Daily Bread 3-6-17

Mark 6:27-29

27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came up and took his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

ref. - Matt 14:12 - And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

In the word of God it warns us to be careful when making promises because, one day, we will be expected to keep them. Well, the king made a promise to a damsel that he would get her the head of John the Baptist for her Birthday, and in those days, a man kept his promises as any cost. He didn't want to do it, and he knew it was not right, but he had made a promise before other men and he was bound to keep that promise. He cared more about the ways of the world and man's opinions than he did for God. We need to be careful the oaths that we take and the promises that we make with anyone, including the Lord. We stand before worldly people and promise to do many things that go against our biblical upbringing and Spiritual teaching and then we feel bound to keep those promises. If we are not willing to stand up to the world and stand behind Christ, we will do things that will destroy everything that we have spiritually and from Christ. These actions will cause great debates among people that are uninformed but what we must do is look into our selves. Are we standing by oaths that were made to worldly people and man or are we standing behind Biblical doctrine and Christ? You see, as we enter into a Spiritual relationship with Christ we are to become dead to the world. This was a choice that Herod made. He could either murder John and deliver his head to his damsel or give her half of his kingdom, or he could say, "No, this is a man of God, and I stand behind him." Although he knew that John was a spiritual man and of God, Herod could not let go of that carnal part of his life. He needed his riches, he needed his kingdom, he needed his family, so he chose the things of the world over God. If any of us know the Scripture we know that this was all prophecy fulfilled, knowing that in order for Christ to increase, John must decrease, but the way in which it was done said something about those who wish to hold onto things of the world and hold onto the things of God at the same time. Either we are for him or against him. The world and it's followers have made a vow to try to destroy that which is good so that they can keep their earthly vows, and they may succeed in taking the lives away from those who follow Christ, but they can never, and I mean never take Christ out of the disciple. Just as this goes on today it went on in the times of these writings. Men were imprisoned, men were persecuted, men even lost their lives, to bring us this Gospel and fulfill what God had called them to do. So, in closing, we must fear not what this world can do to us but fear the one who can take our soul, and continue on serving God in Jesus Christ, receiving forgiveness, obedient to the scriptures and the direction of the Gospel, and remain loyal to our Savior, our Church, and God our Father.

Joshua 24:14,15 -

14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Have a great day!!!