Jesus is powerful

Today in the One Year Bible we read from Mark 7:24-8:10. Jesus is approached by a gentile woman who asks for Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter. After some discussion, Jesus simply tells her to go home because the demon is gone.

That's power! He didn't even go to the daughter or say anything to the demon. He just decided it was gone, and it was gone. 

He's got that kind of power for your life, too. Trust Him to be able to take care of any need you have. And be prepared to keep asking if He doesn't answer right away. He likes persistence in prayer. 

God, thanks for having all the power we need to take care of our needs. 

eating meat does not defile you

Today in the One Year Bible we read from Mark 7:1-23. Jesus explains to the religious leaders and His disciples that food doesn't defile you so it's not a sin to eat certain foods.

How does that jive with the Christian tradition of fasting from meat on Fridays? Well, we don't fast because the food is unclean and will defile us. We fast because we're depriving ourselves of something good, i. e. tasty food, to focus on something better: Jesus and His love which gave us His sacrifice on the cross (on Friday). Then when Friday is over, we go back to eating meat again because it's not evil (unless it's overdone).

God, thank You for teaching us the reasons behind Your commands. 

difficult on purpose

Today in the One Year Bible we read from Mark 6:30-56. Jesus insists on sending His disciples across the sea in their boat. He then goes and prays alone. At 3am, he sees them struggling against the wind and waves. He walks on the water and rescues them.

But think about that. He sent them out on purpose. So they would struggle. So they would need Him. So He could show them His power and increase their faith. 

God does that to you, too. He'll intentionally put you into circumstances where you need Him. So you'll see His power and increase your faith in Him. Because life is about what's coming next more than it is about what's right now.

God, thank You for putting us in tough circumstances so we can learn to trust You. 

the truth is disturbing

Today in the One Year Bible we read from Mark 6:1-29. Herod likes to talk to John the Baptist, even though he's disturbed by what he says sometimes. That's what the truth does. It disturbs us. It gets under our skin and makes us uncomfortable. It challenges our easy way of living and makes us do things we don't wanna do.

Let's live in that truth. Because the truth is all part of the Truth, and Jesus Himself is the Truth. 

God, thanks for disturbing us with the truth. Please draw us through the truth to You, Truth itself. 

when things go very wrong

Today in the One Year Bible we read from Mark 5:21-43. Jesus is on His way to Jairus's house because his daughter is very sick. While on the way, the daughter dies and a servant comes to tell Jairus not to bother Jesus anymore. But Jesus says, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith." Then He goes and raises her from the dead. 

Things are going to go dreadfully wrong in your life too. When it happens, you'll be tempted to think "don't bother Jesus anymore. it's too late." Instead, don't be afraid. Just have faith. He might not raise your loved one from the dead. He might not give you back your job or heal your sickness right away. But if you let love drive out all of your fear and have faith in Him, He will make everything work for your good. He will take care of you. 

God, thank You for teaching us not to be afraid, but instead to have faith in You. Help us trust You. 

be like the demon possessed man

Today in the One Year Bible we read from Mark 4:26-5:20. Jesus finds a man possessed by many demons. He heals him, sending the demons into a nearby herd of pigs. The people in the town nearby freak out and ask Jesus to leave them alone. The demon possessed man, on the other hand, asks if he can go with Jesus.

If you've been healed of something that's tormented you for years, it can make you grateful. If you just see someone else get healed, sometimes you can take it for granted or even freak out and try to get away. 

Let's be like the demon possessed man, now in our right minds, wanting to go with Jesus. 

God, thank You for healing us. Let us go with You. 

I know God's will for your life!

Today in the One Year Bible we read from Mark :31-4:25. Jesus says that anyone who does what God commands is His mother and sister and brother.

Notice what He says. Not "anyone who loves me" or "anyone who believes in Me", but anyone who does what God says. 

People are always searching for God's will. Should I get married? Should I take this job? Should I move across the country? What is His will for my life? 

Here is God's will for your life: feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Visit the sick and those in prison. Be kind to foreigners. Love your enemy. Forgive everyone. That's God's will for your life! Do those things and the other things will fall into place.

God, thanks for teaching us clearly how to do Your will.