What Jesus Did! 'A Life in Service' — Mark 1:6-7

Friday, January 5, 2024

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[John the Baptist's] clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.

John announced: "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals."

— Mark 1:6-7 NLT

Key Thought

John's whole life was defined by his service to God and to God's Son. His clothing, his food, and his tasks were all defined by his mission - to prepare the way for the Lord. How could he live his whole life for someone else? He could do it because he defined himself as unworthy to be even the servant or slave of this someone else, this coming one who was so much greater than he. Jesus comes to us in our day and asks us to let him define our lives as well. That's what it means to call Jesus Lord - we see ourselves as unworthy to be even his servants and slaves; yet, because of his grace, we are called his sisters and brothers. For such blessings, we offer him our lives in service to him and his Kingdom.

Today's Prayer

Gracious Father, thank you for being so gracious to me. Please accept my life in service to you as my thanks and praise. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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6 Related Resources by Heartlight

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The sequence of grace — serving before saving! Phil Ware shares insight on the beginning of Mark's gospel and how salvation is preceded by service, serving comes before saving, and the gospel always begins with a servant.
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Jesus emphasized that the greatest in the Kingdom of God is a servant, and then defined his personal mission as serving those who are lost. Phil Ware continues his reflections on his gospel studies and shares how we can become JesuShaped by becoming servants like John the Baptizer and four friends.
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"Dear Servant of God, I love the way Mark begins his good news story about Me:This is the beginning of the good news of Jesus, the Anointed One, the....."
See All 6 Related Resources about Mark 1:6-7

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 1:6-7 NLT — "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals."

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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