Christ Our Priority 基督是我们的首要

[Dexu Xia]

Jesus replied, “ . . . That is why I have come.” Mark 1:38

Today's Scripture  Mark 1:35-39

Today's Insights  Mark 1:38 declares that Jesus’ mission is to preach the gospel. On a few occasions in the Gospels, Christ reveals in a deep and intimate way that He understands His mission. In Luke 4:18-19, He quotes the prophet Isaiah (61:1-2) to reveal to those listening in the synagogue who He is. Christ’s ministry included both the preaching of forgiveness and spiritual freedom as well as freeing those who were bound by various physical infirmities. During the years of His ministry, He never veered from that dedication. And He also entrusted that ministry to His disciples. He empowered them to preach the kingdom and heal the sick. They even drove out demons (see Matthew 10; Luke 10). Before Christ returned to the Father, He entrusted His mission to all His followers (see Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). God continues to show us what He wants us to do and how He wants to use us to share the gospel with others.

Today's Devotional

 “May we invite you to be the main speaker in our nationwide church leadership conference?” After Jose read the invitation from the renowned organization, he replied, “Please let me pray about it first.” Later, when he turned down the offer, he told a friend, “I knew God was calling me to editorial work on a mission’s project, and the speaking engagement would take time and energy away from that. I said no so I can do what God wants me to do.”

What God wants me to do—that was Jose’s priority and what determined his decision. Jesus also made God’s purpose His priority. The morning after healing many in Capernaum who were sick and demon-possessed, Jesus went to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:32-35). The disciples came, saying, “Everyone is looking for you!” (v. 37). Some of those seeking Him were likely requesting healing. Christ, however, didn’t allow urgency or His sudden popularity to determine what He’d do next. “Let us go . . . to the nearby villages,” He said, “so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” (v. 38). Jesus followed His priority—a ministry that covered the rest of Galilee, and one that included preaching (v. 39).

How may we know God’s purpose for us? We can approach Him in prayer, be led by His wisdom found in the Scriptures, and seek counsel from people who uphold His ways. Let’s spend our life doing what God wants us to do.

Reflect & Pray

How can you be intentional about asking God to lead you? How have you seen God help you live with His purpose?

 Dear God, please show me what You want me to do.

By Karen Huang

耶稣回答说：“……所以我来。” 马可福音 1:38

今日经文： 马可福音 1章35-39节

 今日心得：马可福音1章:38节宣告耶稣的使命是传福音。在福音书中，基督多次以深刻而亲密的方式表明祂明白自己的使命。在路加福音 4:18-19，祂引用先知以赛亚（61:1-2）的话，向会堂里的听众启示祂是谁。基督的使命包括宣讲赦罪和属灵的自由，以及释放那些被各种身体疾病所捆绑的人。在祂传道的岁月中，祂从未偏离这一奉献。祂也将这使命托付给祂的门徒。祂赐给他们能力，去传讲天国的福音，医治病人。他们甚至赶鬼（见马太福音 10 章；路加福音 10 章）。基督回到父那里去之前，祂将祂的使命托付给所有跟随祂的人（见马太福音28:19-20；使徒行传1:8）。神持续不断地向我们显明祂希望我们做什么，以及祂希望如何使用我们与人分享福音。

今日灵修  “我们可以邀请您担任我们全国教会领袖会议的主讲人吗？” 何塞读完那位知名机构的邀请后，回复说：“请让我先为此祷告。”后来，他拒绝了这份邀请，他告诉一位朋友：“我知道神呼召我为一个宣教项目做编辑工作，而演讲会占用我的时间和精力。我拒绝了，这样我就可以去做神希望我做的事。”神希望我做的事，这是何塞的首要任务，也是他做决定的因素。

  耶稣也把神的旨意作为祂的首要任务。耶稣在迦百农医治了许多病人和被鬼附的人后，第二天早上就去了一个僻静的地方祷告（1:32-35）。门徒来了，说：“众人都找你！”（37节）。有些人寻求耶稣，很可能是求医治。然而，基督并没有让紧迫感或祂突然的受欢迎程度来决定祂下一步的行动。祂说：“我们……往邻近的村庄去，我也好在那里传道。因为我是为这事来的。”（38节）遵循祂的首要，耶稣也要在加利利其余地区工作，包括传道（39节）。

  我们如何知道上帝对我们的旨意？我们可以通过祷告来到祂面前，以祂在圣经中的智慧为引导，并向那些信守祂道路的人寻求指导。让我们用一生去做上帝希望我们做的事。

   反思与祷告   你如何主动祈求上帝的带领？你如何见证上帝帮助你活出祂的旨意？亲爱的上帝，请告诉我,您想要我做什么。

作者  黄凯伦