Daily Devotionals

A Time for Change: Thursday

"I will show you how to fish for people!" Mark 1:17

Good news is too good to keep to ourselves. If you are anything like me, when you receive good news, you cannot help but pick up the phone and call all the important people in your life to tell them your news, from minor to life-changing news and everywhere in between. Of all the good news we have to share, the greatest news we have ever received and can share is our hope because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. We must not keep this news to ourselves. 

When Jesus called His first disciples, He made it clear that they were to help spread about His mission and ministry to others. When He called His first disciples, He offered an invitation: Follow Me (Mark 1:17). He did not stop there. He continued, saying, "I will show you how to fish for people" (verse 17). From the beginning, Jesus made it His mission to spread His good news. 

Perhaps Jesus' call to spread his news reached a pinnacle when He told His disciples before he returned to heaven, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone" (Mark 16:15). Jesus wanted His disciples to spread the Good News that Jesus rose from the grave and offers forgiveness if we place our faith in Him. Their devotion to spreading His message is why we know about Him today. Aren't you grateful that they followed this command from Jesus?

Jesus' call to preach the good news of the hope that can be found in Him is a command to you and me. Like Jesus' disciples, we are called to make Him known to those around us. We must take this command from Jesus seriously. Who can you share the good news about Jesus with today?

Moving toward action

One way to spread the message of our hope in Jesus is to invite others to join us at one of our weekend services. Who can you invite to join you to church this weekend? Reach out to them today. Ask them to come to church with you this weekend and for a meal afterward. Let's continue Jesus' mission today and make Him known to those around us. 

Going Deeper

Mark 16:1-20 (NLT)

"Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus' body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, "Don't be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died."

8 The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened."