"Now after John was
arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God and
saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near:,
repent, and believe in the good news.'" (Mark 1:14-15, NIV)
Observations:
Actions
of Jesus:
1. Coming to Galilee after John was arrested.
2. Proclaiming the Good News of God!
Sayings
of Jesus:
1. The time is fulfilled.
2. The kingdom of God has come near.
3. Repent and believe the Good News.
Interpretations:
It is interesting to know that Jesus
came to Galilee after John, the Baptist was arrested to proclaim the Good News.
Why do I think it is interesting?
We need to realize that
John, the Baptist was the one who was proclaiming the Good News and preparing the way
of the Lord. John also lets people know that there is more to the
concept of baptism than being 'baptized in water'.
John realizes that he is just a messenger and there will come One who
baptizes with the Holy Spirit. John was preparing the people for a
transition. He did not want people to regard him highly as opposed to
the One who was to come. God allowed John to prepare the way and when
John's time would come to an end, the people could be prepared for the
transition. (Mark 1:1-8)
When John was arrested, there was a
vacancy in the ministry area pertaining to
'proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins'
and 'baptizing those that repented with water' (Mk 1:4-5).
What would happen now?
Jesus finally came to preach in
Galilee after John's arrest. Jesus said, 'the time
is fulfilled'. This could refer to what John was proclaiming
especially about the 'One who would come'. Jesus came to accomplish all
that John was proclaiming. Jesus knows the perfect timing when things
need to be done.
I think the most important saying of
Jesus is 'The Kingdom of God has come near:,
repent and believe in the good news.' Jesus wanted people to turn
away from the things that were hindering them from being close to God.
This is what repentance is.
It is also interesting to realize
that Jesus does not say, 'The Kingdom of God has come near:, believe in
the good news.' but says 'repent and believe in the good news'.
Implications:
I saw different
implications for my own life. I decided to focus on timing. I should
wait on Jesus’ timing for things in my life.
There is an awesome
promise that has helped me a lot.
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will
soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will
walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
I ask you now dear friend,
who controls your time?
Dear friend, many times in life we may feel
rushed to do this and that: 'find a boy or girl friend quickly, get
married, get a job, finish the degree, etc. Things need to get done but
there is a timing for everything.
Jesus set an example
for us. Jesus did not rush in to preach the Good News but waited for the
appropriate timing. Only when John was arrested did Jesus come to
proclaim the Good News.
From Jesus we can learn that there
is a time for everything. Jesus loves you so much and wants you to rely
upon Him even when you feel rushed to get things done. It would be more
beneficial and fruitful when we allow our lives to follow God's perfect
timing for us whether it involves relationships, academics, career,
ministry, etc.
Don't be discouraged if something
you want is not coming to you right away because God knows what you need
and will provide it for you. You are His precious child and He will take
care of you.
Deion Sanders used to play for many NFL teams such as San Francisco,
Atlanta, and Dallas Cowboys. He thought he had it all but his life was
not fulfilling. He loved football but he was not happy with his life and
football was not giving him a sense of meaning. As he contemplated
suicide, he gave his life to the Lord Jesus asking Him to take control
of his life and give him a new beginning. Sanders became a born-again
Christian and started sharing his testimony with prisoners and so many
others. During that time he also gave up football and retired from it. I
believe the Lord Jesus was working in his life and helping him to grow
strong in the Lord. For four years, he did not play football.
Lord knew how much Sanders still loved playing football. In God's
timing, Sanders got another opportunity four years later. He waited four
years but now plays for the Baltimore Ravens. This time though he has
made Christ an integral part of his life on the field and off the field.
“For
I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah
29:11)
Friend, maybe there is something in
the Bible that is hard for you to follow. God wants you to still believe
in His Good News because the Good News of Christ has the power to change
any life. When we are willing to repent and believe in the Good News,
the Lord will take care of the rest. Whatever your desires are in, don't
give up but take it to the Lord in prayer and seek Him always. He loves
you friend! Yes, He does!
It has been 4 years since I have not directly worked with a Christian
fellowship to do ministry on campus. I miss it so much! But, the Lord
has used these years to help me grow in Him and show me new things.
