These are posts about the Gospel of Mark.
Mark
Once we are given freedom in Christ, what will we do with the rest of our life? Will our life stay on the same trajectory with subtle changes to our thinking? Will our life take a radically different trajectory as new thoughts and desires are introduced? Where will the journey
Mark
Starting something big, like having a relationship with God, takes courage and determination. Don’t get me wrong. With respect to salvation, God did all the work on the cross. But when it comes to meeting God so that we can become more like Christ, we need to do our
Mark
The greatest among us should be those who life is devoted to helping other people draw closer to God by demonstrating servant-leadership. The greatest among us aren’t the big-name evangelists or the pastors of churches or the authors of incredible devotional series. Look at Jesus’ life. He is constantly
Mark
All who desire to follow in the ways of Christ can expect a fate like His. Obviously, we will know persecution as we grow apart from the world. We will know what it feels like to leave worldly things behind. We will feel the joy in helping others grow closer
Mark
If we claim to follow Jesus, then our desires must align with His, not the other way around. This can be accomplished in two ways. We can be like Jonah, who did God’s will but resented every minute of it, or we can be like Jesus’ disciples, who tried
Mark
A sign of good character is that when difficult times come, we stay the course. It’s cliché to say, but anyone can talk a good talk. Character comes when we walk the walk. Words are easy; actions are hard. Want to truly know who you are deep inside? Put
Mark
We may leave everything, but we’ve lost nothing. I don’t get that mindset right all the time. I have moments where I look longingly at what others have. But those moments of weakness are fleeting. At my core, I am genuinely grateful for the spiritual community around me
Mark
We must simply receive. Honestly, this is one of the hardest things for me. When someone gives a gift, the hardest thing is to honor the gift and just receive it. When someone gives a compliment, the hardest thing is to just receive it. I want to earn it. Or,
Mark
We need to be vigilant. The world has many ways to pull us away from God. The world can distract us with stuff. The world can confuse us with its logic. The world can make us so busy we don’t have the time to devote to God. The follower
Mark
Following the way of Jesus is harder than it looks. Jesus came to the earth, embraced human nature, and taught among us so He could ultimately give it all up and die for someone else’s sake. He set a high bar. It’s a daunting example to follow. Take
Mark
“Well done, faithful servant.” Do we want to be a servant? Doesn’t the world chafe against the idea of self? Our culture is about being yourself, doing what you want, and everything being okay. How often do we hear the example of submission to another as something to be
Mark
God wants to be a part of life with us. On a spiritual level, this statement is a bit absurd. He created life. Whether we want Him or not, He is a part of life. In fact, God sustains life. Yet, there is more to it than fact. Even though