Be Still and Know Daily Bible Devotion

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Bring some Spirit-filled peace into your hectic schedule every weekday morning with this new Daily Devotional.

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April 6 · 3 min
April 6th - Proverbs 12:15-16
Proverbs 12:15-16 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. The language of Proverbs is very black and white. The writer refers to wise people and does everything he can think of to illustrate how wonderful it is to live in this way. It’s a life of happiness, prosperity and peace and is marked by humility, grace and generosity. It stands in complete contrast to the fool, whose way of life is miserable, poor and full of conflict. We all lurch between these two extremes. We can see the huge blessings of being wise but have to admit that we are still capable of foolishness at times. The value of Proverbs is that it gives us some clear practical pointers on how to live wisely. These verses give us two pieces of valuable advice. Firstly, we must listen to others with care because this allows us to be blessed by their experience and wisdom. I am delighted that mentoring has become so popular in recent years, and I find it an enriching part of my own life both as a mentor and mentee. However confident you may be about a course of action, you need to check your thinking with others. Secondly, we need to stay calm when we are insulted, which is incredibly tough. If someone is rude to us, the instinct is to hit back immediately for self-preservation, but it is wiser to keep calm and respond in a measured way when we have had time to think things through. A quick-tempered outburst is bound to make things worse. I’m so glad that we can read this wise advice through the perspective of the New Testament, knowing that God has given us His Holy Spirit to strengthen us and give us His wisdom amid the rough and tumble of life. Question In what way do you need the Holy Spirit to help you to be wise in your relationships with others? Prayer Lord God, pour out Your Holy Spirit upon me so that I will become increasingly wise and gracious each day. Amen
April 5 · 3 min
April 5th - Mark 16:6-7
Mark 16:6-7 The angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” Long ago, an old man told me about an experience he’d had as a teenager during the first world war. Many of the young men from his village had gone off to fight in France. Some families received the terrible news that their sons had been killed, but one family heard that their son was “missing believed killed”. Everyone encouraged them to believe their boy would be found, but as weeks turned to months, all hope was lost. Then, much later, at the end of the war, my friend was cycling into his village and saw that a huge crowd had gathered. Such a thing was unheard of in that sleepy community. In the centre of the crowd was the mother of the missing soldier. She was dancing and shouting “he’s alive” as she held above her a telegram informing her that her son had been taken prisoner and would soon be returning home. Just imagine the joy of that mother and the celebrations that followed, then multiply it by 1,000 to understand some small part of the amazement of the women who found the empty tomb on Easter morning. They had actually witnessed Jesus being killed. They knew that the Romans were professional killers. They had no doubt that Jesus was dead, but the angel told them to completely change their thinking. Jesus had conquered death and was alive. This staggering news changed everything. The world would never be the same again. My greatest fear when we talk about the resurrection is that we can get used to it. Many of us have heard about it since we were children, but we need to allow it to shock us and amaze us as if we were hearing about it for the first time. Our hope for the future is totally founded upon the fact that Jesus rose from death. As John Stott wrote: “Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion. The concept of the resurrection lies at its heart. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed.” As Christians, we are a resurrection people. And that should fill us with joy, peace and hope not just at Easter but every day. Question How has the resurrection of Jesus impacted your life? Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, I praise You because You are the same yesterday, today and forever. Amen
April 4 · 3 min
April 4th - Mark 16:1
Mark 16:1 Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. As soon as the Sabbath came to an end, these three women started their preparations for anointing the body of Jesus. The Sabbath ends about 40 minutes after sunset, as soon as three stars are seen in the sky. That was probably between 5:30 and 6:00pm. They knew that they wouldn’t have time to do the anointing – that would need to wait till the Sunday morning – but they had enough time to go out to the market to purchase the spices they needed. The women’s minds must have been in absolute turmoil. Jesus, their master and friend, had been taken away from them in the most violent and disturbing manner. The disciples all seemed to have gone into hiding, but the women knew what needed to be done and were determined to do it. They were incredibly courageous – the Romans would have been unhappy to see them giving attention to Jesus’ body, but they knew they could and should. Like the woman who anointed Jesus in Bethany only a few days before, they did what they could. The following morning, these women would be the first to witness the empty tomb. They had the front seats for the resurrection. It would have astonished any Jewish observer that women should have the key role. There was a Jewish saying that ran: “Happy is he whose children are male, and alas for him whose children are female,” and in the Jewish morning service, one of the prayers was: “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has not made me a woman.” They prayed this after similarly thanking God that they were not heathens or slaves. Clearly, with the death and resurrection of Jesus, a completely new chapter had opened up. Question What impresses you about the willingness of the women to anoint the body of Jesus? Prayer Loving Father, help me to be willing to serve You, however difficult it might be. Amen
