Daniel Burton Archives - Page 32 of 48

The Parables of Jesus: The Clean and The Unclean

The Parables of Mark: The Clean and The Unclean

June 28, 2018

The Pharisees highly valued strict adherence to the law. For the Pharisees, faith was expressed through obedience to the word of God, an idea they initially embraced with a good heart. Yet, as their religious rule continued, the leaders continually added to the law. They heaped more and more requirements on the people beyond what they could endure. The belief persisted that each person should be judged by the actions he displayed on the outside. Jesus, however, having a greater understanding of the intended purpose of the law, gave a different interpretation.

To The Seven Churches – Philadelphia – Revelation 3:7-13

June 27, 2018

The church in Philadelphia, by human standards, would not have been successful. While they were in a large city, this city was loyal to Rome and resistant to any Christian influence. They did not present a great deal of wealth or influence. They city had been ravages by volcanic activity and earthquakes having to be rebuilt in the image of the Rome. Yet, for everything stacked against this church, it is mentioned by name by Jesus Christ in Revelation. Furthermore, like the church in Smyrna, Christ brings nothing against the church but rather exhorts them to continue in the faith.

The Fruit of Patience: From God Through Us

The Fruit of the Patience: From God Through Us

June 25, 2018

Our time and God’s time stand in opposition to each other. While we may think that instant spiritual satisfaction is best for us, God sets patience inside of us for His perfect timing. Even the very notion of time is different for a God who stands outside of it. There is no boundary that God cannot traverse and even the constraints of time do not apply to God. As a display of His grace and mercy, God is patient with the world, giving all the opportunity to approach the one true King. God is patient and for the Spirit filled Christian, that patience works in us as well.

The Parables of Mark: The Mustard Seed

June 21, 2018

In Mark 4 Jesus tells four parables back to back. Within each parable, there are themes woven throughout the fabric, tying them all together. First is the imagery of the Kingdom of God which most would understand to be an infinitely powerful Kingdom. Even in our day, we read through the biblical imagery and see the vastness and superior nature of the Kingdom of God. Yet, where our own preconceived notions fall short is in the nature of what brings about the Kingdom of God. For example, we would not expect that the Kingdom is brought about by something that would at first seem so inconsequential—a mustard seed.

To The Seven Churches – Sardis – Revelation 3:1-6

June 20, 2018

As this letter to the church in Sardis starts, we are reminded of the nature of God. He is all knowing and sovereign overall. He holds the sevenfold Spirit and reigns from the throne of God. We see similar things in the church Ephesus whom had lost their love and passion. Yet, the condition of Sardis is much more grim. The church remained dead though the world saw them as alive. There is more to their faith than merely going through the motions but an in-depth relationship with Jesus Christ and the expression of the presence of God in every aspect of their lives.

Fruit of Peace: Bringing Peace To The World

The Fruit of the Peace: Bringing Peace To The World

June 18, 2018

The Spirit inside of us intends to bring peace to the world, through what we think, what we say, and what we do. The world, however, intends to further the descent into sin. While we bring peace, it stands in opposition to the world. People tend to think that peace and passivity are interchangeable, that if we simply do not call a person out or hold them accountable, that we will be peaceful. As we see from our past two articles in this series, nothing could be further from the truth. Peace is forged in the flames of discipleship and holiness. To be a peacemaker is to be one who bears witness to the source of our peace. For the Christian, we give a taste of the everlasting and eternal promise and home that God offers to all people. This is the expression of the peace that Spirit expresses through us.

The Parables of Jesus: The Seed That Grows Itself

The Parables of Mark: The Seed That Grows Itself

June 14, 2018

Jesus continued to speak to the people in parables. He compared the truth to the light of a lamp, explaining that the measure we use to judge others will be used for us. We often take for granted the concept of electricity. The simple flip of a switch or verbal command to Google will illuminate our homes and other buildings. During the first century, people filled lamps with oil to light up the house. When a lamp was put under a bed or under a bowl, it ceased to function in its intended manner. When the goal is to provide light to the world around you, blocking or concealing that light opposes the true function of the lamp’s intended purpose.

To The Seven Churches – Thyatira – Revelation 2:18-29

June 13, 2018

The Church in Pergamum was in a bad neighborhood, but in a spiritual sense. The area of Pergamum was surprisingly a well off area housing temples to Caesar as the Lord. Pergamum remained dedicated to the worship of the Roman Empire as the primary incarnation of divinity that mankind would see. Furthermore, the people of Pergamum lived their life in celebration of the influence of Rome and chasing after their personal wants and desires, following a hedonistic bent. This presented the church in Pergamum with unique challenges and opportunities to represent Christ in the world but also to withstand the influence of the outside world.

The Fruit of the Peace: Anxiety Choked Out By Peace

June 11, 2018

Anyone who knows me understands that I tend to be anxious and worry about a great deal of things. I worry about how other people are doing. I worry about my future. I worry about whether or not I will be able to make it (without clearly defining what “making it” actually means). For the Spirit filled Christian, peace is expressed through any situation and any time. Yet, anxiety seems to always poke its head into any situation in an effort to choke out the peace of God. The world almost seems to glorify anxiety and romanticize the idea that everyone should reasonably and expectantly be anxious about their current events and situations. Anxiety, however, is not a fruit of the Spirit. It stands contrary to the fruit of peace that lives within the heart of all who have been filled by the Holy Spirit. Where anxiety tries to choke out peace, by the strength of God, peace chokes out all anxiety.

The Parables of Mark: The Lamp

June 7, 2018

The nature of truth is not something that should be concealed. The truths of God are designed to be displayed brightly and outwardly. Jesus spoke in parables so that the people would be able to understand the complex intricacies of an infinite and eternal God. Yet, some still were unable to understand the message of Jesus Christ. Thus, you see Jesus frequently referring to “those who have ears to hear, let them hear.”