The First Disciples

Meditations of the Gospel of Mark

July 28, 2020

The First Disciples

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Mark 1:15

Read: Mark 1: 14-20

While Mark’s people were desperate for God to again rescue His people, Jesus said there was a prerequisite: “Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Before God could rescue them, the people first had to recognize they had many competing loyalties. They trusted their ancestry, their land, their Temple, their laws and even, at times, their God, provided He did what they wanted him to do. But Jesus was calling them (and us) to something new God was doing, and inviting them to come into this new Kingdom. But first they had to cut their ties to their old loyalties and put their faith and trust in Jesus.

That is not easy to do. In this passage, Peter, Andrew, James and John cut the ties to their old loyalties and followed Jesus. Now it is our turn. Do I find my security, my identity in Christ alone, or do I still have competing loyalties? How about you?

My Takeaway: As I read today’s passage, I laid down my Bible and pondered the question, “When did I hear Jesus call me to follow him?” I don’t mean my call to the itinerate ministry; When did I hear Jesus call me to be his follower, his disciple, a Christian? I recall bits and pieces, starts and stops, youth groups and college classes. I recall a friend inviting me to church. I also remember a Sunday evening, alone, after I had been reading the New Testament. I sensed the presence of Christ in my life. I knew then I wanted to be his disciple. I knew he was calling me. As I look back, I am thankful for all of the starts and stops, funerals and weddings. All of the places where I heard bits and pieces about Jesus and the love of God were important to me. But, the most important day was when I heard Jesus call my name.

When did you hear Jesus call your name?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

Meditations of the Gospel of Mark

July 27, 2020

The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

And a voice came from heaven:

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:11 (NIV)

Read: Mark 1:9-13

Perhaps the most compelling truth of what it means for us to seek the life in Christ as our way of life, is that in the life in Christ, what is true for Jesus, is true for us. Tarry here for a bit and let this truth sink in. Then go to verse 11.

Because what is true for Jesus is also true for those in Christ, then what Jesus heard as he saw the dove descending from heaven is true for those in Christ. Look again at verse 11. Put your name at the front of that sentence and use Son or Daughter as appropriate and read the verse slowly. Own that version of the verse because as a follower of Jesus, reconciled to God through faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus, you are in Christ and what is true of Jesus is true for you. This is the truth of how God sees you. Own it and choose to live everyday resting in God’s smile of affection for you.

My Takeaway: What I have written above is all the takeaway I’ll ever need, but wait: There’s more! In the wilderness among the wild animals, angels attended to Jesus. In these most difficult times of dealing with the issues of the coronavirus and racism across our land, I take comfort in knowing God’s angels are attending to me. How about you?

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Meditations of the Gospel of Mark

July 24, 2020

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

“This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

Mark 1: 1, 8

Read: Mark 1: 1-8

It was a little over four months ago, that our state and community received the first stay home order. Our church closed on March 15, and there is no end in sight as to when we will again hold worship services. Our present circumstances in the USA are quite troubling. On March 9, about a week before a National Emergency was declared, the US had 546 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 22 deaths. In two months, on May 9, the US had 1,283,929 confirmed cases and 77,180 deaths. About two months later (July 16), the US has 3,574,371 confirmed cases and 138,339 deaths related to covid-19. Add to this the nationwide protests against racism and other issues, we are indeed in desperate times.

May I suggest we are standing in a similar desperate place as Mark’s church when he wrote this Gospel. We desperately need a word from the Lord. I believe Mark’s Good News is the Word for our time. A caveat. Mark’s Gospel has been called a handbook for discipleship. This is serious discipleship, such discipleship that brings to mind what G. K. Chesterton noted, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” You may want to peek ahead to Mark 10:42-45 to what can be described as the theme of this Gospel.

My Takeaway: The people of Israel were desperate for God to come again, and rescue them again, as He had done when their ancestors were slaves in Egypt. Their prophets had promised that when God came again, He would remain with them forever. Mark says John the Baptist pointed to the fulfillment of this promise when he said, “(Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Knowing God is with me now sustains me in these desperate times. How about you?

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.