April 3 · 2 min
April 3rd - Mark 15:37-39
Mark 15:37-39 Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” I am very struck by the fact that just before Jesus breathed His last breath, He let out a loud cry. This is the last thing that you would have expected of a man dying on the cross. It would have been hard for Jesus to breathe at all, but He gave a shout of triumph. His work of salvation was finished. He had won the final victory over sin and death. The tearing of the curtain of the Temple confirmed that a new era had opened up. In the past, only the high priest could enter into the Holy of Holies, but now, through the death of Christ on the cross, a new way was opened up for anyone who would turn to Him. The old barriers and restrictions was torn down as Jesus opened wide His arms to the world. Everyone was now warmly welcomed. The fact that the first person to comment on the death of Jesus was not a Jew is hugely significant and very surprising. Who would have thought that the Roman soldier responsible for overseeing His death would identify exactly who Jesus was? It was as if he were speaking on behalf of the world. Jesus Himself was indeed a Jew, but He came to bring life to all who would accept him, then and now. Question What is your reaction to the crucifixion of Jesus? Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, I praise You for dying for me so that my sins can be forgiven. Thank You for loving me completely and offering me the gift of eternal life. Amen
April 2 · 3 min
April 2nd - Mark 14:22-24
Mark 14:22-24 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.” There are many different ways to convey a message. The most obvious is to use words, but there are times when they are not enough. In the Old Testament, we often see the prophets acting out their message. One such dramatic moment was when Ahijah tore his robe into twelve pieces and gave ten of them to Jeroboam to demonstrate that ten of the tribes would make him king (1 Kings 11:29-32). Jeremiah also used dramatic actions to emphasise his messages. He fastened a yoke to his neck with leather straps to show how the Babylonians would conquer the land (Jeremiah 27:2). Nobody could have misunderstood his message. In our reading today, Jesus shared a special meal with His disciples. Using the powerful imagery of the broken bread and the wine, Jesus told His bemused disciples that these symbols spoke of His own body and blood. Jesus had already clearly told them that He was going to die, but now He demonstrated it through sharing a simple meal with them. I wonder what the disciples made of that meal. At the time, it must have been very confusing. Alarmingly, it began with Jesus telling them that one of them was going to betray Him. They knew that there was an increasing tide of opposition to Jesus’ ministry and must have been nervous. In the midst of it all, they met Jesus their friend, their master and their Lord. When we celebrate Communion, we are in a very different place from the disciples. We know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that on the third day He rose again and is still alive and in heaven. But just as the disciples shared that last supper with the Lord in an atmosphere of tension, so too we meet with the living Jesus in a world in which there is still much brokenness, violence and sin. Jesus meets with us where we are, just as He met with His disciples long ago in that Upper Room. Question What does the service of Communion mean to you? Prayer Lord Jesus, thank You that You meet with me day by day in the midst of the challenges and opportunities of life. Amen
April 1 · 3 min
April 1st - Mark 14:8-9
Mark 14:8-9 [Jesus said:] “She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” Jesus said this after a woman had anointed him in Bethany. It was clearly an amazing moment. It was quite usual for a house guest to be greeted by being given a few drops of perfume, but the woman deliberately broke open the whole perfume bottle. The onlookers immediately responded to the apparent waste of money. The perfume was made from nard which came from far off India and was, therefore, extremely expensive – the equivalent of one year’s wages. Jesus vigorously defended the woman’s actions. The people who suggested that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor weren’t wrong, but they missed the point. This woman was preparing Jesus’ body for burial, and nothing could be more important than that. Jesus’ death on the cross was going to bring salvation to the world, so her action was of the first importance. I am particularly struck by the fact that Jesus commended the woman for doing [itals]what she could[end itals]. That’s the challenge we all face. God may not call on you and me to lead countries or armies or change history through great social reforms, but He does ask us to do what we can. Perhaps He is calling us to encourage the elderly people next door, or write a note of encouragement to a colleague, or pay a debt on behalf of a family member. Our action may hardly be noticed, but that’s not the point. We will have done what we could. In his letters, the apostle Paul constantly encouraged his readers to keep doing God’s will. He knew that life was full of challenges and distractions, but he commanded them: “Be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Question What will you be able to do for God today? Prayer Loving Father, thank You for the opportunity of serving You today. Amen
