Day 49 – Leviticus 6-7:27, Mark 3:7-30, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 10:3-4

Favorite verse(s):

My favorite verses for today came from:

• Mark 3:24
  • “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”
  • In this verse, Jesus is referencing the accusation of Him casting out Satan by the power of Satan. However, I think that statement can be applied to ourselves as well.
  • Who reigns in your life and in your heart? Most of us would be quick to say Jesus, but when we really take stock of our daily lives, what or who truly reigns? Are you reading your Bible every day, praying every day, waiting patiently on the Lord every day? Or, are you spending more time watching TV, playing games, being concerned about power, fame and money? What are you choosing to spend your free time and money on?
    • I do not think this means if you work your job more than you read your Bible – that your heart is divided and work is your idol. In Colossians 3:23, we are told that “whatever we do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” I think that’s the difference, when we are doing our work with the Lord in mind we are doing what He has called us to do.
    • Spending time with your family more than praying does not mean that family is your idol and is causing you to be divided. Ephesians 5:25 tells husbands to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Once again – your heart behind your actions are what decides whether you are a person who has a kingdom divided within them, or if you are serving one king.
  • If you are not sure about who is king in your life or if you have a civil war going on internally, take a day and focus on what you are doing. What are you spending the most time doing? Whatever those items are, are they God-driven or are they flesh-driven?

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Interesting Research:

• Mark 3:13-19 – Who were the twelve apostles?
  • Here we receive a list of the twelve apostles. I decided to try and find something interesting or new about each one.
  • Simon Peter – Peter was a fisherman who went by three names. Other than Peter, his names were Simon and Cephas. Tradition says he was crucified in Rome, but he was crucified head downward because he did not see himself worthy to be crucified the same as Jesus. His apostolic symbol is a cross upside down with crossed keys.
  • James son of Zebedee – The brother of John, James was also a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida, Capernaum and Jerusalem. He preached in Jerusalem and Judea and was eventually beheaded by Herod in AD 44. He was the first of the twelve to become a martyr. His apostolic symbol is three shells, the sign of his pilgrimage by the sea.
  • John brother of James – John was a fisherman who also lived in Bethsaida, Capernaum and Jerusalem. He is known as the “beloved disciple”. He preached among the churches of Asia Minor. It is said that an attempt was made on his life by giving him a chalice of poison from which God spared him. A chalice with a snake in it is his apostolic symbol.
  • Andrew – Brother of Peter who also lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum as a fisherman. He was originally a disciple of John the Baptist and brought his brother, Peter, to Jesus. Tradition has it that he died a martyr in the town of Patra in Greece. The governor Aepeas was enraged that his wife and his brother became Christians. He was sentenced to crucifixion and eventually was crucified on an X-shaped cross. A symbol of the X-cross and two fish is his apostolic symbol.
  • Philip – Philip is believed to be the one who stressed the cross as a sign of Christianity and victory. He is believed to have preached in Phrygia and died a martyr in Hierapolis. It is said that he died by hanging. While he was dying, he requested that his body be wrapped not in linen, but in papyrus for he was not worthy that even his dead body should be treated as the body of Jesus had been treated. The apostolic symbol for Philip is a basket, because of his part in feeding the five thousand.
  • Bartholomew – He is believed to be the missionary to Armenia and is believed to be the only one of the twelve disciples to come from royal blood, or noble birth. His name means son of Tolmai (or Talmai). Talmai was king of Geshur whose daughter, Maacah, was the wife of David. He died a martyr being flayed alive with knives. His apostolic symbol is three parallel knives.
  • Matthew – Also called Levi, he was a publican or tax collector before being called by Jesus. He wrote the gospel of Matthew and died a martyr in Ethiopia. Matthew was unlike the other apostles, who were mostly fishermen, he could use a pen and by his pen he became the first man to present to the world, in the Hebrew language, an account of Jesus. The apostolic symbol for Matthew is three money bags.
  • Thomas – He is also known as doubting Thomas due to the fact that he did not believe Jesus had been resurrected until he saw Him personally. He labored in Parthia, Persia and India. He was a martyr at Mt. St. Thomas, India. It is said that he was commissioned to build a palace for the king of India. His apostolic symbol is a group of spears, stones and arrows.
  • James the son of Alphaeus – James preached in Palestine and Egypt and was eventually crucified in Egypt. He was one of the little-known disciples and some scholars believe he was the brother of Matthew the tax collector. Some traditions say that he died as a martyr and his body was sawed in pieces. The saw became his apostolic symbol.
  • Thaddaeus – Also called Jude, he was one of the very little-known apostles. Tradition says he preached in Assyria and Persia where he died a martyr. It is believed that he preached the gospel in Edessa near the Euphrates River where he healed many people, causing many to believe in Jesus. He was eventually killed with arrows at Ararat. His apostolic symbol is the ship.
  • Simon the Zealot – He is also called a Canaanite in two places of the Bible (Matthew 10:4 NKJV, Mark 3:18 NKJV) – not because of his regional home, but as a political term. He abandoned all his hatred as a nationalist for the faith that he showed towards his Master. Tradition says he died as a martyr. His apostolic symbol is a fish lying on a Bible, which indicates he was a former fisherman who became a fisher of men through preaching.
  • Judas Iscariot – Judas was the one who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and afterwards hanged himself. Judas was a Judean while the rest of the disciples were Galileans. He was the treasurer of the apostles. His apostolic symbol is a hangman’s noose, or a money purse with pieces of silver falling from it.

Prayer for the day:

Father, thank you for your word today and every day. Thank you for your love and mercy and grace you show to me every day. I pray that I would remember how much you do for me and let that be an encouragement to show those around me the same attributes. I pray that I would not have a civil war going on inside me – but that my heart and my life would be solely devoted to you. May everything I do be guided by you and may I work in a manner that glorifies you. I pray that at no point would anyone look at my actions and see fleshly-worldly actions but that they would see me and only see you. Please bless those who are hurting both physically, emotionally and spiritually – may they all come to know your peace and your love. Thank you for everything you have given me. In Jesus name I pray – Amen.

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Feel free to comment below with what your favorite verse was that you read today, anything interesting you researched today or any prayer requests you have. Thank you for reading.