Matthew 26:57 - Mark 9:13

This was one of only two days that I'll spend reading Mark. Mark was the only Gospel that I took at Ozark. I really enjoyed, but I think it mostly had to do with the teacher - Mark Scott.

One of the things I remember accenting in class was the pace at which Mark tells the story. It's all very fast until the last week of Jesus' life. Then it's like everything is in slow motion.

In both Gospel accounts I have enjoyed reading Jesus' teaching on inner purity as opposed to outward impressions. If the truth be told this is something I think we all struggle with. On a much smaller and more insignificant scale we often don't make our bed. Sure we like it when it's made (me probably more), but neither of us care that much about it to make it regularly. BUT, when we know people will be around we make it. Why is that? I'm not supposing that our bed (made or unmade) impacts our spiritual health (though a few might make that assumption). I am saying that as usual we're more concerned about things when we know people will see them.

I'm afraid this does come into play in my own spiritual life. I'm reading 90 days through the Bible and I've told some people. Actually Sunday I'm planning on talking about it briefly in service so that cat will be out of the bag. What I won't mention however is that I'm not sure it has really made a difference in my life. Sure I've enjoyed the discipline of it, and I think it is helpful and almost expected of a pastor, but do I think differently, pray differently, or act differently because of God's Word constantly being on my mind. I'm not sure if I do. The reality is that I've probably prayed and journaled less the past 70 days then before I started this venture. I'm not sure what that says.

What I do know is that I need to be concerned with what happens on the inside, and I'm not always sure that's good. Jesus tried to teach the Pharisees that, and it's a lesson that I need to learn as well.