March 31 · 3 min
March 31st - Mark 12:29-31
Mark 12:29-31 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” The Jewish teachers of the law were famous for two things. Firstly, they took hold of the 613 laws that were given to Moses and added layer upon layer of other regulations, but they also enjoyed being able to reduce the whole law to a short sentence. That’s what Jesus does here. He took the vast weight of the Jewish law and summed it up with the command to love God and one’s neighbour. He was the first person to bring together these two instructions into a single command. The words that Jesus used would have been very familiar to any Jew. They were known as the Shema and they opened every act of Jewish worship - and still do today. Jews are constantly reminded of them. On every doorpost in a Jewish home, there is a small cylindrical box called a Mezuzah. Inside the box, there is a tiny copy of the Shema. It was also contained in the phylacteries which devout Jews wore as they prayed. These were little leather boxes, and you will still often see them being worn by Jews at the Western Wall (otherwise known as the Wailing Wall) in Jerusalem. We can so easily make life complicated, but Jesus continually calls us back to the simplicity of his message. Love is the key. We can never go wrong if we love him and live in obedience to his loving commands. St Augustine summed this up well with the famous saying: “Love God and do as you like.” Often when we think about laws, we think about the negative ones – the long list of things that we shouldn’t do – but God’s fundamental law is entirely positive. When we love him and show love to our neighbour, the thought of hurting them in any way disappears. Our whole interest is to encourage and strengthen them in just the same way as God constantly seeks to build us up and make us stronger. Question What will it mean for you to love God today with all your heart, mind, soul and strength? Prayer Loving God, I thank you for your perfect love for me. Help me to learn more each day about how I can pass that love on to others. Amen
March 30 · 3 min
March 30th - Mark 11:16-17
Mark 11:16-17 [Jesus] stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” The Temple in Jerusalem was an impressive building and occupied a vast 30-acre site in the heart of the city. The temple area was divided into distinct parts and the commercial activity all took place in the extensive Court of the Gentiles, the wall of which was covered in notices indicating that the penalty for any non-Jew entering further was death. The Court of the Gentiles trading area was often extremely busy. It is said that on one occasion a trader offered 3,000 sheep for sale on a single day! The priests were also involved in the trading, and the high priest seems to have owned shops in the area. If you have ever been to what we now call The Old City of Jerusalem or any other middle eastern bazaar, you will have a good idea of what it was like. It was noisy and hectic as traders went about their business. This was all too much for Jesus, who was furious at this abuse of the temple and energetically drove out the traders. The temple was, of course, principally the focus of worship for Jews, but the Court of the Gentiles was there to show that non-Jews were welcome. Jesus observed that it was to be a house of prayer for all nations, so seeing it dominated by noisy traders was deeply offensive. I’m sure we all share Jesus’ sense of outrage at the abuse of the temple, but the same thing can happen in our own day. It is perfectly possible for churches to become distracted by secondary matters. They may become so focused on their buildings, music, social engagement or fellowship that prayer gets crowded out. All of those things are good, but they should never be our priority. Question Is prayer the priority of your church? Prayer Lord God, help me to always make prayer the priority of my life. Amen
March 29 · 3 min
March 29th - Mark 11:9-10
Mark 11:9-10 “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!” Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem shows us his extraordinary courage. He could easily have slipped quietly into the city, but in deliberately entering the city on a donkey, he was making a powerful statement. He was declaring for all to see that he was indeed the Messiah, the one who had come to save his people. Their praises show that they were entirely clear what was happening. Some may even have recalled that this was exactly what Zechariah had prophesied: “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey’s colt” (Zechariah 9:9). The people were delighted to welcome their Messiah, but there were clearly very different ideas of what such a person would do. Jesus wasn’t offering himself as the one who would kick out the occupying Roman forces, and that was probably the kind of liberation that most people were looking for. The thought that their Messiah was going to face crucifixion within a week wasn’t in their minds at all. Not even Jesus’ closest disciples had understood how the week would unfold. As we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, it is good for us to remember that he is the one who sets us free, but not always in the way that we expect or want. We may want him to be the powerful authority figure who comes on an impressive war horse to sort out the problems of our lives and of our world, but he comes on a donkey and gently shows us how we need to forgive, love and support the people around us. Jesus’ ways are not our ways but, like the people of long ago, we need to welcome him with enthusiasm and joy because he is coming to us in the name of the Lord. Question What kind of Messiah are people looking for these days? Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, I praise you. You are the one who has come to give me peace and salvation. I welcome you into my life today. Amen
