Work in Progress

The 3 things I loved most about Mark's Gospel were:

1. Mark 1:35
   it says… "very early the next morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed"I love reading scripture about Jesus prayer life. I always find it convicting, but at the same time, filled with good pratical advice! There are numerous scriptures in the gospels which tell of Jesus nipping off to pray. What comes directly after these times of prayer? well… usually a series of miracles, and major decisions. Jesus realises the importance of seeking God to determine His will for his life.

   On the practical side of things, I have tried in the past to alter my sleeping pattern to allow me to wake up early and pray at the start of my day rather than at the end, and most often I would fall asleep during these prayer times. I would rise, and either kneel by my bed, or go downstairs and kneel in the living room… i would last a maximum of 30mins before I would drift off. So… what does Jesus do? he gets up… leaves the house… and goes off. How much easier would it be to pray AWAKE walking about in the morning, or outside in the cold?~

2. Mark 2:17
   Jesus is eating with the tax collectors and the Pharisees begin to criticize him, and make accusations against him. Jesus replies… "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners".In all aspects of my life at the moment I hear the cry "pursue your calling"… and here is another of those moments. I was struck here by the fact that Jesus is extremely aware of his purpose. When he's being callenged about what he's doing, he reverts back to his calling and no doubt asks himself the question… "how does what i'm doing now fit in with what i'm called to do?" and of course, this scripture gives the answer to that question.

   Spritual boldness comes from trusting God, and pursuing your calling. Jesus is not being rude, nor being smart, he is simply answering "this is what i'm called to do". Let your purpose/calling direct your actions. Don't let circumstance dictate how busy your schedule is, but your calling. If you're timetable is packed full, and you're stressed out your box, sit down to evaluate it, and ask the question… does this piece aid or hinder my calling… and you'll soon know what parts to keep and which to get rid of.

3. Mark 10:46-52
   I love this story. It's the story of blind Bartimeus. Summarised… He's sitting at the side of the road, and hears that Jesus is coming and so he starts to shout: "Son of David, have mercy on me". The people around him rebuke him and tell him to be quiet, but this only makes him shout louder. Jesus hears him, and heals him.I'm always struck when I read this story by v48. Think how this story could have turned out differently. The people around him told him to be quiet, and so he shut up and watched Jesus walk by, and Bartimeus lived blind for the rest of his life!?

   I'm reminded of 1 Thess 5:19 where it says " Do not put out the Spirit's fire" (NIV) or in the (NLT) "Do not stifle the Holy Spirit". NEVER let people stifle your pursuit of Jesus! Bartimeus had faith that Jesus could heal him, and no matter how much persecution he faced from the people around him, he kept pressing on for the thing he believed in.

   Let us be a generation who are like Bartimeus… that we set our eyes on Jesus, and the things he promises, and in the face of persecution, let our zealousness increase! May the Spirit's fire in us consume us.