Text: Mark 12:35-44

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people... Mark 12:30-31

Throughout the gospel of Mark, we read Jesus' comments about people He has observed or with which He has interacted.  Jesus was so much more than simply a physical descendant of David and the Messiah of Israel. He was of the same essence as God the Father--the only Son of God. He not only had great observation abilities, but He could also see into the heart, knowing the motivations behind people's actions. We see this in our text as Jesus exposes the hypocritical piety of the Scribes.

For the humble Christian who is seeking to walk with God, realizing Jesus is watching should be a source of comfort and security. His grace will expose what you want to hide, not to shame you, but to deliver you and make you more like Himself!

So often when we are in the heat of the moment, encountering the full-on attack of the flesh, the world, or Satan, we fail. Why? Why do we so often ignore Jesus as He is there watching us, encouraging us, offering His transforming grace to us, and even praying for us (see Hebrews 7:25 and Romans 8:34)?

Let me give you three reasons:

1. Lack of ongoing Holy Spirit empowered self-examination, which usually happens as a result of becoming spiritually lazy.  It can happen even as we grow in our knowledge of the Word (remember the Scribes!).  Self-examination is meant to uncover any areas in which we are failing to live in conformity to Jesus. Proper biblical self-examination finds its root in the gospel. For more on biblical-self-examination, click here.
2. Ignoring Jesus and caving into what you want in the moment is usually the last stop on a long road of self-indulgence. Most often, many other things have gone wrong in your heart and mind by the time your passion for your will to be done has taken over the controls. Repent immediately, at the very moment you become aware of your sinful actions or behaviors. 
3. Scott Hubbard writes, "Many of us fail to overcome temptation because we refuse to use our imagination. The dragon of deceitful desires creeps in to kill, and we lay down our sword. Over and over, God comes alongside us in moments of temptation and invites us to imagine what we are really facing. What is really happening when you walk past a woman and are tempted to look back? Or when you stand in front of a mirror and feel insecurity rising? Or when fantasies of a better life begin to fill your mind? We are not merely 'being tempted' in these moments. Wild beasts are attacking (Genesis 4:7). Idols are bidding us to bow down (Ezekiel 14:3). An adulteress is waving us into her door (Proverbs 9:13–18). A gangrenous disease is threatening to spread (2 Timothy 2:16–17). Why does God soak our imagination with those awful images? Because we react differently to the vague idea of 'temptation' than we do to a wolf at our door. The one can be entertained, even coddled; the other needs to die." (To read this great article in its entirety, click here.)

I pray you are comforted and encouraged knowing Jesus is watching and respond to His insights into your life!