March 28 · 3 min
March 28th - Mark 11:1
Mark 11:1 As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. Jesus lived most of his life in the Galilee region, which was about a four-day journey north of Jerusalem. Nevertheless, he paid many visits to Jerusalem and had some good friends in the area. His particular friends were Mary, Martha and Lazarus, who lived in Bethany, just outside the city. In one of his visits there, he had clearly prepared the ground for his final triumphal entry into Jerusalem, so he was able to send two of his disciples on ahead to get hold of a donkey with the instruction that if the owner asked why they were taking it, they were to say that the master needed it and would return it soon. Jesus had prepared the way for this decisive journey to Jerusalem, and that was an important principle for the disciples to remember in the years to come. When they went on their missionary journeys around the world, they needed to know that the Lord had gone ahead of them. His Spirit had prepared the way. As they headed out in search of the donkey, the disciples simply had to have faith in their master. Sure enough, it worked out exactly as Jesus had promised. Whenever we set off to do God’s work, it is just the same. As we go forward in obedience to him, we will find that he has prepared the way. At the moment, I’m working with a church on a new venture and we are facing lots of questions about how it will work out. I need to keep reminding myself of this fundamental truth that Jesus has already prepared the way. It's significant that Jesus sent two disciples on this mission. He had done the same in chapter six, sending out his twelve disciples two by two. This is an important and encouraging reminder that the Lord does not send us out on a solitary journey but on one in which we have a relationship of support and shared faith. Question In what ways have you seen the Lord going ahead of you to prepare the way? Prayer Lord God, help me to trust you and to listen carefully to you as I live for you each day. Amen
March 27 · 3 min
March 27th - Mark 10:51-53
Mark 10:51-53 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked [Bartimaeus]. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. On the face of it, Jesus’ question would seem entirely unnecessary. Surely it was obvious what a blind man would want Jesus, the famous healer, to do, so why did he ask it? In doing so, he gave the man dignity. Jesus didn’t barge into his life and do what he considered what would be best for him. Instead, he listened to Bartimaeus. The blind man declared his desire to be able to see again, and Jesus, recognising the man’s faith, healed him. Jesus never barges into our lives. He asks us what we want him to do for us. Yes, we all need forgiveness, but he will only give it to us when we are serious about our request. Many people want to hang on to their sins. Sin has become such a part of life that they can’t imagine being separated from their bitterness, selfishness, anger, sexual sin or whatever it happens to be. The offer of forgiveness from Jesus is real and definite, but he won’t give it as a sticking plaster to place over our ongoing sin. He forgives us only when we repent and declare our willingness to live in a new way. The decision lies entirely with us. God longs to be our guide, but once again, that is never imposed on us. We can get guidance from so many different sources. The internet, friends, the media, newspapers and books are fertile ground for guidance. It is only as we surrender to God and tell him that we want him to guide us that he is able to lead us in his way. He may well use material that we have gained from other sources, but he is the one who shows us the way to go, if only we are open to his voice. Bartimaeus’ life was transformed because that’s what he asked for. James, in his letter, observed that many of the people he was addressing hadn’t received the blessings of God for one simple reason: they hadn’t asked. Let’s not make the same mistake. Question What are you going to ask God for today? Prayer Thank you, loving God, that you love to bless me. Help me to always be ready to welcome you into every part of my life. Amen
March 26 · 3 min
March 26th - Mark 10:43-45
Mark 10:43-45 [Jesus said:] “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” I find this one of the most embarrassing passages in the whole Bible. James and John were in what is often referred to as the inner circle of disciples. They had even been with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. However, it was them who came to make this foolish request. They had worked out that Jesus had huge authority, so they asked him to provide them with the very best seats when he launched his kingdom (Mark 10:37). They thought they would get in there first and bag the seats on his right and his left. Jesus gently responded that they didn’t know what they were asking and then slowly and carefully explained that the kingdom of God was not about power, influence and the best seats but about powerlessness, service and taking the worst seats. Indeed, Jesus himself came as the ultimate servant and had no authority to hand out special seats in heaven (Mark 10:40). We can all easily understand where the disciples were coming from. Everybody likes to be served, but Jesus wants to turn our thinking upside down and show us that service is the way to perfect freedom. This will involve us in a continual process of challenging our natural self-centredness. Mother Teresa expressed this well when she wrote: “Love is a one-way street. It always moves away from self in the direction of the other. Love is the ultimate gift of ourselves to others. When we stop giving we stop loving, when we stop loving we stop growing, and unless we grow we will never attain personal fulfilment; we will never open out to receive the life of God. It is through love we encounter God.” Our society will always tell us that what we really want is to be served and to be given the best seats, but Jesus loves us so much that he offers us a better way: a life of service. Question Why is being a servant so important and so blessed? Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, you have shown us what it means to be a servant. Help me to be willing to pour out my life for you in loving service. Amen
March 25 · 3 min
March 25th - Mark 10:29-30
Mark 10:29-30 [Jesus said:] “I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and property – along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.” As Jesus moved towards Jerusalem and his death on the cross, he spoke increasingly about the costliness of discipleship. He did nothing at all to make following him sound glamourous and attractive. However, he also wanted to make it clear that the costly path of following him would be generously rewarded. Our generous God is no one’s debtor. Jesus’ words became literally true for those early disciples. Many of them would be rejected by their families, but as they entered the family of God, they suddenly discovered brothers and sisters wherever they went, and homes were flung open to greet them. This was the apostle Paul’s experience. In his final greetings in the letter to the Romans, he spoke of Rufus’ mother as being like a mother to him (Romans 16:13). In another place, he referred to Onesimus as his son (Philemon 10). The certainty of reward was also matched by the guarantee of persecution. Jesus saw it as inevitable. This was the experience of his own life, and he was sure that it would characterise his followers’ lives as well. This may all sound very heavy and forbidding, but we need to remember the words of Hebrews:12:2: it was for the joy that was awaiting him that Jesus endured the cross. There is nothing pleasant about persecution, but it was the certainty of joy that kept him going. The ultimate reward is eternal life. Life here on earth is very brief. As James put it in his letter, “your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone” (James 4:14). God offers us a new life which begins now and which will never come to an end. When we see our lives as part of the big landscape of eternity, we can view our present challenges and difficulties in their proper context. Following Christ will be tough at times, but when we keep our eyes on the big picture, we can be full of joy and hope. Question How does the promise of eternal life affect your thinking about today? Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for your generosity to me today and for all eternity. Amen
March 24 · 3 min
March 24th - Mark 10:24-25
Mark 10:24-25 Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” There is a widespread disease in our society known as affluenza. It is the belief that peace and contentment can only be found in life by becoming increasingly wealthy. It is in fact not a new disease at all. The disciples were shocked by Jesus’ teaching that riches were a massive obstacle to following him. Jesus had just met a rich, young ruler. He seemed to have everything. On the surface, he had every advantage in life, but when Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor, he went away sad. It wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear. In our verse today, Jesus addressed his disciples as children. He didn’t often use that expression, and it suggests that he was reaching out to them with great gentleness and compassion. He could see how much they were struggling with his teaching about wealth. They had been brought up with the belief that wealth was a sign of God’s blessing, so the thought that it was a huge obstacle to following Jesus was a new way of looking at life. Jesus was saying that wealth will never be the way get a ticket into his kingdom. The only way to find salvation is through depending entirely upon God and throwing ourselves upon his mercy. Jesus was never opposed to wealthy people following him, and clearly many did. Through the centuries, the Church has been blessed by the presence of many rich people, but not one of them has obtained salvation through their wealth. The only way into the kingdom is by recognising our spiritual poverty and coming to the Lord with empty hands, eager to receive his gift of new life. Question In what way do you think it is particularly difficult for a rich person to follow Christ? Prayer Loving God, help me never to allow anything to get in the way of following you. Amen
March 23 · 3 min
March 23rd - Mark 10:15
