the empowerment of God’s Spirit. Phase 2 begins the move of God’s message out into the world, and that his salvation is open to both Jews and gentiles. The first fruits of God’s Spirit, lived out among his people, is to be the witness to the world, that they would join in this pathway to God. 

The third feast: The Feast Trumpets was to be a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. This feast would mark the end of one year and the beginning of the next. Postexilic Judaism would celebrate this day as Rosh Hashanah, i.e. New Year’s Day. The Feast of Trumpets was to prepare for the most holy month of the year. During this month, the nation was to celebrate the Day of Atonement. This was the one day of the year in which atonement for the sins of the nation would be made. The High Priest would make sacrifice for the sins of the nation. It is on this day of Atonement, that Jesus was crucified upon the cross at Calvary. This was the final sacrifice and atonement made for all nations, for all sin, once and for all.

When Jesus returns at his Second Coming, his appearance will be preceded by a trumpet blast. Jesus said, “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Many coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:30-31)

The fourth feast: The Feast of Tabernacles is the final assembly at the end of the harvest. The nation of Israel was to gather together, and live in tents (booths) for seven days as a reminder of their being brought out of Egypt. This end of the harvest was to celebrate God’s faithfulness and provision for his people. This feast is also called the “Feast of Ingathering”. It was to be a feast after all the crops had been gathered in from the fields. Within this fourth feast, it is believed that God will gather in his people on earth and open the ultimate pathway home. No one knows the exact time or date of the opening of phase 4. But as God has opened up each of the previous feasts as pathways to draw the people closer to him, and as Jesus has used these feasts as a template for the pathway he’s opened up to the world, it would seem consistent that Jesus’ Second Coming would arrive during the timing of the fourth feast and gather in his people to return home.

Our state governor is trying to work four phases to open up our economy. God has been working since the Fall to sin, to fully reopen his path into his Kingdom. He has given us four feasts to track his movement. We are closer today, to this reopening, than yesterday. Let us keep our lamps burning. Let us stay alert, awake, and watchful.

He has come. He will come again!

God is certainly working His path toward reopening!

God Bless You All!

Pastor Mark    


Pastor Mark’s Devotions, April 9

Posted on 2020-04-09 in BLOG, Devotions, Pastor's Notes, pastors pen | Tags: , , , , ,

“Eager Desire”

Jesus said to his disciples, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you…” Luke 22:15

 

Tonight, we celebrate Maundy Thursday. This night marks the “last supper” Jesus shared with his disciples. It was a special night. They would celebrate the feast of Passover. Passover is the meal that marked the Angel of Death “passing over” the Israelites in Egypt and ushered in their freedom. Jesus eagerly desired to share this meal with his followers. He wanted to “pass on” critical truth that would reveal the mystery of God and move forward their mission on earth. This meal was a sacred moment.

Jesus was excited to reveal that He was the true Passover Lamb that would take away the sin of the world. Moving forward, they would eat the bread and the wine and do this in remembrance of Him. He was excited to model for his friends the example of a servant. He expressed his heart in this moment as he washed his disciple’s feet. Jesus taught them that as he washed their feet, they were to serve one another and wash each another’s feet. Finally, he gave them a new message. He gave them a new commandment to love one another. He commanded them to love as God loves; agape love, unconditional love. And this expression of love was to be the hallmark that would distinguish them apart from the world. He said that they will show the world that they are his disciples by the love they have for each other. This meal was a holy moment.

Jesus shared many meals that were sacred and holy. Those meals changed lives. He shared meals where he expressed his heart and talked about God’s Kingdom. Jesus gathered for a meal with Zacchaeus, the tax collector and Simon the Pharisee. He shared a meal with Matthew and many other tax collectors and sinners. He shared a meal at a wedding in Cana. And he shared a meal that began with five loaves and two fish which ultimately fed over 5,000. He shared breakfast with his disciples on the Sea of Galilee after his resurrection. These were special moments. Important moments. Heart to heart moments.

Looking back, if there was one regular moment that set apart (made holy) my time with my kids –I would have to say it would be dinner time. Every night, the kids and I would sit around our table. I would fix a pretty simple combination around a meat, a starch, a vegetable and a salad. We learned that if we were to connect heart to heart, we had to turn off the television, shut off the music, silence the phones and eliminate the distractions. I miss those days. I loved fixing food and then having time to talk. We shared everyday things like school and work but often they shifted to more heartfelt, faith conversations.  We shared our day – surprises, stresses, concerns, victories. We would talk about what was on the news, goings on in the world – but eventually it would circle around to faith and fear and how God is woven into the fabric of our lives. I might not have always realized it – but those were rich times. Now I see them as sacred and holy moments.

What about you? If you are in the habit of eating dinner in front of the t.v. or your face is buried in some screen, I would like to encourage you to turn off the distractions. Gather around your table with whoever is near. Share from your heart why you believe this meal time is important and see if you can set it apart. Be vulnerable. Be expressive. Share your thoughts, your feelings, your dreams, your hopes and desires, your struggles, your frustrations, and don’t leave out your faith. Underneath it all – faith is the glue that holds it all together.

Every day, special moments are waiting for us around the regular dinner table. It’s more than just Passover or Thanksgiving once a year. Jesus modeled for us an example to follow. Let us break bread with him tonight. And also, let us break bread each day with those we love. Face to face. Heart to heart. Hand in hand.

