Lesson 5262

 (Lesson 5262)(07-03-26) Mark 10:17-22 

   “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” 

 

    Today’s lesson is a very simple one. If we choose to worship earthly treasures and abandon God’s amazing, saving grace, we will have nothing in heaven. ~ 

Lesson 5261

 (Lesson 5261)(07-02-26) Mark 10:13-16 

   “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” 

 

    Today’s quote reminds us that we don’t have to earn our way into God's grace through status, achievements, or religious performance. By welcoming the children when others dismissed them, Jesus showed that the kingdom of God belongs to those who approach him with simple, unpretentious trust and vulnerability. For today’s reader, the takeaway is to drop the impossible desire to prove we are ‘good enough’ and instead receive God's love and grace with the open, honest, and humble heart of a child. ~ 

 

Lesson 5260

 (Lesson 5260)(07-01-26) Mark 10:1-12 

   “And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again. And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.” 

 

     In today’s quote, Jesus addressed a question about divorce by overriding human legal loopholes that had been written into law by Moses pointing back to God's original, permanent blueprint for creation. He explained that Moses only allowed divorce papers as a concession for human stubbornness, whereas God designed marriage as an unbreakable bond where two people become one single being to never be separated. ~

Lesson 5259

 (Lesson 5259)(06-30-26) Mark 9:43-50 

   “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” 

 

   In today’s quote, Jesus stressed that true Christianity requires radical self-discipline, warning that devotion to the gospel is far more important to one’s eternity than parts of their own bodies. ~