Mark 10:15 [Jesus said:] “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” It wasn’t at all surprising that there were parents who wanted Jesus to bless their children. What was surprising was that Jesus had time to do so. He was on the way to Jerusalem and within a few days he would be crucified, and he knew that all of this was ahead of him. The disciples were concerned that Jesus shouldn’t be bothered by children, so they told the parents off. The disciples were simply seeking to protect Jesus, but they were absolutely and completely wrong. Even though they knew Jesus well and had spent much time with him, they completely misread the situation. Not only did Jesus welcome the children, but he went much, much further. He insisted that the only way to enter the kingdom of God was by becoming like a child. As he so often did, Jesus was turning the disciples’ thinking upside down. They saw children as a noisy distraction, but he saw them as the perfect illustration of what they all needed to be. I am sure that Jesus had many things in mind when he encouraged his followers to become like children. He was aware of their humility and urged his disciples to come to him with empty hands, ready to receive his gifts. He was also deeply aware of the trusting nature of children. Children very quickly learn who they can trust. I remember with pleasure the times when my children would leap into the air, certain that I would catch them. Now that they are adults, I am equally grateful that they don’t still do so! When a child leaps into their parent’s arms, they are expressing total confidence. They know they will be completely safe. As adults, we are wonderful at making everything extremely complicated. The previous verses tell us of Jesus being challenged about his views on divorce. I think he pointed to children by way of contrast. It was as if he was saying: “Stop making things so complicated. Just trust yourself to me.” Question In what ways do you need to become more childlike? Prayer Lord God, thank you that you are a loving Father and that I can always place my complete trust in you. Amen
March 22 · 3 min
March 22nd - Mark 9:50
Mark 9:50 [Jesus said:] “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavour, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” Salt is incredibly powerful, and that has been known for thousands of years. It does three main things, and Jesus applied each of these to his followers. Firstly, it gives flavour. Food producers make massive use of it. Indeed, British Salt produces over 400,000 metric tonnes of salt every year from its site in Cheshire. However, salt only has any influence when it is used. Sitting in a pot, it will have no effect at all. The message is clear for us today: God does not call us to sit in our churches pontificating about the evils of the world, but to get involved and to give a good flavour to our society. Since ancient times, it has been well known that salt is a very effective preservative. In days long before fridges, salt could be relied upon to preserve fish and meat for extended periods of time. Jesus was calling on his followers to have exactly that role in society. Our calling is to stand up for moral principles. Through living a life of love, grace and forgiveness, we show the world what the kingdom of God looks like and help to spread the good news of salvation. Salt has always been valued for its purity, and I believe that’s what Jesus was encouraging in his followers. He wanted the world to see their purity through the quality of their relationship with one another. Through living peacefully and lovingly together, they would give people an insight into the new life that Christ came to bring. No wonder Jesus wanted his disciples to be like salt. Question In what ways is your community touched by the influence of Christians? Prayer Lord Jesus, help us to have the qualities of salt, so that those around us will get to know what you are like. Amen
March 21 · 3 min
March 21st - Mark 9:42
Mark 9:42 [Jesus said:] “If you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.” In saying this, Jesus may have been talking about children, but it’s quite likely that he was talking about new Christians. His concern was to protect the vulnerable, and he had some very challenging things to say. He was fiercely angry at the thought of anyone deliberately tripping someone up in their faith. Whether a person is young, disabled, poor, illiterate or simply new to the faith, it is totally unacceptable for anyone to take advantage of them. I am delighted that we live in days when safeguarding is such a high priority. A vast amount of energy is expended in churches and charities in order to ensure that good practice is followed. It is hugely expensive in money and time but it is all worth it because everyone matters and we need to have a special care for those who are most vulnerable. That’s Jesus’ way. He is the one who offers good news to everyone, not just the strong and confident. Jesus then went even further by telling his disciples that if their hand or foot caused them to sin, they should cut it off, and if their eyes were the problem, they should gouge them out (Mark 9:43). I have never heard of a church that practised this, and I don’t believe that was Jesus’ intention. I believe he wanted to impress upon his followers, then and now, that we mustn’t play games with the kingdom of God. Following Jesus is so serious that we need to ensure we do everything we can to obey his commands, and if we need to completely change our lives in order to align them to his will, that’s what we should do. Question In what ways do you need to care for the vulnerable in your own community? Prayer Loving Lord Jesus, thank you that you invite me to follow you. Help me to do so with my whole heart and never to do anything that might cause someone else to stumble. Amen
March 20 · 3 min
March 20th - Mark 9:37
