The Gospel of Mark discusses the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. This daily devotional looks at preparation, anger, and unrealistic beliefs.
I am continuing to do things a little differently while I am recovering, I’ve told you that Pastor Steve and I are doing a read-the-Bible-through program together.
I am sharing some of comments I’ve posted on what I’ve read. It may not be part of the At the Heart Level theme, but I will be able to keep providing you with something.
I am working on the first series for the At the Heart Level theme and plug it in when I can.
We Need Preparation
“… ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” (Mk. 1:3 ESV)
Yeah, this is talking about John preparing the way for Jesus. He believes in planting and watering.
So, why do we think God is just going to throw us into the deep end of a ministry? I know, I know. He doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.
But that doesn’t mean we have nothing before we start doing the ministry He has for us.
We have to be grounded in His Word. We have to be submitted and obedient.
That takes more than a day’s preparation.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11).
How many times do we want to do the work but want to be called to do the splashy work?
I can just hear God up on His throne saying, “Seriously?!?”
We have to get the basics down of being a disciple first. Then God can use us as He sees fit.
Father God. Forgive us. We are so puffed up in our own sight that we don’t see You. We try to limit Your call to what we are comfortable with doing. Help us to focus solely on You. Amen.
Where the Pharisees Got It Wrong
“And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’” (Mk. 2: 16 ESV).
The poor Pharisees. They thought they were hot stuff. They thought this representative of God should be fawning over them, showering them with accolades and rewards.
Wrong.
Even before Jesus showed up, John was calling them vipers. Jesus called them hypocrites.
In other words, they were wanting Jesus to be like them. Nothing was further than the truth.
It all comes down to purpose—or mission. Jesus’ mission was to save. The Pharisees wanted Him to condemn anyone who wasn’t like them.
The problem was they weren’t like Jesus. Jesus wasn’t going to condemn Himself when He was like the Father.
Father God. May we be like Jesus, because that makes us like You. Amen.
Person of Interest
Jesus' Anger
“And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart …” (Mk. 3: 5 ESV)
When we hear about Jesus getting angry, it is only when He overturned the money changers’ tables in the temple. I don’t ever remember this verse being used as an example.
No, I don’t think Jesus was angry because the Pharisees didn’t want the person healed. He wasn’t a social savior.
Jesus was angry because the Pharisees were misinterpreting God’s laws and commandments. They were more interested in defending their spin than keeping God’s directives. Their hardness of heart was directed at God.
If our hearts are hardened toward God, it won’t end any better for us than it did the Pharisees. They will be judged for not submitting to God. We will, too, unless we ask Jesus to be our Savior.
Father God. You are concerned with our physical wellness. You are more concerned about our spiritual condition. We submit to You. Amen.
What do you think?
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