The Gospel of MarkSample

Yesterday we read about God calling us to become the embodiment of His personal presence and character. In today's reading, we see one of the first times in the New Testament that a person is empowered with the personal Spirit of Jesus. In verses 7 through 13, Jesus sends out His disciples to put His teaching into practice. Not only are the disciples sent into an uncomfortable situation, but Jesus also removes any other physical comfort that they might come to rely on.

In American culture, believers can often find themselves doing what is most comfortable rather than what God has clearly called them to. However, the lifestyle of Jesus was anything but comfortable, both physically and spiritually. That same commissioning is extended to every believer in our world today: to leave behind all of our comforts and give up the easy life that we think we deserve, and live fully into the new creation that God is making us into… becoming unified with Jesus even in His sacrifice.

What comforts are you holding onto today?