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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 21, 2007 INTENTIONAL |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, February 21, 2007 by Penny Risen
Mark 1: 1-11
Being baptized, joining in the sacraments, even attending church are intentional acts. We normally don’t just cruise past a church one day and say, “I think I’ll drop in.” We’re either invited and say, “Yes, I’ll come!” or we make it to church deliberately. Faith to most is not involuntary, like taking a breath to live or feeding our bodies to survive. We seek it as a conscious choice for our lives. We make a point to include it in our child’s life or our family’s routine. As we grow in faith, some of us may feel called or tugged at by the Spirit and God’s intention for us. We make room for prayer or Bible study as part of our day. We share our gifts, monetary and otherwise. We make time to join in fellowship with other believers. This way we don’t just survive, we thrive.
Perhaps this intent to grow in faith is what brings you each day to Frontline Devotions. For this period of Lent, our writers will base each day’s thoughts on the Gospel of Mark. Your deliberate act to make this part of your 40-day routine is a reason to rejoice --- just as God rejoiced in another intentional answer to a long awaited call.
Baptism in the River Jordan for Jesus is an intentional step forward to begin His ministry. As Mark begins the narrative, his story is simple and straightforward. We don’t hear the long list of Jesus’ heritage, about countless prophecies, or even the manger story, as told by Matthew, Luke and John. Instead, we are greeted by a rough preacher John the Baptist, a passionate herald to announce the Good News and to bring Jesus into the picture.
God can’t remain quiet and He intentionally points to Jesus in this passage: “He’s the One!” Jesus comes consciously that day to find John, turns His life toward His mission, and begins a journey at the riverside that is sanctioned by His Father in Heaven. God’s Spirit calls out from above: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”
So eager to tell us about the life of Jesus, Mark jumps right in at Chapter 1 and gets to the point: Jesus’ ministry begins now and His precise intent is to change our lives and to save us. We hope you share with our team that intentional eagerness, to read these devotions as a journey: Beginning with the quiet reflection of Ash Wednesday and ending with the triumph of Easter’s empty tomb.
Prayer for the day: Dear Lord, I turn to You for comfort, mercy and guidance. Help me also to turn to Your Word, as told by the Gospel of Mark, and to take an intentional step in faith toward greater love and understanding. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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