WEDNESDAY, 10/1/14 GOSPELS. Mark 1:35 “What If?” (By Barry) WORSHIP: https://youtube/watch?v=Ldesy8ynk9o SCRIPTURE: blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mar&c=1&t=NLT#s=958035 LAST WEEK: “That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus.” THIS WEEK: “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” What if? I think of all our excuses for not hanging out with Jesus first thing in the morning: —“I’m just not a morning person.” —“I was watching Netflix” really late last night.” —“I was up late doing homework.” —“I overslept.” And then I think of a verse we read last week… “That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus.” (Do you remember the story from last week? Do you remember Jesus visiting Peter’s house, and healing Peter’s mother-in-law? Do you remember that, afterwards, the entire town showed up to get Jesus to heal people of disease, and cast demons from them?) It must have been a long (and exciting) night. I bet Jesus and His friends were up really, really late. The next morning, it would have been perfectly understandable for them to sleep in. In fact, I suspect they did. Except for Jesus. Today’s verse says… “ Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” Why? Why didn’t Jesus sleep in? Why didn’t He take the day off? —Was He afraid He would get in trouble with his Father? —Was He concerned about His reputation? —Was He feeling guilty for not getting up early the previous day? No!!! Jesus WANTED to get up early and get alone with His Father. It wasn’t dry, or boring, or ordinary. I think His times with His Father were something He craved. In fact, I don’t think Jesus could even image NOT getting up early, and getting away with His Father! Starting today, why don’t you accept the October Challenge, and follow Jesus’ example? For 31 days, what would it be like if you got up a bit early, and did your 555? What if you listened to the worship song, and read through the Scripture, and spent a couple of minutes in prayer? What if you responded to the 555 before you got your day started? What if you follow Jesus’s example? DIGGING DEEPER # 1: —Don’t take the challenge just so that you can prove yourself to your friends. —Don’t get up early to do your 555 so that you won’t feel guilty. —Make up your mind that your time with the Lord is going to be important. Decide to do whatever it takes to make it successful. —If you happen to mess up one day, just start over. DIGGING DEEPER # 2: Check out “The Priority of Prayer” on page 1071 of the TLASB! PRAYER: What if? What if you take the challenge seriously? Ask God to help you? What if you mess up one day? Ask God to help you! What if you are too tired? Ask Him to help you do it anyway! Pray about this important step of putting Jesus first! October just might be a life-changer!
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 04:13:53 +0000
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