Lord of Lords, King of Kings, I come before your throne seeking your mercy, grace and protection over my family and my life this morning…
“He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.” So he went into all of Galilee preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons” Mark 1: 38-39
As we read through the Gospel of Mark, we see it is full of examples of Jesus going out into his community with love and the outpouring of power and miracles: because he had compassion for them: Healing The Paralytic (2:1-12; Healing man with withered hand (3:1-6); Healing the Demoniac (5:1-17); Healing the woman who was bleeding (5:25-34); Raising from the dead a young girl (5:35-43)
Jesus, you loved people and wanted to meet their physical needs, but your main purpose was not meeting their physical needs, but their spiritual needs. The main words you desired people to hear were not that they were physically healed, but the Gospel, the “Good News” that they could be saved.
Jesus you know I am a decent person. That I have a desire to meet people’s physical needs for food, clothing, shelter, safety and healing. Yet people do not need simply my decency, they need you. They do not need to hear that I am a “nice man” but the Gospel of your saving grace.
Over this weekend on Saturday morning I went and served at the House of Harvest distributing groceries to those in need. I then took boxes of groceries and handed them out to Waffle House employees. If I simply meet these peoples physical needs out of my decency it would have been a good thing. I will be liked, be known as a “good person” and my popularity will increase. However, if I never mentioned Jesus and directed them to him as the source of my decency, my ministry will decrease. As my “decency” can not save anyone. Like you Jesus, help me keep the first thing first when I meet someone, which is sharing the Gospel and that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Help me push past nice, safe, conversations with my friends, neighbors and co-workers, that reflect my decency and enter into kingdom conversations that reflect your saving works of the cross and resurrection.
My family, I pray this week you intentionally go beyond the “nice” ”comfortable” level of conversations you have with those in which whom you work, play, hang-out with and serve. I pray you enter your calling not to simply be a nice person to the them out of your decency, but a harvester of their souls out the Gospel. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
.As we read through Mark, I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days reading and reflection with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Resolve to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
