For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. —Mark 13:10 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. —Matthew 24:14 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew 18:18-20…

Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple, he asked, “Why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah is the son of David? For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’ Since David himself called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with great delight. —Mark 12:35-37 Here is the great marvel as to Who Jesus is. David called the Messiah, the son of David, both Lord…

Have faith in God. —Mark 11:22 Faith… you are practicing it right now by trusting that chair you are sitting in. When you drive your car somewhere faith is being practiced in many ways. You put your faith in people. Unfortunately, the chair and car can break and the trust you put in people can be broken as well. Faith in God never disappoints when we are truly trusting in Him at all times and in all circumstances. “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see… And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone…

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” —Mark 10:45 Would you rather be a servant or be someone who is served? Are you more inclined to want to help others or do you rather desire to have others help you? Can you see yourself waiting on others or wanting yourself to be waited on? Is your motivation to give of your life for others or do you seek to keep your life for yourself? The answer to these questions will be determined by understanding or not understanding Who gave you your life…

Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?” “Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.” But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. —Mark 10:3-5 Remember these words? “I take you to be my lawfully wedded wife/husband from this day forward, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, for richer or poorer, to love and to cherish until death do us part.” This is a covenant a man and woman made with their wife/husband. It is…

“Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” —Mark 9:35 Selfishness abounds on this planet and the so called “black Friday” sales at stores surely bring this out in people. They push and shove and stampede others, sometimes crushing them, just to get into the store first to get whatever may be on sale. This is truly a pathetic picture of the sinful human condition. How many of us desire to be first? How many of us are willing to take the position of being last and have a desire to serve anyone and everyone we come into contact with? I don’t…

“I believe; help my unbelief!” —Mark 9:24 When you stepped out onto the frozen lake, did you have a tinge of doubt that the ice would hold you? How about when you were climbing that ladder to the 2nd story of the house, did you wonder if it would truly bear your weight? When you rappelled down that cliff, were there moments of doubtful trust in the rope? There are many things we believe, but then there are moments of doubt in those same things. So it was with the dad who spoke the words above to Jesus. This dad believed that Jesus could drive the demons from his son,…

“It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” —Mark 7:20-23 Many politicians are absolutely corrupt. They will do anything to try and stay in power or win an office. The corruption comes from within that person. It is what their character is. If you hang around a person long enough and hear them speak what is most important to them, you will come to know their character. Their actions will truly…

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” —Mark 6:50 I may lose my job. My health may deteriorate. A loved one might die. It might be I’m afraid of the dark or that I am fearful of a storm. Storms of life, trials and tribulations come in all manner of forms. This should not be a surprise to us when they come because Jesus told us it would happen (John 16:33). Still, knowing we live in a fallen world, these things do often take us unaware and many times we lose courage. We may start doubting many things and become discouraged. Then, if we stay in that…

Herodias’s chance finally came… —Mark 6:21 There are those who are just waiting for the right chance, the right opportunity. Maybe it is a person seeking revenge or maybe it is a person looking to commit a crime of some sort. They are waiting for what they believe will be just the right moment to carry out their evil heart’s desires. This is what was happening in the context of the verse above. John the Baptist had told King Herod that it was not lawful to have Herodias, his brother’s Philip’s wife, as his own wife. Herod was under the enchantment of this woman and as a favor to her…