Devotional Messages

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

Mark 1:14-15– Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”  (NRSV)

Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt like you were waiting for something, even though you weren’t sure what it was?  When you knew there were things you needed to do to “get your life together,” but the moment just didn’t feel right yet?  (Maybe you’re in that space now.)  Perhaps New Year’s has come and gone, and even the peer pressure to make resolutions didn’t prod you to do the thing you know needs to be done?

I think Jesus understands our tendency to put things off, especially the kinds of things that require extra effort or changing our ways (which requires extra effort!).  He knows how easy it is to just stay in the rut we’re already in, even if it’s not a very comfortable place to be.  He’s seen how we will keep making excuses and explaining why the moment hasn’t come yet to Do The Thing, how we’re waiting till Thus-and-Such has happened to get started, or some such rationalization.

But here is what Jesus says to us: “The time is fulfilled.”  The moment is now.  God is already near; things might get better or easier, but there’s no reason The Thing can’t be started today.  What would it be like if we lived our lives believing in the good news of God?  What would be different if we repented of putting off the changes we’ve known for a while need to happen?

So often, we think of change as something that is scary or risky.  But Jesus connects repentance (turning around) with good news, with liberation and abundant life.  Sometimes, when we finally find the courage to do things differently, we find ourselves wondering why we waited so long, because things are so much better the new way.  Your moment is now.