Three Strikes and You’re Out!

A Series on Living in the Wilderness
Mary Magdalene
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 8:1-3 

[In this series we’ll be looking at people who lived in the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful, that He loves you and is always with you.]

  

There’s a saying in baseball that is very unforgiving. “Three strikes and you’re out”! There’s no room for discussion; no compromise will be made; no arguing will change it. If you get three strikes, “YOU’RE OUT”!

 

Mary Magdalene had three strikes against her.

 

Her first one was simply due to the fact that she was a woman. Women in that culture were treated like second class citizens. They had no property or inheritance rights. In fact, they were considered the property of the man in their life, whether it was a husband or a father.

 

That brings us to her second strike. Women at that time were valued for bearing children. Because of this, they were known by who their husband was. For example, one of the women mentioned in this passage was “Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager”.

 

Unlike Joanna, Mary Magdalene had no such attachment to her name. She was called Magdalene because she was from the fishing village of Magdala. This would seem to indicate that she wasn’t married and therefore had no children.

The third strike against her was that seven demons were living inside of her. According to the New Bible Commentary, “Seven is a round number, indicating the worst possible state of corruption”. We can safely assume that she was a tormented soul controlled by evil spirits.

 

For Mary Magdalene, it was three strikes and you’re out! Even though they were not of her own accord, she would have been viewed with utter contempt by respectable Jews. She would have been socially and religiously isolated. She would have been considered unredeemable.

 

But not by Jesus. For him, she wasn’t defined by those negative circumstances and experiences. She wasn’t defined by her failures or sins. Instead, he saw someone that had been uniquely created in the image of God; who had value and the potential purpose of building God’s kingdom.

 

Jesus had three strikes of his own. One in each hand and the third through his feet. In doing this, he not only took away Mary Magdalene’s three strikes, but he also took yours and mine. He made it possible for our forgiveness and redemption. Paul put it like this in his letter to the Romans.

 

²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ^25a Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! ¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.        NIV

 

In the game of life, three strikes doesn’t mean you’re out if Jesus is in your heart. What it does mean though is that you’re forgiven. And, that everyday life is starting over for you with a clean slate, a new purpose and the opportunity to live life to the fullest.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Turning Point

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Mark 8:27-37

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%208%3A27-37&version=NIV;NLT

 

“Who do people say I am?”

When I asked this question of my daughter, her response was…

 

Joe, Dad, Grandpa and a Michigan State fan. All of these are true. You could probably also add insurance agent, Christian and a nice guy. Jesus casually posed this same question to his disciples as they were walking to a village.

 

 

 

²⁸ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”       NIV

 

I’m not sure that Jesus really cared what other people thought about him. However, he most certainly cared what those closest to him thought. And although Peter had the right answer, he had the wrong expectations. Jesus explained that the “Son of Man” must suffer, be rejected and killed; but would rise again.

 

³² As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.  NLT

 

Peter’s expectations of the Messiah didn’t match up with what Jesus told them. But Jesus needed to make sure that his disciples understood; not only who he was, but also what that meant for him, as well as them. He had to reeducate them to prepare them for the future.

 

³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?            NIV

             ³⁷ Is anything worth more than your soul?       NLT

 

The series of events in this passage, were a turning point in Jesus’ life and ministry; a milestone if you will. From this point forward, he headed to Jerusalem. This was his purpose; his destiny.

 

What turning point are you facing in your life? What is your purpose; your destiny? How have you answered Jesus’ two life changing questions: “Who do you say that I am” and “Is anything more important than your soul”?

 

As a follower of Jesus, your answer to those two questions are critical. They shape how you live your life; how you make decisions; what your priorities are. They are the turning point of your life.

 

 

 

 

 

Lessons from a 4 ½ Year Old

Revelation 20:7-21:8

 

This is My Granddaughter, Everely. She’s four years old – 4 ½ according to her. This past Sunday at church when Everly walked into the building she spotted me at the end of the hallway, and she ran the length of the hall giving me a huge bear hug. That brought unbelievable joy to my heart and purpose to my life. What brings joy and purpose to your life?

 

In Revelation, John wrote about his vision. Like the title of the 1966 Clint Eastwood movie, “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly”, it included all of those elements. John begins with the defeat of Satan; moves onto the final judgement; and finishes with the vision of a new heaven and a new earth.

 

Both good and evil exist in our world today. In fact, if we are honest with ourselves, both good and evil exist in us. In a world conflicted by this, John’s vision brings us great hope, joy and purpose.

 

“Look! God now makes his home with the people. He will live with them. They will be

his people. And God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death.’ And there will be no more sadness. There will be no more crying or pain. Things are no longer the way they used to be.”

 

Today’s passage tells us that in the midst of judgement, evil, temptation, pain and suffering, injustice, hate and anger, immorality… there is hope. Not only the hope of the next life of a new earth and a new heaven; but hope for here and now. Hope for how we live today; hope for the struggles of life. There is hope with joy and purpose.

 

It’s kind of amazing how much joy and purpose my 4 ½ year old granddaughter brought into my life in that one single moment without even trying. How much more joy and purpose does our Heavenly Father, the God of creation, the Living God, give us with the promises of His Word. Now that is amazing!

 

 

 

"Hello. My Name is Joe."

