“When Jesus heard this, he told them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’” v. 17 (NLT)
It’s easy to be judgmental of others! Sadly, many times Christ Followers are known for being judgmental instead of being known for their love. It’s also easy to try to look good on the outside, and avoid all the stuff going on on the inside. How does this change?
This changes when we realize we are no better than the person next to us. This changes when we take the hard look at ourselves and realize we aren’t perfect, no matter how hard we try to make it look like we are. The fact is we are all a like because we share one common problem, a sinful nature! In fact, the bible says, that we are all sinners who fall short of Gods standards. No matter how hard we try, we can never be good enough to meet Gods standard on our own. Once we realize this, we can understand our need for Jesus.
Today, will you admit that you are sinner, or will you try to be good enough on your own? Jesus has come to give you life, and to rescue you from the life you are living now! He truly is all you need!
Prayer: Father, may we realize that we are sinners in need of a Savior. None of us are good enough … no matter how hard we try. Help us to realize that you are all we need!
“When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 23 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’” v. 1-5 (NLT)
What a powerful example of faith and friendship. These guys were committed to getting their friend to Jesus because they knew He had the power and ability to change their friends circumstance/situation. Even though they faced some challenges, the room being packed with people, they didn’t give up or make excuses, they did all they could to get him to Jesus.
I have to be honest I need friends like this. I need friends that will love me enough to do what whatever it takes to get me to Jesus. Friends that will love me the way I am, but consistently point me to Jesus. I need friends that won’t give up on me, friends that will encourage me to experience all that Christ is. I bet you need friends like that also.
Not only do I need friends like that, I need to be a friend like that. There are people in my life that I need to encourage, pray for, hold accountable, and introduce to Jesus. I want to be a friend like that, and I want to have friends like this.
Today, will I do whatever it takes to get my friend/s to Jesus? It will be life changing for them and for us!
Prayer: Father today, allow us to see a need and meet a need. Let us evaluate our friendships and do whatever it takes to introduce people to you so you can radically change them from the inside out. Help me to be a good friend! A friend that encourages other, prays for your power to impact their life and situations, and ultimately sets an example for them to follow so they too can know you like I know you!
This song never gets old for me! Every time I hear it I can’t help but sing and reflect on the words that I am singing. So refreshing and a great reminder for today!
Today, will you allow yourself to experience how awesome God truly is?
“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” v.35 (NLT)
If you are like me, you are probably a busy person. I don’t know how many times I have said and heard people say, “I was going too spend time with God, but I got too busy.” Really, did we really get too busy, or was spending time with God not as important as something else that got our attention? I’ll never forget what my youth pastor said to me when I was 18, he simply looked at me after I had given some excuse as to why I hadn’t been faithfully spending time alone with God and said this,
“If you are too busy for God, you are too busy!”
OUCH! That statement has echoed in my life ever-since he said it. God has used it many times to remind me of whats really important. In the midst of doing ministry, Jesus understood the importance of spending time with God through prayer. He understood that the strength, wisdom, and the refuge his soul needed was found in the time that he disengaged from the world and connected with the Father. The same is true for you and me. When I spend time alone with God, it allows me to gain wisdom, strength , and refuge. It has become a very important part of my life. To be honest, it was hard to start, but now, I can’t imagine trying to go though life without that time with God.
Today, will you pause and connect with God in a real way (more than at meals). Will you make a commitment to prioritizing a regular time with God Daily. I promise, it will make a difference!
Prayer: Father, my desire is to be the person you have created me to BE so I can do the things you have created me to DO. Help me to not reverse that. It’s easy to get so busy, even busy doing the things you have called me to do, that I put you on hold and don’t spend time with you. I know the benefits I have received from our time together. I am thankful for those times and look forward to that time so often because of the wisdom you impart, the strength that you give and the refuge of peace that you provide. Help me be an example of your love, so others will see you by the things that I do!
“Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.” v.21-22 (NLT)
When was the last time you were amazed by Jesus? Was it yesterday, last week, last month, last year?
Last week I had the privilege of going to Mexico to serve with some men from Grace, North Texas, and the KC area through an organization called HERO Makers. It was an amazing week because we drew close to Jesus every morning with worship through music, the reading of His Word, and Prayer. These three things allowed us to focus on Jesus and be used by Him.
As the week began, I was challenged with this passage and the use of one word, “amazed.” The people responded with amazement by Jesus and were amazed by the things He said and did. It caused me to ask myself this one question, “When was the last time I was amazed by Jesus?” Was it recently, was it tied to an event or circumstance? As i thought about these things questions started flowing, and personal evaluation started to happen because I want to be amazed by Jesus.
So, here is what I am learning: Everyday I have the opportunity to be amazed by Jesus! However, I have to:
Be where Jesus is – how I start may day is important. What I focus on first will tend to guide my day. When I spend time with Jesus, I begin to see through His eyes. I begin to see the world differently and I begin to see opportunities to be used by Him.
Surrender all that I am for all that He is – The reality is that we either come to God with Open hands, representing a life that is open and surrendered to Him, or we come with closed fisted hands, representing a life the is closed off from God and not completely surrendered to Him. Coming to Jesus with open hands can be difficult depending on the situation. But I have learned and continue to learn that when I do this, God amazes me by His power, grace, peace, and provision. Sometimes I don’t experience this because I don’t completely surrender everything to Him.
Step out in Faith – Doing something for the first time is sometimes difficult. As believers, when God calls us to do something new, we think of all the reasons why we can’t do it instead of focusing on the one thing that’s important, “God called us to do it.” Whenever God calls us to do something, we may not think we can do it. There may even be others that think we can’t do it. But that’s were we get the opportunity to be amazed by God. When Jesus picked his Disciples, he didn’t go to the religious elite, he went to the religious rejects. He went to those that others thought couldn’t or wouldn’t be used by God. Remember, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called!”
Thank God Continually – God has done so much for us. When I look at what Christ has done on my behalf, I am amazed that He would love me that much. Remembering this, and thanking God for all that He has done, keeps me humble and grateful. To be honest, everything good in my life comes from Him! When we acknowledge Him, it puts our life in perspective and allows us to reflect and remember all that He has done for us.
I think these four things help us to be amazed by Jesus. So here is the question …
Today, will you allow yourself to be amazed by Him?
Prayer: Father, thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for us. I want to be amazed by you, today, tomorrow and everyday after that! Help me to put myself where Jesus is, surrender all that I am for all that you are, step out in faith when fear wants to keep me trapped, and to continually thank you for all that you have done and continue to do.
“He (Jesus) must become greater and greater, and I (Dan) must become less and less.” John 3:30 (NLT)
Today, who will win?
A couple of years ago I was able to spend a week at a camp where Jason Upton leading musical worship. That week radically changed me and the way I worship. I hope this video can inspire you like it continues to do for me.
Prayer, Father today may we be more concerned with pleasing you than pleasing ourselves or others around us. May we focus on your small still voice instead of the other voices that tend to be screaming for our attention and affection. May we lay it all down, for the heart of Heaven!
“One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him[a] like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.’” v. 9-11 (NLT)
What a powerful picture! Jesus getting Baptized and God speaking from Heaven declaring that Jesus was His beloved son gives me goose bumps even thinking about it. But why is this so important. I mean Jesus had the whole God thing going on … why did he need to be baptized?
Well the truth be told, he didn’t need to be baptized but he did it for a couple of reasons.
He was baptized to begin His Earthly ministry.
He was baptized to validate and support John’s ministry
He was baptized to identify with our sinful nature.
He was baptized to set us an example for us to follow
Today, baptism is a picture of what Jesus has done for us by going to the cross, being put in a grave, and then raising himself from the grave three days later. Believers Baptism is simply an outward expression of an inward commitment. It’s a public testimony of salvation (being rescued from sin) and the work of the Gospel (believing, receiving, and becoming like Christ) in a persons life. Baptism is the first step of obedience for the Christ Follower. You will never be more like Jesus, than when you do the things Jesus did. Baptism was important for Him, and should be just as important for us.
