Written by Matthew Morris, middler MDiv student, and brought to you by the Church Planting Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Today we depart from the Daily Lectionary to explore Mark 1.

Mark 1:14-15

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Devotional

I’ve always hated waiting for something and not knowing what to expect with a passion. Tell me we’re going to be trying something new, and I will attempt to do enough research on the things we’ll be doing or what we’ll be eating to write a short essay. I am very much the product of a Post-Enlightenment education.

Considering this, at least once a week I find that me being a Christian today is rather ironic because our walk with God is full of deep mysteries: Where will He send me? What will I do when I get there? Who, if anyone, will be there with me?

However, we must give up the comforting sense of control that foreknowledge grants us and trust God.

This act of trust begins with baptism, for in baptism we are not just made clean, but utterly remade in the death and resurrection of Christ. It is a dying to our love of control, and there is no mystery more frightening than death. The fact that Christ goes ahead of us into the waters is our only comfort, and in accepting baptism we proclaim that His guidance and love is enough. So committed, we join Him in the wilderness, and await the appointed time for our work to begin, progress, and eventually end.

I find myself deeply afraid in the midst of the uncertainties of my walk, but I can look back and know that my life would be tragically less had I never entered the water.

Prayer

Abba Father, thank you for meeting us here and leading us forth in a new way. Guide our watching and anxious wanderings, and may they lead us back to the deep mystery of your baptism this Lent. In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen.

 

Written by Matthew Morris, middler MDiv student, and brought to you by the Church Planting Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Today we depart from the Daily Lectionary to explore Mark 1.

Mark 1:14-15

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Devotional

I’ve always hated waiting for something and not knowing what to expect with a passion. Tell me we’re going to be trying something new, and I will attempt to do enough research on the things we’ll be doing or what we’ll be eating to write a short essay. I am very much the product of a Post-Enlightenment education.

Considering this, at least once a week I find that me being a Christian today is rather ironic because our walk with God is full of deep mysteries: Where will He send me? What will I do when I get there? Who, if anyone, will be there with me?

However, we must give up the comforting sense of control that foreknowledge grants us and trust God.

This act of trust begins with baptism, for in baptism we are not just made clean, but utterly remade in the death and resurrection of Christ. It is a dying to our love of control, and there is no mystery more frightening than death. The fact that Christ goes ahead of us into the waters is our only comfort, and in accepting baptism we proclaim that His guidance and love is enough. So committed, we join Him in the wilderness, and await the appointed time for our work to begin, progress, and eventually end.

I find myself deeply afraid in the midst of the uncertainties of my walk, but I can look back and know that my life would be tragically less had I never entered the water.

Prayer

Abba Father, thank you for meeting us here and leading us forth in a new way. Guide our watching and anxious wanderings, and may they lead us back to the deep mystery of your baptism this Lent. In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen.