Devotion by Mike MacIntosh

And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?" And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you."
Mark 13:2-5

Have you ever noticed that some of the most important truths from Jesus come at the very beginning of His dialogues? If we don't listen to Jesus from the very beginning, we miss some very important details.

Consider Jesus' response to the disciples in this passage, for example. After Jesus had prophesied that the temple would be destroyed, the disciples privately asked Him for clarification. When would it happen? What signs would foretell it happening? Surely Jesus knew they were concerned by His prophecy -- we saw yesterday how fascinated the disciples were with the temple. After all, they probably thought it would eventually house Jesus' throne, and that they would assume posts there. But rather than satisfy their curiosity, Jesus refocuses their hearts by first saying, "Take heed!"

This Greek word means "to see," and the present tense is best translated as, "Keep on (or continue) seeing." Remember when Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 7:16)? Well, it's as if Jesus is now saying to the disciples, "He who has eyes to see, let him see." Jesus is so quick to love the disciples, to refocus their attention onto the issues that really matter, and to point out the potential dangers that they would face. It reminds me of a caring parent, encouraging a child to "Be careful" when setting out on a task.

You see, there are things that the enemy produces to steer you in the wrong direction; to move you away from the Lord and His people. Jesus is saying: Look. Be attentive to your surroundings. Be aware of things that are going on about you. Watch that you are protecting yourself and your family from the dangers of the world. See that you don't let your spiritual guard down.

What television shows are you watching... or paying for? What books do you purchase or allow your kids to read? What magazines do you pick up or allow your kids to look at? Take these simple words of Jesus to heart. Be attentive. Be watchful and know exactly what's going on in your life and in your family's life.

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Devotion by Mike MacIntosh

	Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.Mark 6:30-32 Can you relate to what the disciples are feeling here? They are exhausted, weary, burdened, and burned out. Too often, life is an exhausting ordeal. But here's the encouraging news: Jesus has so much compassion for you, and He desires the very best for you. Maybe you need to get away from the hectic pace of life and the stress it brings, and spend time in a quiet, deserted place with the Lord to seek His desires for you. Or maybe you are already in a deserted place, spiritually, where Jesus is absent from your life; you need to get out of that place and seek Jesus alone for guidance and hope and joy. You see, not only does Jesus want to give you rest for your soul, He wants to be with you. Notice that Jesus said, "Come aside." He desires to spend time with you, because He's the one guiding and ministering to you. He doesn't leave you alone for you to figure out what your next steps are; He's right there with you, offering His help to you. Trust in the compassion of Jesus. Ask Him for rest. Ask Him for advice. Trust Him with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5-6) for your next steps. And above all, find your true rest and comfort in Him. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Make Your Decision Click for more information about accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.		More Resources Check out these helpful resources: Know God? New Believer Bible Studies Questions About God Spiritual Resources Need Prayer?		Through the Bible in 1 Year Click to Read: 2 Chronicles 23:1-24:27 Acts 18:1-28 Psalm 83:9-18 Proverbs 21:2-3