SCRIPTURE:^“The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side." (Mark 8:11-13, NIV)

OBSERVATION:
I asked myself what were the actions of Jesus in response to the questioning of the Pharisees and asking Jesus for a sign from heaven?

1. Jesus sighed deeply!
2. Jesus said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign?"
3. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it!"
4. Jesus left them.
5. Jesus got back into the boat.
6. Jesus crossed to the other side.

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself why Jesus left them, got back into the boat, and crossed to the other side?
Jesus saw that the Pharisees were trying to trap Him and they really did not want to believe in Jesus. I believe Jesus came there just to make a point about the unbelieving generation. Jesus also did not want to argue with the Pharisees when they asked him for a sign so Jesus left them, got back into the boat, and crossed to the other side.

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life. Jesus left the Pharisees because Jesus did not want to engage in an argument with them. Jesus knew they were not going to believe and instead of wasting His time there, Jesus crossed to the other side. I need to be aware of who engages in a conversation with me and what are their motives. More than anything when it comes to spiritual matters, I should not argue with people. At least that is what I learned because when I argue with people about matters and they have already made up their mind, they are not going to change it except waste my time.

I ask you now dear friend, who do you waste your time with?
Dear friend, time is precious and very valuable. There are so many souls to be reached for Christ throughout the world. Jesus went to Dalmanutha but the Pharisees were there to trap Him instead of wanting to believe in Him. Jesus saw right through that and crossed to the other side because Jesus did not want to waste His precious time.

We too need to be keenly aware of the people we spend time with so that time is not wasted. Any time spent in argument with anyone usually will be a waste of time. Jesus did not waste time and neither should we. If any situation lends itself to argument, we need to be very careful and prudent. This is not to say that we should keep ourselves from meeting with others if they are diligently seeking after the Lord. There are many that are searching and we need to give our time to them whether or not they come to believe. This is different than spending time to argue.

Jesus was not going to force Himself upon other people for them to believe in Him. Jesus wanted them to believe for who He is and why He came for. Jesus came into this world to die for sinners like you and me. Jesus shed His precious cleansing blood for us. Now when we turn to Jesus, He can transform our lives but this starts with a seeking heart and not an argumentative heart which will only become a waste of our own time.

Wasting all. Satan tries everyday and we should not become Satan's statistic. The key is not arguing but still being able to present the Gospel in a loving Christ centered way. What Satan would love is to take the Gospel we are to preach and use it for his destructive purposes if we become argumentative. Jesus was not about arguing with people and neither should we.

No matter how good we think we are, we are wasting our life away without Jesus Christ residing in us. All our good works is like filthy rags to the Lord. This means in God's eyes all our works are a waste of time if they are not done because Christ lives in us. The good that flows out of us as a fruit of our Salvation is the fruit that God sees as good. You and I can have that fruit when we turn our lives over to Christ instead of doing what the Pharisees did.

More than anything do not waste your time with Satan. He will only lead you to destruction with his deceptive lies but turn your life over to the Lord and His plans for you.

May you turn your life to Christ knowing with Christ nothing is a waste of time even though wasting all, Satan tries everyday!

"Wasting All, Satan Tries Everyday!" (W.A.S.T.E)/"Who do you waste your time with?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for loving me and dying for my sin. Thank you for spending time with me and for all the time you spent with the disciples. Thank you for letting me see that you did not spend time with the Pharisees there because they wanted that time to be a time of argument instead of wanting to believe in you. Instead of arguing you left and set an example for me. Thank you so much Jesus. Help me to know who to spend time with and not to waste my time. Thank you so much Jesus. Hear my prayer and answer me Oh Lord! Thank you so much Jesus! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!!