Today, Have you been rescued from your sin by putting your faith in Christ and surrendering to Him as Lord and Savior? Have you followed His example and been baptized to show on the outside what He has done and is doing on the inside?
“John announced: ‘Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with[d] water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!’” v. 7-8
When I think of John the Baptist, I can’t help but think of this wild man that wore camel hair clothes and ate locust and honey. I can’t help but think of how radical he was to the times he was living in. He would encourage people to Repent of Sin and be baptized. People would gather to hear him and watch others get baptized. He drew a crowd and people were talking. They were amazed at who he was, what he was teaching, and how people were responding.
However, John knew his purpose! John understood that regardless of what people were saying, regardless of how popular he was becoming, regardless of the accolades he was accomplishing, God had called him to prepare the way for the Messiah. With humility, passion, and boldness, John proclaimed that Jesus was coming, and when He comes, He will come with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Like John, we have been given the responsibility to prepare others for the return of Christ. This doesn’t mean that all of us have to be preachers or hold baptisms at school or in the work place. It simply means that we are growing closer to Christ daily and telling others about him regularly by our words and actions. It’s not by accident that you have the group of friends that you have, that you work in the place you work, or you have the talents you have. God has given those to you and placed you in these environments to prepare others for His return.
Today, do you know your role in Gods plan? What would it look like for you to humbly and passionately prepare others for Christ Return? How can you leverage your influence and encourage others to know Christ?
Prayer, Father today I pray for wisdom and boldness. Help me be authentic in the everyday places I am in, but help me leverage my influence to prepare others for your return and encourage them to experience you as their Lord and Savior surrendering all they are for all that You are.
“This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.[a] It began 2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written” v. 1-2 (NLT)
When it comes to news about Jesus, many people respond in different ways. We could go into many of these responses but doing so would turn this post into a book and not a blog post. But here is the deal, what you and I think about, believe in, and the way we respond to, the person of Jesus Christ is very important.
Sometimes Good News doesn’t have immediate results. If I wrote you a check for 1 million dollars, and it was legit, i had 1 million dollars to to give you, you would probably be excited and grateful. It would be Good News and you would tell everyone about it. Why, because it would change your life drastically.
Mark, starts his Gospel by stating this is the Good News about Jesus. He does this because he is excited to share with others what he has seen, experienced, and witnessed. He knows that if others can see who Jesus is, what He has done, and then believe what they have seen and heard, they too would be excited about the Good News of Jesus and begin to live for Him and tell others about Him.
Today, how will you respond to the Good News of Jesus?
Prayer, Father let me be excited about the Good News of Jesus! Show those who doubt, that you are who you say you are and you will do what you say you will do. May they look at my life and see your fingerprints and be encourage and compelled to get to know you!
I have to be honest, since the beginning of the New Year I’ve wanted to do something different with my reading of Scriptures and how I spent time alone with God and then blogged about it here. I have wrestled with where to start for a while now! I didn’t want to repeat reading the go to books and passages that I love and familiar with, but at the same time I still have so much to learn in them. However, I wanted something that seemed new, refreshing and challenging.
Since the 1st I have bounced around in some of the Psalms, looked and prayed about starting some other devotional, or book study but feel led to go slowly through the Gospel of Mark. So, if you are a reader of the blog, I thank you, and hope that you will join me as we read through the Gospel of Mark together. I will try to post daily applications and would love to be Challenged and Encouraged by your thoughts and own personal leanings from those passages also.
Today, When it comes to Gods Word, do you have a plan that allows you to read, pray, and meditate on scripture? If you don’t have a reading plan, I hope you will join me. Grab a bible and check the blog daily for the a simple thought and challenge for the day.
Dan Gould 