Mark 1-3
The ministry of Jesus (as recorded by Mark) is a tremendous example of faith for us. I love how I read when Jesus calls Simon and Andrew to follow Him, and "immediately" they drop what they're doing and go. The same with James and John. What faith! The wording just doesn't give it true justice compared to me picturing it in my mind. They just left! Could I do that?
As we read the Gospel of Mark, we will read of the events of Jesus in rapid fashion. Mark doesn't take time for details. He hits the main highlights. Reading Mark is like watching Sports-center after the games. We don't see the full events. But we do see the important game changing highlights.
Mark 1:35 should warm our hearts and should encourage us to seek His example. Jesus began each day with time alone with God. That is what I want to do with my Bible reading and prayer time.
Why do you think Jesus would instruct those He heals to be quiet about it? Maybe it's kind of like when a celebrity enters the public scene, they dress incognito so they cannot be recognized. They know that if they are recognized, what they set out to do will be delayed due to all of the publicity and fans surrounding them. They public has never been very gracious to those who are famous. They have always been selfish and in want of something from someone of fame.
When Jesus references himself as the "Son of Man" he is referencing himself to be fully human. There has been a terrible perception in the last century of making Jesus out to being mostly God and less human, or fully human and less God. This meaning they would not give full credit to Jesus being both fully God and fully man. Jesus was tempted just like man. But Jesus also healed diseases and forgave sins-things only God can do. Jesus will be involved in both! Jesus was called both the "Son of Man" and the Son of God".
When I pray, I know God hears me. I God hears all and sees all that goes on in my life. Psalm 17 is another outpouring prayer to God from David who is again being oppressed by His enemies. King Saul is still trying to have David killed because He feels threatened by David. In a world (then and now) that puts its trust in its self--David puts His trust in God. What would it take for me to do that completely today? What am I not completely trusting God with today?
Psalm 17:3 speaks of an honest and transparent heart before God. The fact is that God sees the motives of your heart anyway. So why not own up to those thoughts and trust in God for the forgiveness only He can offer when you sin? David is not declaring to be sinless and perfect; rather, he is declaring himself to being open and honest. David lived in such a constant and close relationship with God that when sin occurred, he immediately confessed it to God and sought God's forgiveness. We too can live that way! It's truly our own choice!
Do you know that you are the "apple" of God's eye? It's true. We all long to be the "apple" of someone's eye. The expression comes from the nickname given to the pupil of your eye. We protect our pupils probably more than any other part of our body. If we get something in them, we immediately wash it out. We wear sunglasses to protect them. If we sense that something is going to get in them, we close our eyelids immediately. It is amazing how sensitive our pupils are and how we go to great lengths to protect them. The ancients refereed to the pupil as the "apple" of their eye. God will protect us just like we protect the "apples" of our eyes.
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