Key Thought

Jesus came with a mission to accomplish. Knowing our mission in life helps us clarify our daily commitments and center our efforts on the things God has called us to do. It helps keep us on track and focused. It enables us to say "No!" to things that are merely good so that we can do the essential ones. We don't normally think about Jesus' turning down an opportunity to teach, preach, serve, and heal folks. Yet in this situation, he does just that -- not because he didn't love them, but because God sent him to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom in many cities and towns. Therefore, he couldn't get bogged down being just a miracle-man in one location. Let's focus on our purpose and ask God to clarify for us what our mission is so that we can accomplish it. Like Jesus, it will help us not get bogged down in things that are just good, when there are really essential things to accomplish. Of course as we will see later in this context, having a mission never means we neglect the needs of those God places in our paths!

Today's Prayer

Get WJD by EMAIL!

Enter your email address above to subscribe to the email edition of What Jesus Did! Follow along FREE every day as we go through Mark in a year. More Info on Mailing Lists

Father God, the Almighty who knows me better than I know myself, please help me come to a better understanding of my mission in life. Help me as I make the choices and commitments of each day. I want to do what you have called me to do and not just what I feel compelled by urgency to do. May my life bring you glory and may I fulfill your purpose for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus and the followers left the synagogue. They all went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was very sick. She was in bed and had fever. The people there told Jesus about her. So Jesus went to her bed. Jesus held her hand and helped her stand up. The fever left her, and she was healed. Then she began serving them. That night, after the sun went down, the people brought many sick people to Jesus. They also brought people that had demons inside them. All the people in the town gathered at the door of that house. Jesus healed many people that had different kinds of sicknesses. Jesus also forced many demons to leave people. But Jesus would not allow the demons to speak, because the demons knew who he was. The next morning, Jesus woke up very early. Jesus left the house while it was still dark. He went to a place to be alone and pray. Later, Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. They found Jesus and said, "All the people are looking for you!" Jesus answered, "We should go to another place. We can go to other towns around here. Then I can tell people {God's message} in those places also. That is why I came." So Jesus traveled everywhere in Galilee. He spoke in the synagogues. And he forced demons to leave people.

— Mark 1:29-39 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.