If you want Christ in your life, make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

Prayer:
Jesus, I thank you for being the Bread of Life. You are the Living Bread of my life. Thank you for coming from Heaven and giving your life for the life of the world. You sacrificed yourself for humanity. Thank you Lord when we eat of you symbolically making you part of our life, digesting what you teach us by following you, we can be living Eternally, and the fruit that comes will reflect and resemble your life. I want that Father God. I want that Lord Jesus! I want that Holy Spirit! I know of a lot of people who partake of Holy Communion where the bread represents your body broken for their sin and the juice represents your blood shed for their sin. When we partake of Holy Communion, we are reminded that we are remembering you. I want to remember you always Lord Jesus. But for me to remember you always, I need to know you and acknowledge everything you said you are. So right now I acknowledge that you are my Lord and Personal Savior who died and rose again to give me life from sin. So right now, I come to you and say how sorry I am for my sin and living a life on my own. I repent of my sin and ask you to forgive me of my sin with your cleansing blood which I accept. Wash me and I will be clean from this infection of sin. Come Lord Jesus and please become part of my life as you live in me and I will live for you. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I do need your Spirit to reside in me and work in me and through me so I surrender all that I am and will be to you. Whatever your will is for me, please give me the strength and willingness to bear it and rejoice in you. Thank you so much Jesus. I thank you Jesus for becoming my Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and have answered me. I thank you that I am your child Oh God. I thank you for becoming my only Way to Eternal Life. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through. Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

Express Your View

.Click picture to read my dad's memoriam:

' I AM ' Series Archives:

What kind of L.I.G.H.T do you follow? (Dec 13, 07, 10:09 a.m.)

Gospel of Mark Archives:

Mark 1:1: "What does the G.O.S.P.E.L mean to you?" (Jan 15, 08, 1:15 p.m.)

Mark 1:1-4: "How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y about prophesy?" (Jan 12, 08, 11:18 p.m.)

Mark 1:5-8: "Who do you P.O.I.N.T to?" (Jan 16, 08, 8:48 a.m.)

Mark 1:9: How will you take a S.T.A.N.D? (Jan 17, 08, 11:21 a.m.)

Mark 1:9-11: "How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E?" (Jan 18, 08, 8:53 a.m.)

Mark 1:12-13: "How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Jan 19, 08, 12:27 p.m.)

Mark 1:14-15: How do you handle T.I.M.E given to you? (Jan 21, 08, 1:31 p.m.)

Mark 1:16-18: "What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Jan 26, 08, 10:22 a.m.)

Mark 1:19-20: "Without having to P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.E, what should you do?" (Jan 29, 08, 10:44 a.m.)

Mark 1:20-22: "How do you rate in the B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S of Jesus?" (Jan 30, 08, 11:29 a.m.)

Mark 1:20-22: "Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you follow?" (Jan 31, 08, 11:52 a.m.)

Mark 1:23-28: "What C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today?" (Feb 01, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 4:3-20: "What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?" (Feb 02, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 1:29-31: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (Feb 05, 08, 11:44 a.m.)

Mark 1:32-34: "Where do you need an A.N.S.W.E.R?" (Feb 06, 08, 11:16 a.m.)

Mark 1:35-39: "Where do you give your S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time to the Lord?" (Feb 07, 08, 11:41 a.m.)

Mark 1:40-42: "Where do you need to be C.L.E.A.N?" (Feb 09, 08, 11:00 a.m.)

Mark 1:43-45: "What do your actions C.A.U.S.E?" (Feb 11, 08, 9:23 a.m.)

MARK CHAPTER 2:

Mark 2:1-2: "What do you do with your P.O.P.U.L.A.R.I.T.Y?" (Feb 12, 08, 9:52 a.m.)

Mark 2:2-5: "What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D are you?" (Feb 13, 08, 11:49 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "Where does P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S take hold of you?" (Feb 15, 08, 7:42 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What are you thinking in your M.I.N.D?" (Feb 16, 08, 11:08 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What do you represent by your A.C.T.I.O.N.S?" (Feb 18, 08, 8:23 a.m.)

Mark 2:13-15: "Where are you looking for A.C.C.E.P.T.A.N.C.E?" (Feb 19, 08, 11:22 a.m.)

Mark 2:15-17: "Who do you I.N.V.I.T.E to Jesus?" (Feb 20, 08, 9:57 a.m.)

