Fresh Start Daily

Devo: Mark 6:13-19

“And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted.” V. 13

The disciples learned from being with Jesus, from seeing how Jesus lived, listening to His preaching, and receiving God’s message. They learned from Jesus Himself. They did not go to school to train. They spent time with Jesus. They were always with Jesus. They had a personal encounter and a relationship with Jesus.

“Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons…” VV. 14-15

Jesus appointed the twelve disciples to continue His mission on earth. He wanted to train them and eventually send them out to preach, to heal, and to cast out demons. The power that believers have to carry out out God-given mission is from God Himself. God will enable and empower us to do the things He commands us to do.

God does not choose perfect people to serve Him. The twelve disciples committed a lot of mistakes. Judas Iscariot eventually betrayed Jesus. Only God knows why He chose Judas. However, we know that what Judas did brought Jesus to the cross. I don’t know why God chose me, but I am grateful that He did. I don’t know what I’d do without Him. I am only here today because of Him. I am only able to press on because of the Lord.

Those who believe in the Lord are commanded by God to preach, heal sicknesses, and cast out demons. Jesus gave His disciples the great commission.

Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.“

Devo: Mark 3:7-12

“But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.” VV. 7-8

Many people from different places followed Jesus even when He withdrew from the crowd. However, they followed Jesus only because of the great things He was doing.

“…when they heard how many things He was doing…” V. 8

They were attracted to Him because they heard of the miracles that Jesus did (healing of the sick and casting out unclean spirits). They were not attracted to Him because of who He is. They were not interested in His message but in what He could do for them.

Will we come to Jesus when we know that He won’t heal our diseases? Will we come to Jesus when we know that He won’t make us rich? Will we come to Jesus when we know that He won’t make us happy in this world?

God is a healer and He wants us to have healthy bodies. However, it’s not all the time that He will heal our illnesses and it doesn’t mean that He is not good. The apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh and he pleaded with God to remove it but God refused to grant his request.

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Paul understood that it was for him to keep from boasting.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” 2 Corinthians 12:7

We will not always understand why He sometimes withholds healing but God is sovereign. He is in control even when things in our life seem out of control. We may not have the life we expect to have on earth but as long as we know that God is with us no matter what our circumstance is, we’re good.

I don’t expect life to be easy in this world because God Himself said that in this world, we will have tribulation (John 16:33). However, God promises us peace that is not like what the world offers.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

Devo: Mark 3:1-6

“So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.” V. 2

They knew that Jesus would heal the man with the withered hand so they watched Him closely. They had faith that Jesus could heal the man. They believed that Jesus had that power but that wasn’t enough for them to believe in Jesus.

It’s possible to know about Jesus, to know everything written in the Bible, and not have a personal relationship with Him. Knowing about God is different from knowing Him. God does not want us to have head knowledge only. He wants to have a deep and intimate relationship with Him. He wants us to be connected to Him moment by moment.

The religious leaders watched Jesus closely and knew what Jesus could do but they did not have love for Him. Their purpose for watching what He would do was to accuse Him. A normal person would be excited to witness Jesus’ miracles. The religious leaders, on the other hand, were jealous of Him. They were enraged. They could not stand the fact that Jesus had power.

They were also angry because for them, Jesus was defying the law. People shouldn’t work on Sabbath. Jesus emphasized that to meet the needs of people are more important than religious rituals.

“Then He said to them, ‘Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?'” V. 4

He said the same thing in the previous chapter when the Pharisees criticized His disciples for doing what was not lawful on the Sabbath.

“And He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.'” Ch. 2 vv. 27-28

“…He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts…” V. 5

Jesus was angry because their hearts were so hard. They refused to believe despite knowing that Jesus is God. It’s sad that there are many who, after witnessing the power of God, still choose to reject Jesus. The hardness of their heart blinds them spiritually.

“He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” V. 5

The man obeyed Jesus. He stretched out his hand when Jesus told him to. He could have complained and asked Jesus to heal him first but he didn’t. He stretched out his hand just as Jesus told him to. The result is complete restoration of his hand. Amazing!!!

It might seem to easy to do, right? However, not many would obey Jesus. Some would refuse to stretch out their hand when Jesus commands them to. However, the man obeyed and he was blessed because of his obedience. Jesus only asked him to stretch out his hand but He restored his hand’s function. God did the rest after he stretched out his hand. God is good! When He tells us to do something, He will help us finish it. He will not leave us alone in the task He gives us.

“Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.” V. 6

They were filled with hate. Jesus didn’t do anything wrong to them. What Jesus did was a good and wonderful thing. He healed the man and yet, the people hated him.

I fixed a charcuterie board for our snack tonight. ☺️

Melvin Jones Grandstand (Burnham Park)

The Mansion

Wright Park

Way back to our hotel…