Instagram Jesus Week 1: Devotional Day 5
DAY 5 – Friday
Daily devotional
- Read
Mark 1:4-8
- Ask
John’s role was to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. He did this through calling people to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Who is God calling you to support in their journey towards relationship with Jesus?
John’s attitude towards Jesus and his own sense of self-importance is reflected in his statement “After me comes he who is mightier than I….” Who do you look to as a model of this type of humility? What inspires you about that person?
- Reflect
This first question can be an intimidating one. We’ve asked you to reflect on a passage about repentance and sin and then immediately asked you who you are supporting in their relationship with Jesus. I get it. Sin, repentance, and friendship are not a typical combo in our world. It’s like religion and politics, avoided conversations.
And yet – we are all called to make disciples of Jesus. You don’t have to be perfect in order to call others to follow Jesus! Think about it—if you’re going to start training for a half marathon, you don’t want to run with a 6-minute-mile marathoner. You’d rather start with someone who’s just started running in the last couple months and still is running closer to 10-to-12-minute miles so you can keep up while feeling like you’re with someone who kind of knows what they’re doing.
Apply that principle to discipleship and you’ll realize, if you have even started talking to Jesus, you’re further along than the millions of people in the world who don’t even know Jesus exists. So who is God calling you to support in their relationship with Jesus?
I love that the question of who you’re walking with goes hand-in-hand with the observation of John’s humility. He was baptizing others, and he recognized that Jesus would come after him. He knew he wasn’t the big deal; Jesus is.
So even as you think about who you’re helping walk with Jesus, who models humility for you? I have a friend who models that humility for me. She’s been leading and discipling behind-the-scenes for years. Much of what you’ve done as LifeGroups is a result of her writing. She’s been experimenting with multiplying LifeGroups and coaching others in a way that has been so informative of what we do. But you aren’t likely aware of that because she doesn’t step into the spotlight. She’s humbly leading, volunteering, being faithful to use the gifts God has given her. Who models Jesus-first humility to you?