(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)
In Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer provides the following illustration:
“Imagine you’re a high school dropout who always dreamed of becoming a professor. You wanted desperately to go to college, but you couldn’t get accepted. Now imagine you’re working a dead-end job in food service: low hourly wage and long, monotonous days. One day as you’re watching the clock from behind the cash register, a world-famous professor from a prestigious university walks through the door on a pit stop from his worldwide book tour. He takes an instant liking to you and says, “If you come with me right now, you can become my student. I’ll give you a full-ride scholarship. You can live in my home and study under me. And I’ll teach you everything I know and give you access to all my resources. I believe that you have the capacity to one day do what I do. It will be the hardest thing you’ve ever done, but it will pay dividends you cannot possibly imagine. But you have to come with me now.”
Now consider this: Like the professor in the above illustration, Jesus has already invited you to apprentice under Him. To follow Him. To have full access to Him. He believes you can become like Him. How are you responding to His invitation?
READING & PRAYERS:
MARK 1:16-20 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Simon, Andrew, James, and John left part of their lives behind in order to accept Jesus’ invitation. What may be something you struggle to leave behind in order to respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him?
DIGGING DEEPER: Consider: What are some ways in which following Jesus has been the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, when I think about how I spend my time, energy, and finances, it seems clear that there are things I struggle to give up in order to more fully follow You. On the one hand, I recognize I don’t need to give up everything I enjoy and the many activities that are life-giving, but I also recognize that to follow You is to be willing to give up everything. Reveal to me anything I may be holding onto more than my relationship with You. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(End with 1-2 minutes of silence.)
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