Thursday, Feb. 15

Mark 1:9-15

9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
12 The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13 where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

PRAYER

Father, those four words in v. 14 — “after John was arrested” — can almost go unnoticed when we read this passage, but the difficulty and suffering we sometimes experience in our own lives FOR SURE doesn’t go unnoticed. And it seems even more painful when we suffer FOR seeking to do your will, as John did. Strengthen me/us today. Give me/us boldness and confidence and tenacity, even in the face of trouble, I pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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