TODAY’S SCRIPTURE Mark 1:14-18
“… Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’ …Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Mark 1:14-15, 17-18, NKJV).
What did King Jesus preach about the kingdom? Notice what we just read, “Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14, NKJV). So when Jesus preached the kingdom, what did He expect of His listeners?
• 1:15––“Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
• 1:16-17––“Follow Me.”
Repentance involves a change of who reigns as king of our lives. Our King lived a perfect life (Hebrews 4:15). He died in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21). The resurrection proves His power and gives us hope of eternal life (Romans 6:4). In other words, our King is perfect, loving, and powerful. But each of us has to stand at a place of decision as He invites us, “Follow Me.” What is your answer today?
Just a closing note: preaching the kingdom is so important that later when crowds gather a second time asking Jesus to heal the sick and stay with them, He says to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent” (Luke 4:42-43, NKJV; Mark 1:37-38). Nothing, not even other good things, is going to distract Him from the kingdom. He leaves the sick without healing them in order to tell more people about the kingdom.
Today I will…seek to avoid distractions by focusing on the King of the Kingdom. Read Revelation 5 focusing on the power of the Lamb of God. I will focus on kingly qualities like “power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing.” The Worthy Lamb exhibits all these and offers them to those under His rule. Meditate and praise “Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13)! I will say a prayer of praise and sing “Worthy is the Lamb” to praise our King.