He has given me a wonderful job serving students on campus where I work
full-time. He has also given me a newspaper to run online to reach
hundreds of students each month. He has allowed me to take classes for
free through the company where I also have opportunities to reach out to students with the
love of Christ. Just this past semester, I was able to prepare a sample
final exam and share it with the class through the website. Students
emailed me how beneficial it was for them and they also got to read
God's Word which popped up each time they loaded the questions to
prepare!
Just as the Lord used Deion Sanders to help people in their walk with
the Lord, I am so thankful that the Lord has used me through the
Pittsburgh Standard to help students in their walk with the Lord,
through my job and through my class.
Even though I have not worked with a fellowship on campus, it was put
upon my heart to have a religious section called EXPRESSIONS in the
paper. In that section, I have shared what I have learned from my Quiet
Times with the Lord.
I
was so touched when a student came up to me and told me during the
activities fair how much those devotional times I shared meant to her.
She told me they became a major part of why she became saved and
born-again. My heart was so excited because the Lord has used this paper
as an instrument to save a soul. Now she helps out with a Christian
fellowship on campus and is involved in their Bible study.
I share this with you because there are times the Lord could remove you
from one area because He wants to use you in another area to bless you
and others. Don't resist it but hold on to the Lord and you will be
holding on to hope!
Hearing her testimony not only blessed me but encouraged me very much.
Sometimes things happen in our lives that we don't expect but our Lord
and Savior has more wonderful things planned for us than we can imagine.
He even can bring us back to where we loved to be in. I wait on the Lord
regarding campus ministry but am thankful to the Lord where I am at now
too!
The people who were following John
and listening to his teachings must have been really sad when he got
arrested.
Where were they to go?
Who would reach out to them?
God knew the people
needed a Shepherd and sent Jesus Christ. The Lord wants to be your Good
Shepherd too! This is the best thing that happened to them. Jesus is the
best person to intervene in your life because He can be your Lord and
Personal Savior!
No matter what you are facing now,
know that the Lord feels your pain too. When you feel helpless, bring
even that before the Lord for He cares for you. In His perfect timing,
He will open the doors as you trust in Messiah everyday!
"Let Him have
all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and
watching everything that concerns you." (1 Peter 5:7)
"Trust In Messiah Everyday!"(T.I.M.E)/”Who controls your time?”
Make this your prayer for
yourself and others and let the background song minister to you making
it also your prayer!
Dear Lord Jesus, we come
to you right now and bring our requests before thee. You Oh Lord know
the condition of our heart, you know the times we have sinned and
dishonored you. We come before you and ask you for your forgiveness.
Please cleanse us with your cleansing blood and we will be clean again.
Wash us and we will be whiter than snow. I thank you Jesus! Lord our
life can be so rushed at times. We want so many things when we want them
but I thank you Lord that you do not always give us what we want but you
do give us what we need. You know some of the wants we want are not good
for us and you keep them from us. Thanks for coming to proclaim the Good
News and set the captives free. We do repent of our sins and turn to you
for help and choose to believe in the Good News you offer. We give our
lives to thee. I pray Oh Lord that you would be with those that are not
feeling well and have so much on their mind. You alone can heal them and
restore them completely. We do know and believe you are a God of
miracles. Please intervene in your timing Oh Lord. We lay our requests
before thee and ask thee for your strength to help us get through the
times of pain and sorrow. I thank you Jesus! We trust in you the lives
of those who are hurting physically, emotionally, mentally, financially,
and spiritually. Thanks for hearing us and answering us! We leave to you
all our worries, cares, and needs. Thank you Jesus for always thinking
about us and watching everything that concerns us! In Your Name We
Pray Jesus! Amen!
If you would like to invite Jesus
Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can
this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises
for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His
wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to
the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in
your heart.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord.
I am so sorry for my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong
things I have done and messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now
and in the years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what
only you can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You
alone love me unconditionally for who I am. Thank you Jesus! I turn
myself to you Oh Lord in this Fall of September 2005. Please forgive me of
all my sins and come into my heart. I accept
you Jesus into my heart. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart. Thanks
for forgiving me of all my sins. Thanks for giving me a new identity in
you. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my
heart that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I
give myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you
Jesus for the coming days we can do things together. Thanks for being my
Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and
answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's
storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
Friend, you may feel something
or you may not but this you can be assured that the Lord Jesus has come
into your life and will give you a new beginning! 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!
If you
need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Fall of
September 2005, you can email me at
reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579.
Love in Christ,
Ramesh
Next Devotional:
What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?
Express your view
