Luke 3

John's challenge is bold for his time: tradition & heritage are not enough.

God desires that we bear fruit in keeping with repentence. What we do outwardly comes out of the attitude of our heart.

Luke 2

What a time in history this is that God would choose for His Son to be born.

Simeon had that revelation from God through the Holy Spirit that he would see the Lord's Christ before he dies. And God revealed to him that this is the One to bring salvation.

Simeon also mentions the Gentiles.

This child was not just for Israel but for us all.

Luke 1

The songs in this chapter from Mary & Zechariah are so heart-felt. They talk about the mercy of God.

This is the coming of the new covenant. Zechariah speaks about God redeeming & bringing salvation & how John will prepare a way for the Lord...

"to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins"

Mark 16

"Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."

The angel told the women eveything that they needed to know. The Jesus that was crucified is alive & "is not here". Hallelujah!

Mark 15

The Cross - what a lonely place.

He did it for us.

What can we not do for Him?

Mark 14

In those questioning moments for Peter at the end of the chapter, he chose to deny Jesus rather than be prepared to suffer the ridicule of the onlookers. And this is Peter the apostle, friend of Jesus.

I realise we are all frail at times. Yet where is our heart & mind when we are caught off guard?

May we be stirred up with a greater passion & zeal for the Lord so that we're never ashamed.

Mark 6

The selfishness of Herodias really struck me, how she manipulated a situation to gether own way. We are so prone to that, and although often on a much smaller scale it is still sin when we don't let God take full control of our lives.

Mark 13

Watch, stay awake.

Jesus is coming back & I don't want to be found sleeping.

Mark 12

The scribe in verse 28 had already grasped the most important message.

Its all about God & Him alone.

Mark 11

Jesus in his anger did not sin. He was controlled as he drove out the people from the temple, His Father's house.

Reading this passage again makes me wonder if Jesus was prepared for this by looking around the temple the night before in the still & quiet. He also curses the fig tree the same morning & is obviously displeased with its lack of fruit eventhough it wasn't the season for figs. Possibly a passion building within Him to see a people fruitful & passionate for the Lord.

Mark 10

Here it is again:

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Throughout the Old Testament we see so many examples of the firstborn serving the younger sibling.

And yet Jesus is the perfect example, God's firstborn.

And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many

Mark 9

Our focus needs to be Jesus first & foremost. The disciples were discussing which of them is the greatest.

Sometimes we forget that its not about us but its all about our Saviour. The last shall be first and the first shall be last.

Mark 8

The Gospel message and who Jesus is is so contrary to the world. Yet we live in the world.

I hear the challenge not to be ashamed of Jesus or His words.

Mark 7

I'm taken by the focus and determination of the Gentile woman who seeks Jesus out. She is so persistent in her request for her daughter's healing.

May I not give up or waiver in praying for the sick to be healed.

Mark 5

Again... Jesus demonstrates his power.

The power of God to set us free is so vividly shown in the case with the possessed man - the damage that evil was doing to him, then the transforming power of Jesus when he is healed.

The faith of the woman just to touch the hem of Jesus' garment is so moving and challenging. I want to touch the hem of Jesus today.