Reading the gospel according to Mark… he starts with the beginning of the good news about Jesus…
In his words… I see the reflection of every Believer’s walk as we follow the One who is Good News…
What’s next…?
Fellowship… a community of commonality of purpose and direction…
Read Mark 1:14-20 with me… click the link in the Scripture reference if your Bible is not near…
John… who prepared the way for good news… is silenced…
Jesus takes up his call… Repent… God’s Kingdom is near… believe the good news…
Good News Himself… proclaims the gospel…
The voice formerly proclaiming the good news must be replaced…
With this truth in mind… all men are like grass…
“… The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
1Peter 1:24-25 ESV
Jesus… fully man… begins to gather a fellowship of disciples… ones who will follow Him… as He came behind John… to proclaim the good news after He is gone…
In our following of Jesus… we gather with others in fellowship…
First… with those already proclaiming the good news… those farther along their journey with Him… living out His Word as flesh… to learn and grow in what it means to follow Him…
Every Believer has a role in learning from His people… the call of the good news… so it might continue… generation… to… generation…
The Word is forever… the flesh is not…
Simon and Andrew… James and John… all followed Him…
Leaving behind their former lives… their former priorities… to follow Him…
Their jobs no longer their identity… their families no longer define them… their identity now… followers of Christ… being made into fishers of men…
When we begin following Him… our identity changes… our priorities change… but it doesn’t necessarily mean we change occupations…
But changed we are… and fellowship helps us discover… embrace… and live out… the call of the disciple…
Follow Me…
Mark 1:17
Fellowship… it’s part of the good news… of following Him…
Getting in the same boat… going in the same direction… purposefully… following Him…
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
Acts 2:42-44 ESV
Are you gathering in fellowship…? with those who know Him…?
Have you embraced your finitude…? as set against the eternal nature of His Word…?
How are you living out your purpose in Him…?
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