What Jesus Did! 'Left Behind' — Mark 1:19-20

Sunday, January 14, 2024

A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
— Mark 1:19-20 NLT

Key Thought

There is a cost to following Jesus. Some people won't understand. Some of those who won't understand may even be in our own families. However, we are called to follow, knowing that others we love might not be willing to face the cost of that discipleship. [1] Don't be fooled, dear friend, by preachers promising everything while implying there will not be heartbreak or hardship. Some we love will not follow with us. However, our hopeful prayer is that their reluctance will be only temporary, and that through us they will come to know the Jesus we follow. The first step, however, is to follow... no matter the cost!

[1] Matthew 10:37-38.

Today's Prayer

Give me courage, dear Father, to follow Jesus as my Lord no matter the cost. Please use me to influence those I love to come to know Jesus as their Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

My Response to God's Call
Article by James Nored & Phil Ware
Will I follow on the journey, or will I choose to let where I am, where I'm comfortable, and what I have hold me in bondage? James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the call of the Lord to leave and follow no matter the cost.
What It Means to Follow
Virtual Worship by Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware
When Peter, Andrew, James, and John accepted Jesus' call to follow him, everything changed for them! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in online, virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos to help us understand, celebrate, commit, and confess what it means to follow Jesus.

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 1:19-20 NLT — He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, January 14, 2024

Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'God Overcame Their Brutality' (Acts 3:13-15)
"[Peter continued,] "For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the God of all our ancestors — who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'United in the Spirit' (Ep. 4:3)
"Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'When Life Is Hard'
"Dear Beloved, There are times when life is very hard. Remember when I fed 5,000 people out of five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21)? The people..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Luke 15:18
"It is quite certain that those whom Christ has washed in his precious blood need not make a confession of sin, as culprits or criminals, before God..."

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.

More What Jesus Did!