Today’s Reading: Mark 1:35-39, 10:17-31
HOW IS JESUS AFFECTING YOUR LIFE? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM?
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons. – Mark 1:35-39
Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon-possessed or epileptic or paralyzed – he healed them all. Large crowds followed him wherever he went – people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River. – Matthew 4:23-25
Large crowds of people were so taken by Jesus that they were willing to follow him wherever he went! Now that’s passion! Most of us experience this same passion when Jesus radically changes our lives. We fall SO in love with this Jesus — who would heal us or love us or die for us — we would do whatever he asks us to do. We would go wherever he leads us. We give whatever he stirs our hearts to give in order to fund the mission of spreading God’s word. Consider this passage we read last week:
Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Jerod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. – Luke 8:1-3
They were so excited about what Jesus was doing that they were willing to LIVE SACRIFICIALLY and GIVE SACRIFICIALLY. As they traveled with Jesus, they heard the same message over and over again and it was changing their lives – the message of the Good News about the Kingdom of God.
HOW IS JESUS AFFECTING YOUR LIFE? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM?
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the King of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” – Matthew 13:44-46
To want something so much that I am willing to lose all else that I might gain that one thing.
To value something so much that I am willing to forfeit everything in the pursuit of it.
To care about something so much that nothing else matters except that one thing.
This is what God is calling us to.
Devoted.
Sold-out.
Passionate.
Do I value the Kingdom of Heaven more than my own earthly kingdom?
Do I value heavenly treasures more than earthly treasures?
Do I value spiritual rewards more than physical rewards?
Do I value my relationship with God above all other relationships?
HOW IS JESUS AFFECTING YOUR LIFE? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM?
A man ran up to Jesus, respectfully knelt before him, and asked him what he could do to inherit eternal life. He had obeyed all the commandments since he was young. He was what the world would define as a good man, although only God is truly good. Out of a genuine love for this man, Jesus told him to sell all of his possessions, give the money to the poor, and then follow him. Only then would he have treasure in heaven. The man’s face fell and he walked away sad, for he had too much of what this world has to offer in order to fully embrace all that Jesus was offering him.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” – Mark 10:23-31
Holy Spirit, move in me today. I long to hear from you. Empty me of all that is sin and all that is self and fill me with you. Change me so that I value what you value; change me so that I cannot help but respond to the effect you are having on my life. Help me to let go of anything in this world that I am holding onto too tightly. Amen.