DevoToday.com

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Mark 6:4-6

Jesus makes this statement in his own hometown. People who heard of his work were asking “Who is the guy? Isn’t he one of us? Don’t we know his family?” They couldn’t think of him differently than what he was or was from. They couldn’t focus on what he is.

There are times when we know things too well. When I was consulting I called it “the curse of knowledge” (stole that from a book, I think). People become too close to a situation to be able to see what is really happening or to even explain it. They are too used to it.

In what ways do we hold things back by seeing them as they were? Is there a person you have pigeon-holed into what they used to be? Or an organization that you can’t see how it’s different than it used to be? How can you adapt to see what it has become?

Be God’s — every day.

Jesus’ disciples had forgotten to bring any bread, so they had only one loaf with them in the boat. He gave them strict orders: Watch out and be on your guard for the yeast of the Pharisees as well as the yeast of Herod. The disciples discussed this among themselves, He said this because we have no bread. Jesus knew what they were discussing and said, Why are you talking about the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you grasp what has happened? Don’t you understand? Are your hearts so resistant to what God is doing? Don’t you have eyes? Why can’t you see? Don’t you have ears? Why can’t you hear? Don’t you remember? When I broke five loaves of bread for those five thousand people, how many baskets full of leftovers did you gather?
They answered, Twelve. And when I broke seven loaves of bread for those four thousand people, how many baskets full of leftovers did you gather?
They answered, Seven. Jesus said to them, And you still don’t understand?
Mark 8:14-21

It took the disciples a while to pick up on what Jesus was trying to teach. Even though they had the faith to follow him, and were witness to so many miracles, understanding Jesus wasn’t so easy.

Don’t be discouraged if God’s message isn’t always clear. You are not the only one struggling. Understanding and following the ways of Jesus was a challenge for his original disciples, and continues to be a challenge for us today.

Have faith that God is revealing his message. If it’s a struggle, you’re not alone!

Be God’s — every day.

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Mark 13:8

Yesterday was a day filled with extraordinary events. From downpours here in Chicago (while the sun was still shining) to the coming of a hurricane to an earthquake in Virginia to a fire that took out power delaying meeting… All kinds of crazy stuff.

Are these signs of the end times? I’m not so sure about that. No one knows the date or time of Christ’s return.

They are, though, evidence of a world with challenges. Some will question the value of these events in God’s plan, and they create a distraction for our faith and closeness to God. Others will see this as an opportunity to draw closer to God, recognizing that he can bring newness to the world that will make all the crazy stuff irrelevant.

Which type will you be?

Be God’s — every day.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Mark 1:17

This is how Jesus called the first disciples. They were fishermen — that was their skill and trade. Not theologians, not skilled orators or authors. Fishermen, being called to follow and learn from Jesus Christ himself.

We know of the work done by the disciples after Christ’s death, traveling the world (known to them at that time) sharing the gospel and planting churches of believers… who would then be charged to share the good news with others. Those fishermen were the first in a chain of believers called to share the message and bring people closer to Christ — to fish for people.

We are all part of that chain of believers. We, too, are directed to share the message and bring others to Christ.

That may not be natural or comfortable… But how comfortable do we think it was for the first people fishers? It’s not about comfort. Jesus repeatedly pushed the limits of the comfort zone is his teaching and mission, and we all must respond to that and share his message.

Assess yourself… How well do you carry the message forward? What is easy for you to talk about and hard to talk about? What objections or replies are you afraid of… and how can you prepare to respond to those replies?

Be God’s — every day.

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
Mark 1:43-44

It seems peculiar that Jesus tells the man not to tell anyone what has
happened. This is the story where Jesus has healed the leper — an amazing
thing!

Here’s the problem… lepers were seen as unclean, and weren’t allowed the
enter the temple to worship God. Jesus feared that if the man talked a bout
the miracle, he wouldn’t be able to worship. Jesus was more interested in
restoring the man’s faith and relationship with God… he wasn’t interested
in using the miracle for marketing purposes.

Let this be a challenge to us all. How often do we take great events or
happy occasions and use them for marketing? Shouldn’t our interests be in
celebrating the event, rather than turning it for our own gain? Christ’s
example is to focus on restoring the faith, not publicizing an image of
miraculous work.

Be God’s — every day.

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
Mark 15:37-39

I used to wonder why today was called “Good” Friday.

It had to be because we often got the day off of school, right? Because what was so good about Jesus dying? He was having an impact on how people thought. He could probably run for President some day. What could be so good about murder — and a gruesome one at that? What is so good about literally tearing a man apart like a piece of meat, forcing him to carry his own instrument of death, then mocking him as he hung and with each struggled breath moved closer and closer to his last?

Here is the GOOD news:

With Christ’s death, we are one with him. The curtain that covered the forbidden place in the temple was torn, to how that there is no barrier between human and God. We are called to be with him, and have access to an eternal life in heaven through his name.

Good Friday is about more than a guy dying on a cross. It’s about the wonderful news that we cannot be separated from his power.

Be God’s — every day.

“But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Mark 9:22b-24

It’s pretty easy to say “I believe,” particularly when pressed to say so or when there is a benefit attached to it. In this verse, Jesus calla out the father’s skepticism. The “if” revealed his true beliefs.

Forget about what you say, what you read, or what you are supposed to think. No one is watching. No one is listening. What do you really believe, deep down inside? What skepticism do you have?

If Jesus were to expose that skepticism, how would you respond?

We all have moments of doubt. None of us is any less a Christian if we have our skeptic moments. The path of discipleship is filled with moments of doubt and recovery. When our deep down doubts are exposed and faced, then we truly develop as disciples of Christ.

Be God’s — every day.

For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
Mark 7:21-22

Where does sin come from?

From within. From our hearts.

It’s not a genetic flaw that we can blame on our parents, or something that we can blame on global warming. Each of us individually is the source of our own sin.

It’s also not something that our bodies can fight, where there is an antibiotic to accelerate our immune response to an infection. Rather, we must be saved from it through repentance and a realization that we are completely powerless over it.

Our sin comes from within each of us. But each of us can be saved by the awesome grace of God, through his son Jesus Christ!

Be God’s — every day.