“And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him” (Mark 2:15).

Jesus dwells with us.  He is not far off and distant but seeks to abide in us and we in Him.  The idea of communion may, at times, be formal, but it also includes our daily lives.  It doesn’t matter who you are or what your circumstances are, for He has come to be in union with you and me.  Following Jesus is not some formal thing we do from time to time, but the essence of being with and in Him at all times.

Lord, I do “go” to church and forget that I am the church: that is, those of us who believe met together in You.  You abide in me and all others with faith who abide in You.  Lead me from the merely formal way of seeing things to realize that You have come so that we may have an eternal  relationship in which You are always with me.  Guide me into the life You intend.

Lord Jesus, remind me constantly that You are with me.  Help me to be in prayer with You without ceasing.  You have come to establish an eternal and every moment relationship with me and with those who gather in Your name.  Guide me so that I live the kind of life which You intend.  Keep me in this life and let it be evident to those around me.  Amen.

“As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him” (Mark 2:14).

A tax collector?  From amongst the most hated in the culture, Jesus calls this man who would write the Gospel of Matthew.  Yes, Jesus can redeem any who will follow Him, even the despised and hated.  The good gifts the one called had would be turned from gaining at the expense of others to bringing others the gain of eternal life.  We all have good gifts, and the Lord is more than able to put what is good to use for the kingdom.

Lord, I tend to think in terms of good and bad people.  But You see all of us as those who need to be redeemed.  Guide me in the upward call so that I see that all are gifted by You for good, but that sometimes they use the good for what is bad.  You alone know who they are, so grant me wisdom to understand that Your offer of grace should go out from me to all whom I meet.  Lead me in the direction of wisdom.

Lord Jesus, You call each one of us to follow You. Help me to understand that You do not see people from the outside but judge them by what they are inside.  You see the faithful as You created them to be.  Just as You have called me to follow You, so also, You call out to all.  Guide me to be an extension of Your call process so that I may reach out to others and share the Good News of the Gospel with all whom I meet.  Amen.

“And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them” (Mark 2:13).

If we are disciples, then we are willing to learn, and Jesus is our teacher.  A part of going to Scripture daily is that each time we go, our Lord teaches us more.  Like an onion with levels that peel away, so much more does Scripture unfold as we dive ever deeper into the mystery of the faith.  After all, how else can the eternal God and Father of us all share the mysteries to those who are bound by time?

Lord, one path of temptation onto which I often wander is the path that tells me that I already know something.  But wisdom calls for me to go deeper into Your word.  You have spoken the words of eternal life, but if I think about it, I, who often looks towards death in this life, knows precious little about what it means to be eternally alive.  I need You to teach me how to live here and now as You prepare me to live forever.

Lord Jesus, be my teacher.  Guide my understanding so that I take in what is truthful and learn how to reject what is false.  Help me to always come to You, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, grant that I would have a discerning wisdom to learn and grow in Your likeness.  Guide me now and always and keep me on the path of wisdom so that I learn what is true, right and salutary, and put these things into practice.  Amen.

“And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this” (Mark 2:12).

Healed, he got up and went as the Lord directed.  That is faith.  That is belief.  Faith and belief are two sides of the same coin.  We believe and have faith.  We trust the Lord and go.  People may marvel, but the Creator of all worlds creates in the faithful new and clean hearts.  Do you look for what surprises you in the moment, or for the greatest miracle of all?  The Lord God has put us in His creation, and He blesses and keeps us.

Creator of the universe, we need only look up in the night sky, or all around each day to see Your handiwork.  You have created all things.  You have placed before us life and death.  We live in the midst of death, but you have offered us new life.  Each day is full of surprises, but You give the assurance of faith that every day is an opportunity to see things we have never seen before.  Through You, by grace, we are given the greatest miracle of all, faith.

Lord Jesus, with a word, You heal.  You have given me the gift of faith.  You have commanded me to go out into the world.  As I go, learning and growing in this gift of faith, You increase in me Your likeness.  All who walk by faith are growing miracles.  Lead on, O King Eternal, and help me to be steadfast in the journey You have set before me.  May others see You through my life.  Amen.

“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home” (Mark 2:9-11).

So that You may know, Jesus has done things the way He has done them.  Who can cause another to be made new?  Jesus didn’t just patch up people, He made them new.  Our sin has brought about many of these ills.  The rebellion of this age has brought about disease and infirmity.  Jesus has come so that we may have new life which springs to eternal life.  He tells us to get up and go, so that on the journey we may learn what it means to follow Him.

Lord God, You have taught us that it is in the doing that we learn and grow.  We live in an age where we want things delivered to us.  We behave like consumers.  This world is being consumed.  You have come so that we may live and share what You give.  Help us to learn from You so that we may live life on Your terms and not on our own terms.  Guide us ever deeper into the mystery of the faith, growing as You will grow us, and learning how to be obedient to You in and through all things.

Lord Jesus, I need Your healing.  Sometimes I am paralyzed.  Sometimes I am the scribe.  Sometimes I am a Pharisee.  Help me to be what You will make of me.  Guide me so that I follow, walking each step of the way as You direct.  Help me to understand that I must be active in this life of faith which You have given me.  Guide me now and always to do our Father’s will.  Amen.

“Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:8)

God knows.  He knows when we are heading down the path of rebellion.  We think we know, but we do not.  How many times do we say to one another, “I know this.”  Often, the truth is that we only think we know.  The Lord alone knows all things.  Learn from Him.  Come, reason with the Lord and have Him open your mind to the truth of all that He will show You.  In Him is life and truth.

Lord, I get wrapped up in my own way of thinking and doing, and act as if there is nothing more to learn.  I am a disciple, which means “one who learns.”  I should never stop learning and growing.  Guide all who seek You in the way of living that looks unto You in and for all things.  Help me to see that only in You is there hope and a future, for You alone give me the words of everlasting life.

Lord Jesus, thank You for forgiving my sin and healing me of the eternal damnation I deserve.  By Your grace, lead me today to look to You, the One who truly knows, so that I may live in truth.  Train me in the way You would have me go and then send me out so that I may fulfill the will of the Father.  Through all things, help me to reason by the power of Your holy Spirit.  Amen.

“And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:5-7)

If Jesus is not who He says He is, then the scribes are right, for who can forgive my sin against you unless it be God?  Jesus acts as if He is the One chiefly offended by sin.  This too tells us who Jesus is.  It is sin in the world which has caused all calamity and Jesus has come to take away our sin.  Therefore, when He says, “Your sins are forgiven,” He speaks the truth of the salvation He brings.

Lord, there are so many things in scripture that pass by me.  I see that time and again I have been told who You are, but have I noticed and understood?  Help me to understand all the things You would have me understand so that I respond with my heart, soul, body, mind, and strength to all that You have offered.  Guide all the faithful ever deeper in faith, understanding that You do forgive sins and that it is humanity who are the ones who blaspheme.

Lord Jesus, You have been patient amidst all the foolish doubts of every generation.  You are the truth who has come so that we who live in untruth may be guided into a life which is forever.  You speak words of truth, and You have offered to set me free.  Guide me into the way of life that brings peace and the forgiveness of sin.  Help me to live this life today and every day.  Amen.

“And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men.  Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying” (Mark 2:3-4).

See the love the men carrying the paralytic had for him.  See the willingness to go the extra distance to have an opportunity to bring about healing.  This is faith in action.  Too often, many sit back and want it to come to us.  These men moved forward to meet the Lord.  The Lord is always encouraging us to live by faith, trusting that He is more than able to do all that He has promised.

Lord, who can heal all infirmities, You know I live in an age of being served.  It is filled with instant gratification.  I do not always look forward, seeking what is right, but sit in comfort expecting what I want to come to me.  Lead me out of my faithlessness and into a faith that goes as far as I am able on my own, knowing that only You can carry me the right distance.  Move me beyond the complacence of this age to do the good works for the age to come.

Lord Jesus, You know anguish and pain more fully than I ever will.  You also have given me the gift of fortitude to push me forward through the hopelessness I encounter.  Lead me to walk the distance, no matter what, so that I may truly be one who follows You in and through all things.  Teach me how to live and grant me the gifts I need to walk this life of faith which You have given me by Your grace.  Amen.  

“When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home.  And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them” (Mark 2:1-2).

The crowds gathered.  We love to see things that are different.  People gather around what interests them whether they agree with what they encounter.  The Lord has come and there are many who still gather around, but that does not mean that they are there because they believe.  For all who gather, the bottom line is met when we find out for ourselves who Jesus is and whether we will follow Him.

Almighty God of all mystery, I am curious, and I want to know things before I commit to them.  Help me to live not for myself, but in the truth, knowing that You are the One who made me.  Guide me into the mystery of faith and lead me to humbly walk according to Your goodness and mercy.  I do not know how to do this, but You lead the way and You alone make it possible to complete the journey.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, this day.  Let me not be just one of the crowd who watches and waits for the next great thing to see, but live in the midst of what You are doing.  Help me to not worry about times and events but live out the faith You have given me.  Help me seek and learn  obedience through all that I do.  Guide me now and always, Lord Jesus, so that I may humbly walk the path You have set before me.  Amen.

“But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere” (Mark 1:45).

Although cleansed and freed from infirmities, Jesus has a reason for saying what He says.  If He tells us to be quiet, we should be quiet, but we act as though we know better.  Yes, the Lord knew this would happen, but the greater lesson for us is to learn to be obedient to the Lord in all things.  Sometimes our exuberance causes more harm than the good we think we are doing.  Learn to listen to the Lord.

Lord, I want to do good, but sometimes in the desire for it I create more of a mess.  Help me to heed Your call and follow You through all things doing what You ask me to do.  Guide me, Lord, so that I humbly walk in Your ways and live according to the goodness and mercy which You give me.  When I am tempted to disobey, even for what I consider good reason, help me to realize that You are the Lord.

Lord Jesus, despite the good intentions of people who disobeyed, You continued to the cross for us all.  I too have gone astray with good motives.  Help me to learn repentance and walk in the way You have established.  Guide me up and out of this world’s thinking to live according to Your word alone, for You are the One who must save me.  Be the author of my faith today and teach me faithfulness.  Amen.