Editors note: This devotional is taken from the archives of Gospel of Mark, chapter 6.

“When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.” (Mark 6:53-54, NIV)

Observation:

I asked myself what we learn about the people at Gennesaret.
As soon as Jesus and His disciples got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus.

Interpretation:
I asked myself why people recognized Jesus.

Whatever Jesus had already done traveled fast and reached places including Gennesaret. Jesus’ actions made an impact that people recognized Jesus for who He was. They would have come to know Jesus as a teacher, healer, forgiver of sins, and provider so far. When they recognized Jesus, they recognized Jesus for the good He does and for who He was.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life. When people recognize me, it should be for the good I do and have done. There is nothing great to be recognized for the evil or bad we do. Rather, it is a disgrace and a shame. To be recognized for the good we do is being in the company of Jesus. Jesus reminds me to let my light shine upon men that they may see my good deeds and praise my Heavenly Father in Heaven.

I ask you now dear friend, what are you recognized for.

Dear friend all of us will be recognized one way or the other. The question is whether we will be recognized for doing the will of God and following Christ and His teachings or will we be recognized for following the ways of Satan and his deception. There is no middle ground. It is one way or the other. Jesus told the Pharisees if they do not belong to His Heavenly Father then they belong to the father of lies, Satan. The bottom line is whether we will be seen being in the service for the Kingdom of Heaven or will we be seen serving the demons of Hell.

Jesus actions made an impact where He went and because of that people recognized Him and wanted to hang out with Him and be with Him. We can follow the ways of the Lord as we depend on Him. When people see us, they need to be magnetized to us not because of the wealth we have, not because of the fame we have, not because of the academic credentials we have, etc but because our lifestyle reflects Christ Himself so that people are drawn to Christ through us.

We need to be recognized for being followers of Jesus Christ. One of the worst things that can happen to those that profess to be Christians is someone saying, “And you are supposed to be a Christian?” In essence, what they are saying is that they do not recognize us as Christians because our lifestyle does not reflect Christ and His teachings. Friend, this should not happen for we have the best company to be associated with. Jesus is His name. Serving the Lord should be our game!

It is not wrong to be recognized for accomplishments when those accomplishments bring glory and honor to the Lord. What is wrong is when we are recognized for self-indulging deeds and not because we know Jesus and are walking in His ways. I want to be recognized for being a follower of Jesus Christ and doing His works on campus and where I am. This does not mean that I do not mess up for I do. In those moments, I need to rush to the cross of Christ and receive His forgiveness and grace. I need to let Him pick me up and go on. You can do that too friend! You can go now, you can go! You can be the witness that people see and want to know what is so different about you. You can be the one when people look at you, they are reminded of Christ because they recognize Christ’s power working through you, equipping you, enabling you, and empower you to do good works!

Serving the Lord
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Ramesh is my name

Serving the Lord is my game

Christ did not come for fame

But to save you and me from the flame

So please give Jesus a start

By giving Him your heart

So He can do His part

And Satan’s fiery arrows you can dart!

Amen!

May you come to be known for remembering everyone carefully onward graciously, now imparting zealously Emmanuel's deliverance!

“Remember Everyone, Carefully Onward, Graciously Now Impart Zealously Emmanuels Deliverance!” (R.E.C.O.G.N.I.Z.E.D)/”What are you recognized for?”

Listen to the background song, "You can go"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for making such an impact in the places you visited and had been part of. You Oh Lord have made such an impact and still do! Oh Lord because of everything you have done, people recognized you. That is awesome to know Jesus that you were recognized for being an example of what goodness is all about. Oh Lord, please help us to live our lives in such a way that when people look at us, they will recognize you in us. When they see us, I want them to see you in us and be drawn to you Oh Lord Jesus Christ. With you all things all possible so please help us Jesus. Thank you for your help. Forgive us our sin and please hear us and answer us! Thank you for dying for our sin, cleansing us with you precious blood and coming back to life to save us. Thank you so much Jesus. Lord when we mess up and people recognize us for the bad we have done, we are sorry for being a bad example. Thank you that you lift us up when we humble ourselves before you and seek your face. I pray right now for the one that is backslidden right now and people do not recognize them for who they began to be but for what they have become apart from you. Forgive them Oh Lord and touch them with your awesome love and presence. Fill them with your love and let them know they are never out of your love and never out of your reach. Help them to know they can go now, they can go. They can go to you and receive forgiveness and grace in time of need as they can boldly approach your throne of grace. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you Jesus you have heard our prayer and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

PRAYER:
Father God thank you, you love us so much that you sent your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I love you Lord. Thank you Father God for your Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus thank you for loving me so much. Thank you Jesus, you will take care of my problems. Nothing is too hard for you. For many of us Lord, we face many obstacles in life whether it be Spiritual, financial, marital, emotional, physical, or educational problems. We turn these problems and the prayer requests to you. Thank you Lord you never fail to answer our prayers. Just because we don't understand does not mean you didn't answer our prayers. Thanks Lord for cleansing us by your precious Blood. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please forgive my sins. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart. Thank you Jesus for making my heart, your home. Thank you Jesus for living in me. I will live for you Jesus and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I pray right now for the one who is so troubled that only your presence and love can meet them where they are at. Come Lord Jesus and please intervene in their life. Cover them with your awesome presence and help them through what they are going. Thank you Jesus as you saw the disciples in trouble and came to their rescue, you can come to our rescue too. We entrust our lives in your care. Thank you for the answer and you will carry us! IN YOUR NAME, I PRAY JESUS THANKING YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AMEN.

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this  Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful too because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

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