Session 28

Do you want to be closer to Jesus?

From Mark: A 6-Week Devotional

We’ve all been stuck behind the car that doesn’t move when the stoplight turns green. We beep at them and yell at them (as if they can hear us) as we wait for the driver to realize the light has changed. Frustration grows because we don’t want to miss our opportunity and arrive late to our destination.

It is interesting how hurried we are in most areas of life, but how slow we can be to respond to God’s call on our lives. When Jesus called the disciples to come and follow him, they left what they were doing at once. He called them right in the middle of their workday. The Bible says they were fishing and preparing their nets. It was not the most convenient time from their viewpoint. However, it was the perfect time from God’s eternal perspective.

These men who would become Jesus’ disciples were dirty and smelly after a day of fishing. But Jesus didn’t wait for them to get cleaned up for the journey ahead. He called them in the middle of their mess. These men followed Him immediately and wholeheartedly. Their lives were forever changed as a result. 

Today, Jesus is calling us to follow Him, and we are to move in the same way the disciples did — at once. There is no mess, circumstance, situation, or commitment Jesus can’t handle.

Are you moving toward Jesus? There's no time to start like now. 

Reflect:

• Is there any area of your life you feel is holding you back from fully following Jesus?  
• How might you do a better job of looking for Jesus throughout your day?