I have been very guilty in the past of being hesitant to do what I know I should do. When I’ve sensed a nudge or moral compelling to say or do what I know is right, I’ve backed off, worried that I’d flub it up or concerned what others might think. But the more you and I read and understand the words of Jesus, there is no room to be hesitant. Jesus has an urgency in His message. The apostle Paul warns that delaying may lead to a hardened heart, calloused to follow through. May His love and hope grow deep in us.
“The time prefixed is now at hand; glorious discoveries of divine light, life, and love, are now to be made; a new dispensation far more spiritual and heavenly than that which you have hitherto been under, is now to commence." Note, God keeps time; when the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, for the vision is for an appointed time, which will be punctually observed, though it tarry past our time.” - Excerpt, The Gospel of Mark - Commentary Verse by Verse by Matthew Henry
“If you were to walk down the street of any town or village with any Christian background and were to call out “Repent and believe the gospel,” people would think they knew what you meant: “Give up your sins and become a Christian.” Of course, Jesus wanted people to stop sinning, but repentance for him meant two rather different things as well. First, it meant turning away from the social and political agendas they were trusting in, which were driving Israel into a crazy, ruinous war. Second, it meant calling Israel to turn back to a true loyalty to their God. Jesus’ listeners would recognize from the Old Testament prophets that the call to repent is part of the announcement that God’s rescue is close at hand.
To follow Jesus, the fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James and John) have to cut loose from other ties and trust him and his message (vv. 14-20). Why is it often so difficult for us to do likewise today?” - Excerpt, ‘Mark’ by N.T. Wright
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