Mark 2:18-20: "When do you F.A.S.T?" (Feb 21, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Mark 2:21-22: "How do you see your L.I.F.E?" (Feb 22, 08, 9:56 a.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What kind of L.E.A.D.E.R will you be? (Feb 23, 08, 10:46 a.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What does the S.A.B.B.A.T.H mean to you?" (Feb 25, 08, 10:46 a.m.)

CHAPTER 3:

Mark 3:1-6:"Whose N.E.E.D.S do you meet?" (Feb 26, 08, 9:54 a.m.)

Mark 3:7-8: "What is your I.M.P.A.C.T?" (Feb 27, 08, 8:17 a.m.)

Mark 3:9-11: "What S.P.A.C.E do you give yourself?" (Feb 28, 08, 9:38 a.m.)

Mark 3:11-12: "How do you fight E.V.I.L?" (Feb 29, 08, 9:11 a.m.)

Mark 3:13-16: "What emphasis do you put on your R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus?" (March 01, 08, 9:29 a.m.)

Mark 3:17-19: "Where do you have your A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T in?" (March 03, 08, 9:49 a.m.)

Mark 3:20: "Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R?" (March 04, 08, 12:07 p.m.)

Mark 3:21: "How are your actions seen by your F.A.M.I.L.Y?" (March 05, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 3:22-27: "How do you handle S.L.A.N.D.E.R?" (March 06, 08, 7:57 a.m.)

Mark 3:28-30: "What is your V.I.E.W of Jesus?" (March 07, 08, 8:18 a.m.)

Mark 3:31-34: "What do you do with God's Will?" (March 08, 08, 8:45 a.m.)

CHAPTER 4:
Mark 4:1-20: "What do P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S mean to you?" (March 10, 08, 7:15 a.m.)

Mark 4:1-20: "What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?" (Feb 02, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 4:1-20: "Where are you in your W.A.L.K with the Lord?" (March 11, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Audio: "Where are you in your W.A.L.K with the Lord?" (March 11, 08, 11:05 a.m.)

Mark 4:21-23: "What kind of L.A.M.P will you be?" (March 12, 08, 9:40 a.m.)

Audio: "What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?" (March 14, 08, 10:11 a.m.)

"What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?" (March 14, 08, 8:52 a.m.)

John 12:12-15: "How can you B.L.E.S.S the Lord?" (March 17, 08, 1:25 a.m.)

Philippians 2:8: "What does the C.R.O.S.S mean to you?" (March 20, 08, 1:16 p.m.)

"How do you handle D.O.U.B.T.S?" (March 25, 08, 12:36 p.m.)

Mark 4:24-25: "What do you do with what you H.E.A.R?" (March 31, 08, 8:39 a.m.)

Mark 4:26-29: "What do you do with the W.O.R.D of God?" (April 05, 08, 10:18 a.m.)

Mark 4:30-34: "What do you do with the S.E.E.D?" (April 07, 08, 11:48 a.m.)

Mark 4:35-41: "What are the S.T.O.R.M.S in your life?" (April 08, 08, 11:52 a.m.)

CHAPTER 5:

Mark 5:1-13: "Where is your T.O.R.M.E.N.T coming from?" (April 09, 08, 11:50 a.m.)

Mark 5:14-17: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (April 11, 08, 11:46 a.m.)

Mark 5:14-17: "What do people R.E.P.O.R.T about you?" (April 12, 08, 11:00 a.m.)

Mark 5:18-19: "What makes you A.F.R.A.I.D of Jesus?" (April 14, 08, 10:40 a.m.)

Mark 5:18-19: "Will you T.E.L.L others about Jesus?" (April 15, 08, 11:32 a.m.)

Mark 5:20: "What do you do with your T.E.S.T.I.M.O.N.Y?" (April 16, 08, 12:03 p.m.)

Proverbs 17:4: "What does G.O.S.S.I.P do to you?" (April 17, 08, 6:52 p.m.)