Mark 9:37 [Jesus said:] “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” I often think that the most crucial ministry in any church is in the hands of the welcomers, those wonderful people who stand at the door and welcome people as they arrive. This verse helps us to understand the importance of welcoming. When we welcome people, what we are actually doing is welcoming the Lord himself, and if we are welcoming him, God the Father is also being welcomed. Jesus used the illustration of a little child for a very clear reason. At the time, children were seen as being of no significance. They had no power and lacked any legal status. The attention that Jesus gave to children was completely out of line with the thinking of his day. When the disciples famously tried to push them away, it was their way of showing respect to their rabbi. They assumed that Jesus wouldn’t want to be bothered by noisy children. How wrong they were. Jesus turned their thinking upside down and said that when they welcomed the people who were considered the lowest and least in their society, they were actually welcoming him. The test of any church is how well it welcomes the lowest and the least. James identified the problem of churches discriminating between the rich and the poor. He agonisingly described the warm welcome that was given to a rich person and the surly rudeness meted out to a poor person in dirty clothes. The rich person was given an important seat and the poor person was told to “sit over there, or else sit on the floor” (James 2:2-4). James was appalled by this attitude and made it clear that God has no time for discrimination. Everyone needs to be loved and welcomed. We can all share in the ministry of welcome, but I do encourage you to acknowledge and thank God for those who head up this vital ministry in your church. Remember that they are not just welcoming people but Jesus himself. Question What could you do to encourage the ministry of welcome in your church? Prayer Lord God, thank you for welcoming me. Help me to welcome everyone but especially the lowest and least. Amen
March 19 · 3 min
March 19th - Mark 9:28-29
Mark 9:28-29 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied: “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” The transfiguration of Jesus was an incredible experience, but it didn’t last long. Jesus and his disciples needed to go back down the mountain and, sure enough, they were pitch-forked into the middle of a dispute. A man had come to the disciples with his son, who likely suffered from epilepsy. He had asked them to heal the boy, but they had failed miserably. Jesus was in despair and said: “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me” (Mark 9:19). He then healed the boy. All of this stirred up questions in the disciples and, later in the day when they were alone with Jesus, they asked him why they had failed. He responded that this kind of evil spirit could only be cast out by prayer. By this stage, the disciples had spent some time with Jesus and were clearly convinced that they now had the power to heal people. What they had to learn was that they still needed to lean on God through prayer. That’s an important lesson for anyone who gets involved in Christian ministry. You may have the gift of the gab and the ability to speak with great clarity and power, but if your preaching and teaching are not soaked in prayer, they will be powerless. You may have gifts of administration, but if you are not continually praying for the filling of the Holy Spirit, God will never be able to use you in the way that he would want. You may be a naturally caring person, but without prayer, your gifts will never have the effectiveness that God would want. Prayer is vital for all of us. However gifted we may be and however much experience we may have, without prayer we will be powerless. Question In what ways have you found prayer to be important in the work that you have done for God? Prayer Lord God, help me never to lean so heavily on my own abilities and experience that I forget to pray. Amen
March 18 · 3 min
March 18th - Mark 9:5-6
Mark 9:5-6 Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified. Peter, James and John had just had the most incredible experience. They had been with Jesus as he was transfigured in front of them. We are told that this happened on a high mountain. This is often thought to be Mount Tabor in southern Galilee, although it may well have taken place on the constantly snowy Mount Hermon not far from Caesarea Philippi, where they had just spent time together. Mount Hermon is the highest peak in the area, rising to nearly 3,000 metres. The disciples saw Jesus’ clothes transformed into dazzling white and he was accompanied by Moses and Elijah. Moses was the great lawgiver and Elijah the first and greatest of the prophets. What an incredible experience it must have been. It’s hardly surprising that the disciples were all terrified! Peter’s response was so typical of him. Terrified as he was, he didn’t know what to say, but that didn’t stop him from blurting out a response! He said it was great to be there and suggested that they should build three shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. It was a generous idea, but it totally missed the point. The transfiguration was simply a precious holy moment in the ministry of Jesus. It wasn’t something that needed to be preserved or prolonged. In that amazing moment, God spoke out of the cloud, saying: “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him” (Mark 9:7). Then, the disciples looked around and Moses and Elijah had gone. They were alone with Jesus once again. I am sure we can all think of precious moments of worship which we would have loved to prolong. Perhaps we were in a great cathedral, or at a Christian festival. We may have been on holiday in a beautiful place with God seeming incredibly close to us. We were sad when we needed to move on, but that’s precisely what we had to do. It was the same for Jesus and the disciples. They’d had their mountaintop experience and now they needed to return to the cut and thrust of everyday life. Question Why is it important that we don’t prolong mountaintop experiences? Prayer Loving God, thank you for special moments when you feel incredibly close to me. May they be a constant source of strength and encouragement. Amen