Mark 1:15: and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Have you ever watched a child that has just been told a secret? First they are honored that they were entrusted with the secret. their shoulders square up a little, they hold their head up, smile, and bubble to overflowing. Then, they can’t stand it any longer: they just must tell someone, it is so exciting.

New Christians are much like a child with a secret; a secret that they must tell. “Hey did you know that God loves you,” they’ll say to the homeless guy on  the corner who chokes on his swallow of Thunderbird while looking up in bewilderment. The new Christians are the ones at church wearing  the Jesus tee  shirts asking all the questions. They are so excited! What generates the excitement? They know that everything they have ever done wrong, every mistake they have ever made, every sin they have ever committed has been forgiven because God loves them; and they want to tell the world!

Just like that kid with the secret, however, the excitement wears off, the fire dies down, and that new believer stagnates. If you’re feeling a bit flat, a bit deflated, if you feel like the fire that once burned white-hot for the things of God has gone cold: this is a word for you. The kingdom of God is at hand!

This weeks passage in Mark signals the beginning of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. He has come out of the wilderness where He has  spent 40 days being tempted by the devil in  preparation for the road to the cross: Mark 1:12-13

¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.¹³ And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

and now He is beginning His three-year  ministry on earth which will culminate on Calvary. What does your walk with Jesus represent? Are you in a trial, coming out of a trial, or would you say you haven’t been tried? if you are in the midst of difficulty, let me reassure you. God allows difficulty in our lives to help us grow. It has been said that character is not determined by the difficulty but by our reaction to it.  christians understand that God is in control: Romans 8:28: ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (emphasis added). We are  called to His purpose. So, if you find yourself in the midst of a difficulty keep your eyes on Jesus, he will minister to you and bring you out of the wilderness. You will come out strong and ready to be used for Gods glory.  On a side note, the why may never be shown to you this side of heaven. This is where the mystery of faith comes into play. Hebrews 11:1 [ By Faith We Understand ] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We know it is not God’s heart that any should suffer. We also know that God knows what it is to hurt, He knows what it is to be in pain, He knows our struggles. How does He know? He knows because he has walked among us! He has felt the pang of hunger, mopped sweat from his forehead, battled his own flesh, and tasted blood. Luke 22:42: saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”  The lesson is that though Jesus struggled here He did not submit to His flesh. He submitted instead to the will of the Father; not my will but yours be done.

trust through faith and the proof of your own testimony that God is using  your trials to grow you up for a greater purpose. We are all called to preach the gospel. Allow God to strengthen you for the road ahead. Stand with the redeemed and proclaim the truth, ” The kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe the gospel.”

Grace and Peace:

LD

*If you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, email me at savedIIserve@gmail.com and let me know! I will be happy to lead you through what the bible says about salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.*