After What?

Daily Reading:  Mark 1

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1.14-15)

Devotional Thought: Often, certain key things need to happen before the course of history is altered.  Before the flood, Noah needed to build a really big boat.  Before deliverance from Egypt, Moses needed to stand firm through 10 plagues.  Before Israel’s occupation of the Promised Land, the sin of the Canaanites had to reach its zenith.  And, before the ministry of Jesus could begin, John the Baptist needed to decrease so that Jesus could increase. 

Mark’s gospel begins with Jesus ready to enter public ministry.  Jesus was approximately 30 years old at that time.  Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, was also about 30.  Reading the other gospels, we know that - even before he was conceived - John had been set apart by God to be the “messenger before your face, who will prepare your way” (v. 2).  John’s final preparation for Jesus was to be arrested.  This marked a turning point for the course of history, for after John's arrest Jesus began to proclaim the gospel. 

As you begin a new year, consider John’s life and ask yourself, “What needs to happen in my life for the Kingdom of God to come?  From what do I need to turn away?  In what do I need to believe?  What are some things that I need to do?  What are some ‘treasures’ I need to set down in order to take up something from the hand of God?” 

What needs to happen before I can say, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand"?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me this new year to remind me that some things may need to change.  Help me to embrace these changes so that I may see your kingdom come into my life.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 1.1-6

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.