Exodus 12:5,7,11,13-14: "How do you know judgment will P.A.S.S.O.V.E.R you?" (April 24, 08, 9:26 a.m.)

Mark 5:21: "Why will you G.A.T.H.E.R before Jesus?" (April 28, 08, 9:36 a.m.)

Mark 5:22-24: "What place do you give P.R.A.Y.E.R in your life?" (April 29, 08, 7:51 a.m.)

Mark 5:24b-29: “Unclean Now? Christ’s Leading Everyday Always Nurtures! (U.N.C.L.E.A.N)" (May 05, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 5:30-34: “Forever, Redeemer Everyday Excitingly Delivers Omnipotent Message!(F.R.E.E.D.O.M)” (May 05, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 5:35-37: “Timing Is Messiah’s Involvement Nurturing Graciously! (T.I.M.I.N.G)” (May 07, 08, 10:07 a.m.)

Mark 5:35-42: "What place do you give G.O.D.S W.I.L.L in your life?" (May 08, 08, 9:33 a.m.)

CHAPTER 6:

Mark 6:1-2:"Where do you seek W.I.S.D.O.M for your life?" (May 09, 08, 10:31 a.m.)

Mark 6:2-3:"What do you do with your C.A.L.L.I.N.G in life?" (May 10, 08, 9:43 a.m.)

Mark 6:2-3: "Who/Where is your I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y found in?" (May 12, 08, 8:45 a.m.)

Mark 6:4: "When do you feel A.C.C.E.P.T.E.D in your life" (May 13, 08, 8:21 a.m.)

Mark 6:4-6: "How is your F.A.I.T.H in the Lord?" (May 14, 08, 8:01 a.m.)

Mark 6:6-7:"What do you T.E.A.C.H by your life?" (May 15, 08, 10:34 a.m.)

Mark 6:6-7:"Who are you S.E.N.T by?" (May 16, 08, 6:49 a.m.)

Mark 6:7-11:"Where are you S.T.A.Y.I.N.G in your life?" (May 17, 08, 8:38 a.m.)

Mark 6:12-13: "How is your spiritual H.E.A.L.T.H in your life?" (May 20, 08, 7:41 a.m.)

Mark 6:12-14: "What have people H.E.A.R.D about Jesus through you?" (May 21, 08, 8:36 a.m.)

Mark 6:14-16: "What do you T.H.I.N.K about Jesus?" (May 22, 08, 10:02 a.m.)

Mark 6:16-17: "How do you handle D.O.U.B.T.S in your life?" (May 23, 08, 9:05 a.m.)

Mark 6:17-20: "When do you S.P.E.A.K out?" (May 24, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Philippians 4:9: "What kind of S.O.L.D.I.E.R will you be?" (May 26, 08, 9:55 a.m.)

Mark 6:21-25: "What has the T.O.N.G.U.E done in your life?" (May 27, 08, 8:27 a.m.)

Mark 6:25-29: "What has P.R.I.D.E done in your life?" (May 28, 08, 8:25 a.m.)

Mark 6:30: "What is your M.I.S.S.I.O.N you have been called to?" (May 29, 08, 8:19 a.m.)

Mark 6:31-32: "Where do you find R.E.S.T in your life?" (May 30, 08, 8:04 a.m.)

Mark 6:33-34: "Who have you made the S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D of your life?" (May 31, 08, 8:37 a.m.)

Mark 6:35-44: "What kind of B.R.E.A.D do you eat?" (June 02, 08, 8:34 a.m.)

Mark 6:45: "Whose C.A.R.E are you really in?" (June 03, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Mark 6:46: "When do you P.R.A.Y in your life?" (June 03, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Mark 6:46-48b:"What T.R.O.U.B.L.E are you facing in your life?" (June 05, 08, 9:53 a.m.)

Mark 6:48-50: "What is the F.E.A.R you are facing in life?" (June 06, 08, 9:23 a.m.)

Mark 6:51-52: "How have you H.A.R.D.E.N.E.D your heart?" (June 07, 08, 9:09 a.m.)

