Tag: man of action
Early morning appointment!
Scripture reading for February 10th: Mark 1
Mark’s gospel portrays Jesus as a man of action. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and confirmed by His Father, “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11) The Spirit quickly takes Jesus into the desert for forty days of temptation by Satan. Jesus returned to begin His ministry: “The time has come,” He said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) Next Jesus is calling His disciples from among the fishermen on the shores of the Sea of Galilee! On the Sabbath, Mark tells of Jesus teaching in the synagogue and amazing those gathered there by the authority He demonstrated as He cast an evil spirit out of a man. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever and Jesus went and healed her. The whole town came for healing and deliverance! His appointed time brought action and spreading fame!
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” (Mark 1:35) Mark also recorded the secret to Jesus’ great success. Jesus got up early in the morning and kept an appointment with His Father. He went to a lonely place and prayed in secret. It was there that Jesus heard what the Father wanted to do and walked in obedience.
Let me encourage you to follow Jesus’ example! The most important appointment is one that we set to meet with the Lord. If we are faithful to keep this appointment, He will give us a schedule of divine appointments where His work will be accomplished through our obedience! It is never boring to walk with the Lord through each day!
“Everyone’s looking for You!”
Scripture reading for February 16th: Mark 1:29-2:12, Psalms 35:17-28, Proverbs 9:13-18
“That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but He would not let the demons speak because they knew who He was.” (Mark 1:32-34) Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God with power. The proof of this was miracles and deliverance. Jesus worked well after dark healing and delivering many in Capernaum. The whole town gathered at Peter’s mother-in-law’s house to receive healing. Crowds came to get in on what Jesus was saying and doing!
“Very early the next morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they proclaimed: “Everyone is looking for You!” (Mark 1:35-37) The secret to Jesus’ power and authority was in prayer. Jesus took time to pray alone, seeking the Father’s will and then doing it. It would have been easy to get caught up in the crowd’s interest and adulation, but Jesus wanted to please His Father first and last!
It would have seemed the perfect opportunity to do more ministry since everyone in Capernaum was looking for Him. This was an evangelist’s dream: A large crowd of hungry people! “Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else–to the nearby villages–so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (Mark 1:38) Jesus did not let the crowd influence Him from doing what He came to do. He was under orders and moved because of some hidden agenda. He had business to attend to elsewhere. The crowd there had seen enough and there were many others who had not had an opportunity to experience the kingdom of God near to them. Many others were still in bondage to the kingdom of darkness!
The lesson for us today is our need to stay in focus on our mission and the means to do that. We must spend time alone with God in prayer! God has personal instructions for each of us. The crowd isn’t always right and what we did yesterday in that place isn’t necessarily what we should do today. God is looking for you and me today, in the secret place!