As your children, we come to your Word anticipating your fatherly care and love for us. We pray that your Word would also discipline us, revealing that we are legitimate children under the care of a all-knowing and perfectly wise Father. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Mark 3:20-35 (ESV)
Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”
And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.”
“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.”
And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said,“Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for perfectly doing the will of the Father. This was your food while living the perfect sacrifice on earth - to do the will of the Father who sent you and to accomplish his work. We marvel at your submission - not my will, but your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus, our friend and brother, we confess, that we do not always do the will of the Father, becoming malnourished for kingdom work. Forgive us for the times that we choose to swallow - not your will, but my will be done. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we neglect your work.
Father in heaven, we are dependent on the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom you have sent to us. He lives in your children, empowering us to do your will. We claim the promises spoken by Jesus:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:12-14)
Help us to do your will today. Amen!
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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