Mark 6:53-54: "What are you R.E.C.O.G.N.I.Z.E.D for in your life?" (June 09, 08, 9:37 a.m.)

Mark 6:55-56: "Who do you I.N.T.R.O.D.U.C.E to Jesus in your life?" (June 10, 08, 10:50 a.m.)

CHAPTER 7:

Mark 7:1-8: "How do you view H.Y.P.O.C.R.I.S.Y in your life?" (June 11, 08, 6:11 a.m.)

Mark 7:1-8: "How does the Lord view your W.O.R.S.H.I.P in life?" (June 12, 08, 9:24 a.m.)

Mark 7:1-8: "Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you follow in life?" (June 13, 08, 8:12 a.m.)

Mark 7:9-13: "How do you honor your P.A.R.E.N.T.S in life?" (June 14, 08, 9:16 a.m.)

Philippians 4:20-23: "What have you done for your F.A.T.H.E.R in life?" (June 15, 08, 5:40 p.m.)

Mark 7:14-19: "How do you C.L.E.A.N your life?" (June 17, 08, 9:26 p.m.)

Mark 7:20-23: "When are you getting a H.E.A.R.T transplant?" (June 18, 08, 7:36 a.m.)

Mark 7:24: "Why not take the C.R.E.D.I.T offered to you in life?" (June 19, 08, 10:12 a.m.)

Mark 7:25-26: "How often do you ask Jesus to S.A.V.E your loved ones in life?" (June 20, 08, 9:45 a.m.)

Mark 7:27-30: "What A.D.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y are you facing in life?" (June 21, 08, 10:38 a.m.)

Mark 7:31-32:"Who do you B.R.I.N.G to Jesus?" (June 23, 08, 9:50 a.m.)

Mark 7:33-34: "Where do you want the Lord to W.O.R.K in your life?" (June 24, 08, 10:12 a.m.)

Mark 7:35-36: "What do you need W.E.L.L done in your life?" (June 25, 08, 10:10 a.m.)

CHAPTER 8

Mark 8:1a:"Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R in life?" (June 26, 08, 10:11 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3:"Who needs your C.O.M.P.A.S.S.I.O.N this week?" (June 27, 08, 10:16 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3: "What place do you give a R.E.T.R.E.A.T in your life?" (June 30, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3: "What do you E.A.T in life?" (July 01, 08, 10:27 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3: "What are you H.U.N.G.R.Y for in life?" (July 02, 08, 10:15 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3: "What D.I.S.T.A.N.C.E will you go to meet Jesus?" (July 03, 08, 10:06 a.m.)

Mark 8:4: "What do you F.O.R.G.E.T in life?" (July 07, 08, 11:04 a.m.)

Mark 8:4-7: "How do you handle P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S in your life?" (July 08, 08, 10:14 a.m.)

Mark 8:8a: "What are you T.H.A.N.K.F.U.L for in your life?" (July 09, 08, 10:05 a.m.)

Mark 8:8b: "What has being G.E.N.E.R.O.U.S done to you?" (July 12, 08, 9:05 a.m.)

Mark 8:9-10: "Where has the Lord placed you to C.A.R.E in life?" (July 15, 08, 11:29 a.m.)

Mark 8:9-10: "Who do you let M.O.L.D your life?" (July 16, 08, 11:19 a.m.)

Mark 8:11-13: "Who have you T.E.S.T.E.D in life?" (July 21, 08, 11:04 a.m.)

Mark 8:11-13: "What does J.E.S.U.S mean to you?" (July 22, 08, 10:59 a.m.)

Reproduction or reuse for profit prohibited without written consent from Pittsburgh Standard

Video: Delta Zeta Deliciously Delivers Lusciously with Lambda Chi Alpha

Video: Chi Omega's Operation Offers Nothin' But a Gangsta Party at Kappa Alpha Psi's Place

By Ramesh C.ReddyPittsburgh StandardJuly 23, 2008

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

Express Your View

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

July 23, 2008