Heb 4:9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

Rest!
A quick definition is to cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.
So when Hebrews says there remains a rest for us, we often think of a cessation of struggles, trials, and tribulation in this life.
That is true, however, I also think we get a rest from vigilance.
It is written in 1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
You can never fully relax as a Christian.
You must keep vigilance on what you say and what you do – at all times!
The nature of sin is ever-present and you cannot let your guard down or it will get a foot in the door.
This vigilance is tiring because you are constantly on watch against temptation.
Temptation can produce struggles, trials, and tribulation as it wars against you.
Rest?
We’re not quite there yet but the day is coming.

Matt 27:3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

If you read the KJV, the word remorseful says “repented himself”, which, on the surface, indicates a change.
The word used is not the same as in Peter’s sermon on Pentecost where he said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
Judas simply regretted his actions, while Peter asked the audience to think differently and change their behavior.
Anyone can regret an action, but what are you going to do afterward?
Judas hanged himself.
After his denial, Peter cried.
Although it never says, “Peter repented”, he thought differently and changed his behavior, which is the definition of repentance.
Peter stayed around.
He went to the empty tomb.
He met Jesus on the seashore.
He was in the upper room when the Holy Spirit filled them all.
He preached the message of Pentecost.
Follow Peter’s example and repent – think differently and change your behavior (in Christ).

Matt 26:21-22 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

This scripture is related to yesterdays.
Jesus knew who would betray Him but I’m not sure Judas knew that Jesus knew.
When Jesus revealed this to the crew, they were very sad.
I’m thinking Judas was more frightened now that Jesus knew it.
However, each of the disciples asked Him, “Lord, is it I?”
Is this because each man had thought about it?
That’s a sobering thought to believe each disciple at one time entertained the thought of betraying Jesus.
I’m sure each of them had doubts about Him and wondered if He was really the Messiah.
He wasn’t at all like the teachings about the Messiah.
Messiah would come and restore the kingdom back to Israel (c.f. Acts 1:6) and to do that He would need to rid the land of Roman occupation.
Perhaps each of them thought about forcing Jesus’ hand to do this by getting Him arrested.
Surely He would never allow that.
A Man that can heal, raise the dead, walk on water, and feed thousands with a few morsels has the power to repel the Romans.
But they did not understand the way Jesus would save the world.
Sometimes I don’t think I understand the way Jesus saves the world.
I want to force His hand to judge the world.
I want the “kingdom” restored.
My part in this is not to push judgment but to present salvation through Jesus.
I don’t want to be a Judas.

John 6:70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

This verse came up in Sunday School yesterday.
The next verse reveals He was speaking about Judas Iscariot.
The word translated devil is also translated as a slanderer or false accuser.
That’s a description that could fit some of the other disciples.
So the question many have asked is, “Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot?”
Judas was no different than the others since all of them were sinners.
Peter would deny Jesus three times, even cursing while doing it.
Thomas would doubt the word of the others.
A couple of them would dispute over heavenly seating arrangements.
And every one of them deserted Jesus after His arrest.
That arrest that led to the crucifixion was at the hands of Judas, who led the Temple guard to Jesus.
But the crucifixion was predicted by the prophets and Jesus Himself.
Although Judas was chosen just like the others, I believe he had the same opportunity to repent just like the others.
He chose suicide instead.
Why did he do it?
For the money?
To force Jesus to miraculously judge and rid Israel of Roman occupation?
Whatever reason, it was a selfish one, so don’t make the same mistake.

Rev 13:17 …and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

I’ve had this thought for quite a while and I know others do too.
This pandemic is preparing the world for biblical prophetic fulfillment.
When the pandemic first began those in the medical industry were hailed as heroes on the front line.
Doctors and nurses dealt with the disease daily.
Now many of those same medical personnel are forced to decide between employment or termination over a vaccine mandate.
If they refuse, they are often dismissed.
As you know, these mandates are not just reaching into the medical field.
There are demands for employers to get all employees vaccinated.
Other instances – you cannot fly to another country, go on a cruise, and, in some cases, eat in a restaurant without proof of at least one vaccination.
Imagine if a mandate said, “You cannot buy or sell unless you have this mark.”
While I do not believe the vaccine is “the mark”, I do believe it leads the way into the submission of the mark mandate that is coming.

