THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 6:21-29
“Because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.” (Mark 6:26)
Why do we do things we shouldn’t do, or not do what we should do?
How much does external pressure prompt our bahaviour?
A desire to be thought well of, or to save face, or improve our standing?
Herod was a strong leader in public, but weak in private.
People claim that they want to be free, but how much of our life is bondage?
We are not so free afterall; we are slaves to sin and to its consequences.
As Jesus followers, we have surrendered ourselves to a new master.
This sounds restricting, but it is actually liberating.
We are free from the pressure to do what others expect of us.
We are free from Satan’s accusations and enticements.
They still come, but now we can refuse them with Jesus’ help!
Herod did what he didn’t want to do, because he felt pressured to.
In Jesus we have the motivation and the support to do the right thing.
But only if we have surrendered to Jesus as our new master!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, there is no freedom apart from surrender to You. Any other master but You – including myself – will only make my life unbearable.
Which voice do we listen too?
The king was distressed at the request but because of the guests and oaths, he did not deny the beheading. But he was the king! The king influenced by his ‘friends’ and not by principles, doing what is right.
Whom do I try to please?
How do my friends influence me? Probably more in my youth than now.
Where is God in all my decisions?
Where is His influence? His directions? His advice? His Word?
All of my life I need to serve the living God and need to take it all to the Lord in prayer.
SpiritLed.
I need to listen to His Voice saying each day anew
‘This is the Way. Walk in it.’
Stand up in His SonShine.
Walk in His Light.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me,
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us,
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.