ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (AUGUST 16, 2012)

The Task at Hand

Mark 1:29-31


"Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever…So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them."
(Mark 1:30-31)

What is holding you back from serving the Lord? Are your thoughts filled with dreams of "if only"? If only I had the finances. If only I didn't have these obligations. If only I weren't limited by this sickness. Then I would do great things for God.

But sometimes our desire to do great things for the Lord becomes mixed up with our desire to make a great name for ourselves. Our desire to do great things for God can also blind us to what we can do right where we are.

When Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, her first act was not to rush into the streets to proclaim her healing. Instead, at the touch of Jesus, she got up and did what needed to be done right where she was. She served a meal. Her healing was not about her; it was about being equipped to serve. Jesus' healing of her was important, yet we don't even know her name.

Peter's mother-in-law did not dwell on the grand things she might do for the Lord if only she were healed. Rather, when she was healed, she served Him by completing the task at hand.


INSIGHT
ARE DREAMS OF GRAND SERVICE BLINDING YOU TO THE TASK AT HAND? GLORIFY GOD BY COMPLETING THE TASK HE HAS GIVEN YOU, LARGE OR SMALL.

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 53-54
Psalm 97
Acts 20

Mark 1:29-31
New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus Heals Many People
29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31 So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.


BIG GOD ... LITTLE HEARTS
with Sally Lloyd-Jones

Loving God isn't a chore. It's what we were made to do and gives us more joy than we can imagine. It happens naturally for those who have a fresh daily encounter with Jesus. But how do we do that?