Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 3Sample

Today we take a look at Mark chapter 2. I trust that as you read it, new levels of love and creativity will grip your hearts.

In Mark 2, we read of four friends who had such unwavering faith in Jesus to the point that they found a way to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus so that he could be healed. Not even a crowded house could stop them. They broke through the roof to lower their friend to Jesus. This is a statement of faith in Jesus and love for their friend. People were shocked as Jesus ‘dared’ to say: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” And then later, “I say to you, pick up your bed, and go home.” This led to some of the scribes questioning Jesus in their hearts, but more importantly – people had never seen anything like it and were astonished and glorified and praised God.

Jesus also declared in verse 17 that He had come for the sick, not the righteous.

What Jesus taught was new, never before heard teachings that challenged the old way of thinking. The old way was focused on the law, the things we must do for His love and acceptance. But Jesus turned the tables and challenged that very way of thinking with the reality that He makes all things new, including us.

Two questions to ponder today:

1. Do you really love your friends enough to do everything possible to introduce them to Jesus?

2. What adjustments do you need to make in your heart and mind to be a new wineskin?