“And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.  When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses” (Mark 3:20-21).

God has lost His senses?  That’s straight from the pits of hell.  Yet, how many times do each of us argue with the Lord?  Perhaps disagree is a softer word, but it’s the same.  The Lord is Lord of all and He has promised to work all things together for good to those who love Him.  The pride of this age makes it difficult to do the one thing that is needed for our journey of salvation and that is to completely submit to the Lord.

Lord God, take me far from the pride that is in my heart.  Kill the pride.  I have my opinions, which I deem facts, which color my thoughts.  Let Your thoughts become my thoughts, and in the pattern set by You, Lord, teach me to look to You for all things.  Be the One who guides me all the days of my life.  Lead me to become like You, no matter what those around me say.  Help me to hold fast to the hope I have in You.

Lord Jesus, for our sake You endured the derision of those who thought they knew better.  You have called for us to stop keeping up appearances and instead live authentically with You leading us in the way of salvation.  Lead me, Lord, and confront me when pride raises the old Adam.  Create in me a new life that submits to You in all things.  You must lead the way from sinfulness to holiness.  Lead me, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him” (Mark 3:16-19).

The meaning in Hebrew of each of the names in their order: Hearing stone, contentious, graced by God, supplanter, loudness, vows love, rich in land, gift of God, twin, contentious, zealous, stone, and God is thanked.  Everything has a meaning and the names put together tell us the story of salvation.  Those who relinquish their life gain it.  Those who keep their life and their own ideas lose what is offered.  The Lord will take you on your own journey.

Lord, You have called for each one of us to follow You.  You will build the verbs that act upon our lives to hold us fast to You if we do not cling to the stones of this age which need to be rejected.  You are the cornerstone of my life.  Help me to submit to You so that my life may be built according to the Father’s will.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You as the One who leads.

Lord Jesus, I know that You have called me.  I know that You have guided me.  Lead me so that I may humbly follow.  Forgive me where I have betrayed You and by Your grace, guide me on the upward path of the calling You have given me.  Teach me to humbly submit to all things You place before me and remove the demons and self-will that would get in the way.  Amen.

“And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons” (Mark 3:14-15).

There are twelve tribes of Israel and twelve disciples.  From every tribe, tongue, folk, and nation, the Lord calls us all to come unto Him.  The world is diverse, yet we all have been made in the image of Christ.  All are different and all are the same.  Our Lord has come, called us, bidding us to have Him be the One who leads us.  We cannot lead our selves.  He equips us to go out and share the Good News.

Lord, I find that I want to add You into my life rather than giving up my life to be led into Yours.  I want salvation on my terms, but then I realize that this is the reason I need to be saved.  I am not the One who created anything, including myself.  I want to be Your disciple, but then, not really because I do not want to pay the price.  Lord, save me and call me into You so that I may become whom You are making me to be.

Lord Jesus, You call us and then You send us.  You show that it is through what comes along in life that You will teach us how to live the new life You give.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life and help me to follow as You lead.  By Your authority, grant that I would do what You ask me to do, beginning with kicking the demons out of my own life which hinder my walking with You.  Amen.

“And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him” (Mark 3:13).

The pattern remains the same.  There are the crowds, and Jesus calls for us to follow Him.  Some stay behind and others come.  Jesus has summoned you.  Will you come to Him?  Our Lord has done all of these things in daylight for all to see and had made them known to whomever would listen.  The world is capricious but our Lord is gracious.  He wants you and has bid you to come and be with Him.

Lord, I get so used to the patterns I live that I have a hard time seeing it any other way.  You have bid me come with you and follow You wherever You lead.  Open my eyes to see and my mind to understand that You are the One for whom and by whom all things were made, and therefore the author of life and the finisher of my faith.  Lead me out of habits and into learning how life is meant to be lived.

Lord Jesus, You have bidden me through the water of my baptism, to come and follow You.  Help me so that when trials and tribulations come, I do not fall away nor leave the path You have set before me.  Help me, Lord, so that I may follow You always, no matter the cost, as You create in me a new and clean heart.  Help me to become Your disciple, walking in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.