Isn’t it easy to be like Harod? He wanted everything to look good, to be popular, to not cause any trouble with the Jews, with the Roman government. He hid his inner thoughts about John the Baptist and Jesus and went with the flow. Profession of our faith is far different than living it out. I’m often hesitant to bring up a spiritual lesson I’m learning in fear of what the other person may think. I want to be more radical but I mask what the Scripture and the Spirit is saying.
“Herod had arrested John because John condemned him for marrying his brother’s wife. Even though he had arrested John, Herod still viewed John as “a righteous and holy man” (Mark 6:20). He liked to listen to John. His wife, Herodias, on the other hand, wanted to kill John. Herod’s protection of John kept her from doing what she wanted to do.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford
“Pray to God more intimately than you think you’re allowed to because this is about love, and center your life according to a disciplined rhythm of prayer because fidelity is the soil that love grows in.” I hear Jesus saying, “Here’s my secret: pray with the heart of a lover and the discipline of a monk. That’s how you choose fidelity, and when you do, it quenches your desires in such a satisfying way that everything else becomes the boring part.” Jesus was saying to them and to us, “Pray like a bunch of wild, unruly monks.” - Excerpt, Praying Like Monks, by Tyler Staton
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