Luke 9:20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

During His life, many thought Jesus was one of the Old Testament prophets, like Elijah or Jeremiah.
A few others thought John the baptizer was raised from the dead.
Even today there are different ideas of who Jesus is.
But there is one question you should ask yourself, “do I believe He is the Savior – the only way to eternal life?”
Certainly, many do not believe it.
Some people witnessed Jesus perform miracles and did not believe it.
In fact, they plotted to kill Him.
Who is Jesus to you?
I believe a believer should live like they actually believe, but many that say they believe effectively kill Him out of their lives every week.
They don’t pray.
They don’t read His word.
They don’t gather in the fellowship.
Who is Jesus to you?

Mark 3:3 “Step forward.”

Those two words were spoken to a man in the synagogue one Sabbath day.
This particular man had a withered hand.
There is no record if he asked for healing, although I suspect he longed for it.
Since the scribes and Pharisees watched Jesus to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, I suspect the man was planted there as a means to accuse Jesus.
If so, the man would be in trouble with the religious leaders if he did not step forward; if he somehow wanted to protect Jesus by refusing healing on the Sabbath.
On the other hand, if he does not step forward he will not be healed.
I’m sure the handicapped individual had heard of other miracle healings at the hands of Jesus.
He made his decision, stood up, and stepped forward.
He stretched out his hand and it was restored as good as the other.
I had a high school teacher that encouraged us to enter our artwork into contests with the words, “you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!”
The same is true with a personal relationship with the Savior.
All you need to do is step forward.

Ps 137:9 Happy the one who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock!

The Psalms are known as praise songs, mostly from King David.
Most of the Psalms are encouraging, joyful, and praising to God.
They speak of deliverance, hope, and salvation.
However, Psalm 137 ends on a sour note it seems.
Who in their right mind would be happy at killing children?
Let’s run through the premise of this Psalm.
It’s definitely not from David, since it mentions sitting by the rivers of Babylon.
So someone in captivity wrote this.
The abuse of the Babylonians was so severe upon the nations they conquered, included the Hebrews, that they all hope the Babylonians would die out – become extinct.
The surest way to execute genocide is to kill the entire next generation.
You can say this is terrible (and it is) and it could never happen but since the legalization of abortion in the United States an estimated 62.5 million have died.
I wonder if those that aborted their own children are truly happy.

Eccl 9:5 But the dead know nothing,

November 30th was the 2nd anniversary of Mark’s death.
My grandparents both died in the late 1990s.
Others friends and family passed away on dates scattered about the years.
I wonder what they are doing.
While those of us living continue to face adverse weather, a pandemic, another political election, and a supply chain breakdown.
They also missed birthdays, reunions, family get-togethers, and church.
Although the scripture says the dead know nothing, I am of the opinion they know nothing of what is going on in this life.
I believe they know plenty about what is going on around them.
When Jesus told the story of the death of a beggar and a rich man, He told of the comfort or torment of each. (Luke 16:19-31)
Do those that have passed think about those of us still living?
Does Mark think, “I wish Tim was here to see this!”
Do my grandparents long to talk with me as I often long to talk with them?
All I know from scripture is the rich man thought about his family coming to a place of torment like him and he wanted to prevent it.
I cannot truly answer these questions.
I know, like David, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 2 Sam 12:23
Until then, keep living for Christ, tell others about His salvation, and keep others from joining the rich man.

Matt 22:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”

Jesus is responding to a question about Jewish Law concerning marriage and raising children for a brother through the brother’s widow.
The group bringing the question, the Sadducees, were not interested in an answer about the Law as much as an answer from Jesus.
It’s ironic for the Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection (Matt 22:23), to ask a question about the resurrection.
Jesus’ first response suggests the answer is readily available to them through the scripture but they refuse to search and learn, allowing their own prejudice and doctrine to dictate their beliefs.
My concern for myself and the church is centered around the same thought.
Do I let what I’ve been taught through the years determine what I believe to be true?
I know my beliefs have changed through the years due to more study of the scripture.
I am still learning since I am unwilling to simply take someone’s word on it.
It’s a good practice for Christians.
When Paul preached Jesus to the Berean Jews, they searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Acts 17:11
We should do the same.