Psalm 139:13-24

 

After introductions, what do you say next? How do you answer the question, “Who are you”? Is it in terms of your job, your school or maybe your church? Do your children, your spouse or your parents define who you are?

 

 

For some it is something they have done, possibly an addiction. When introducing yourself at a meeting you give your name and say, “I am an addict”. What is it that defines you; that goes to the core of your being; that is the bottom line of how you truly feel about yourself?

 

In his prayer, David wrote the following about how he defined himself:

 

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.”

 

He understands that although he had biological parents, God was his true creator. In polite conversation, we tend to not disclose our inner being. But God created our inner being, and not only did He create it, it is “fearfully and wonderfully made”. That means that there is nothing to be ashamed about who we are.

 

The definitions of guilt and shame are very similar, but significantly different. Guilt means that we feel bad about what we did. Shame means that we feel bad about who we are. God is saying through David that we need not feel ashamed of who we are, because God created us.

 

Finally, Paul wrote this about who we are:

 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”         Ephesians 2:10

 

God has created you for a unique purpose to use the gifts and abilities that He has given you through His grace. God is the potter, and you are His clay. He defines who you are. He has prepared good works for you to do.

 

“Hello. My name is Joe. I’m a creation of God and a follower of Christ Jesus”. Who do you believe you are?

 

 

To Make Your Joy Complete

1 John 1:1-4

 

 

Hello. My name is John. Not John the Baptist, but John a son of Zebedee. I’m a fisherman by trade and used to work in my father’s business with my brother James. Mostly we fished in the Sea of Galilee.

 

There has been a lot of unrest in our little part of the world. People were unhappy with the oppressive Roman rule, and our Jewish religion was at a fever pitch of expectation for the Messiah. First John the Baptist appeared, but he claimed not to be the Messiah.

 

Then this other man showed up. He was a common carpenter, but people were beginning to follow him like a great teacher. In fact, one day my brother James and I were fishing when he called us to follow him. We left our boat immediately. I don’t know how our Father got along, but we had to follow this man Jesus.

 

We were with Jesus day and night for the next three years, and during those years I witnessed some of the most amazing things. He healed the sick, made the lame to walk, cleansed the leper, fed thousands in one sitting and turned water into wine. He even raised the dead and forgave sins. Only God can do that.

 

I have wonderful memories of him. On one occasion he took Peter, James and I to the top of a mountain. We saw the brightest light I’ve ever seen. Then a voice that filled my soul said, “This is my son whom I love. With him I am well pleased”.

 

We were in Jerusalem for Passover when everything started to unravel. He took Peter, James and I out to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The next thing we knew, Jesus was being dragged away by soldiers. He was tortured, beaten, mocked and spit upon. There was a travesty of a trial and finally he was hung on a cross. I felt so powerless and so ashamed. I loved him so much, but fear paralyzed me.

 

The day after the Sabbath all of us were sitting around in a safe house feeling sorry for ourselves when some of the women came running into the room breathless with an unbelievable story. The tomb where Jesus had been buried was empty. We were stunned. Soon though Mary came, and with tears in her eyes, told us that Jesus was alive; that she had seen him, talked with him and touched him.

 

Indeed, Jesus stayed with us for another 40 days before we watched him ascend into heaven. I’ll never forget it. My life will never be the same because of him. That is why I wrote these letters: “to make my joy complete”.

 

You see, Jesus was the Son of God and he was the incarnation of God Himself sent here to bring salvation to all who would believe and follow. And in a way, those of us who believe and follow him are his hands and feet. Maybe even in a small way, we are Jesus to those with whom we share his love. That is why I share with you and why you need to share with others. So that your joy may be complete also.

 

Won’t you join me?

 

 

Reaching for the Invisible God

Psalm 13

 

 

For over 30 years I loved watching Robin Williams. I loved him in “Mork and Mindy”, “Good Morning Viet Nam”, “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Good Will Hunting”, “Awakening”… I could go on.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okkhgZim5Ig

When news of his death was announced, tears came to my eyes. He was a year younger than me. He had it all - success, fame, fortune - everything that the world has to offer. But it wasn’t enough, so he committed suicide.

 

How much longer will you forget me, Lord? Forever?
    How much longer will you hide yourself from me?
How long must I endure trouble?
    How long will sorrow fill my heart day and night?
    How long will my enemies triumph over me?           Psalm 13:1-2 GNT

 

Robin no doubt felt much like David did. You may have felt this way yourself. Was it because of a broken relationship? A lost job? The unexpected death of a loved one? Health problems? Depression? Struggling with an addiction? Sometimes, even when everything is going right, God just feels far away. Where is he?

 

Phillip Yancey wrote in Reaching for the Invisible God, “Doubt always coexists with faith, for in the presence of certainty who would need faith at all”. Who indeed? In one way or another, we are all reaching for the invisible God. Robin Williams was. David did. You and I are. But will we find Him?

 

Life happens, and when it does we need to keep moving forward towards God even when we feel like He is not there; even when we feel completely alone. And if we do, then we can pray like David did:

 

I rely on your constant love;
    I will be glad, because you will rescue me.
I will sing to you, O Lord,
    because you have been good to me.     Psalm 13:5-6 GNT

 

Amen.