If you want to hear more about Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples – you can go to our website and listen to our Maundy Thursday Worship Service online. AFTER YOUR DINNER of course!

From my heart to yours,

Pastor Mark


Pastor Mark’s Devotions, April 5

Posted on 2020-04-05 in BLOG, Devotions, Pastor's Notes, pastors pen | Tags: , , , ,

“Father Forgive Me”

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

Today is Palm Sunday. I find myself a bit annoyed that we are not together in church. Recently, we have been told to remain at home for another four weeks. I need a new perspective. Father, forgive me!

The Lord heard my cry, and He answered my prayer!  

Many of our government leaders have told us that this will be the hardest week of our lives. I have received my orders. My great sacrifice is to “stay at home”. Really? Remaining in the comfort of my own home is the great sacrifice that my nation is calling me to? Yes, that is the call and I gained some helpful perspective this morning- maybe you can relate.

While I am restrained from running around as I normally do, is that really a significant sacrifice? What about the person stocking shelves each night so people have food on their table? What about the checker who stands toe to toe with people all day long not knowing who might be a carrier of the virus? What about the bus driver who could be coughed on at any moment by any passenger? What about the delivery drivers who transport products to customers who never have enough? What about the police officers, firefighters and EMT’s, whose jobs will not allow for safe distancing? What about the people handling the logistical nightmares for government agencies? What about those serving food and supplies for the poorest of the poor? What about the restaurant owners who are packaging meals “To go” to keep afloat, or the distilleries making hand sanitizer and passing it out for free? Dare I mention the doctors, nurses, medical staff and health care professionals who are on the front lines, picking up their crosses DAILY and sacrificing for their deathly ill patients?

What cross am I being asked to pick up? Stay at home!

We have been told that we are in a war. Yet unlike World War 2, where people were called out to work in factories and do whatever is necessary for the war effort, I’m asked by our government to remain at home. I am not asked to recycle rubber, glass or nylons. I am not asked to ration butter, sugar or canned milk. No, my great sacrifice is to stay at home. I have to take a hot shower and eat a warm meal. I have to snuggle under warm blankets and listen to the birds in the morning. I have to eat breakfast in bed if I want to and drink that fourth cup of coffee. I have to sip a glass of wine and watch the sunset reflect off of Mount Baker. I have to decide whether I will bake brownies or cookies at 10:00 p.m.  I have to take a walk, feel the breeze on my face and look at the beautiful tulips emerge from the ground. I have to sit in front of a warm fire and watch the rain fall. Are gray clouds really that bad? I have to choose from thousands of television shows to watch and hundreds of good books to read. I have to play my guitar and sing songs to the Lord. I have to read the Bible and receive a Word for the day and then write about it. I have to Facetime a friend, or a small group or my children. I have to clean up the garage or clean out my closet, or not clean at all. I have to mow, weed or trim – or not. I have been told that I am free to eat from any tree in the garden, just stay at home. And do I consider this challenging duty? Father, forgive me!

Interesting timing, for this week to hit and be considered the hardest week of any – it certainly was the hardest week in Jesus’ life. Jesus’ travels from Palm Sunday to Easter incurred great sacrifice and cost. Jesus lived on the front lines and paid the price. It was as if he was one of those soldiers taking the beaches at hard hit Normandy on D Day, June 6, 1944. But Jesus’ frontal attack on the enemy of sin was without reinforcements. Jesus was alone. He faced the battle and the fierce enemy, Satan, by himself. He had to maneuver around the myriad of troops and plans on both sides of the line and still end up on the proper beach, in the proper place – at the proper time – which he did – on the cross – at great sacrifice.

Jesus accomplished his mission. He took that beach!!

Jesus entered Palm Sunday to the cheers of the Passover crowd. He knew he would soon feel the jeers of the crowd screaming, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!”; he went anyway. Jesus knew the religious leaders would try to trap him and plot to kill him; he went anyway. Jesus knew a friend would betray him and others would deny him; he went anyway. He knew soldiers would scourge him and beat him; he went anyway. He knew a criminal would taunt him and passersby would ridicule him; he went anyway. He knew he would be flogged and a crown of thorns would be pressed upon his head; he went anyway. He knew the religious leaders would cast disparaging lies about him; he went anyway. He knew Pilate would wash his hands of him; he went anyway. He knew his hands and feet would be pounded to a cross and a spear would pierce his side; he went anyway. He knew he would hear the ignorant words, “He saved others, he cannot even save himself”; he went anyway.

This week, between Palm Sunday and Easter, sin gave Jesus its best shot. He shed his blood and breathed his last. But thank God we don’t need Paul Harvey to tell us the “Rest of the Story”.

This week is going to call on many throughout our land to make great sacrifices. Me, my sacrifice; stay at home. If you are like me, let us make a pact to not dwell on minor inconveniences. May God give us a fresh perspective. Let us honor ALL those in our nation and in our communities who are paying such a great price to provide hope, healing and a harvest for those in need! Let us pray for those who are serving on the front lines. And let us proclaim the Good News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who willingly sacrificed his life on our behalf, and on Easter, arose to give us a hope and a future.

Father, forgive me!

Pastor Mark