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And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.
Mark 1:36

Simon Peter is well known to us for his foolish, extemporaneous statements throughout the Gospels (Matthew 16:22; 17:4; 26:33). But Peter was always seeking after Jesus. Peter followed Jesus from afar during the night of Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 26:58). Peter ran to the tomb when he heard Jesus had risen (Luke 24:12). Peter did not always say or do the right things, but he did constantly seek to be with Jesus. Because of this, he was continually encountering his Lord and growing to be a more faithful disciple.

Whenever we see Peter coming to Jesus he is always accompanied by others. Because Peter was seeking Jesus, others sought Him too. What are you known for by those who know you best? Do they see you searching for fame, power, success, or happiness? Are you known as a person who seeks after Jesus? God promises: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Did you begin today intent on encountering Jesus? Is your search for Him halfhearted, or are you seeking Him with all your heart? Have others grown closer to Jesus because they followed your example and sought Jesus? If your heart is set on pursuing Jesus, you will always find Him. “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come” (Revelation 22:17).

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

"Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted."
Matthew 5:4

God wants us to experience His joy (John 15:11). Yet we cannot experience His joy until we have mourned over our sin. If we do not grieve over the weight of our sin, we have no concept of sin’s devastating power. If we treat our sin lightly, we demonstrate that we have no sense of the enormity of our offense against almighty God. Our sin caused the death of God’s Son. It causes us to fall short of what God intends (Romans 3:23). It brings pain and sorrow to others, as well as to ourselves.

The Bible says that those who grieve over their sin will draw near to God (James 4:8-10). Those who  mourn and weep over their sin are in a position to repent (Luke 4:18-19). There cannot be repentance without the realization of the gravity of sin. Regret for sin’s consequences is not the same as sorrow for sinning against holy God. Confession of sin is not necessarily an indication of repentance. Repentance comes only when we acknowledge that our transgression has come from a heart that is far from God, and we are brokenhearted over our grievous offenses against holy God.

Jesus said that those who are heartbroken over their sin will find comfort. They will experience new dimensions of God’s love and forgiveness. His infinite grace is sufficient for the most terrible sin. Do not try and skip the grieving process of repentance in order to move on to experience joy. God will not leave you to weep over your sin but will forgive you, comfort you, and fill you with His joy.

Experiencing God Day-by-Day
Henry T. and Richard Blackaby

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10

At times you will have to make a choice between pleasing God and pleasing those around you; for God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  As important as it is to strive for good relations with others, it is even more important to maintain a stead fast and obedient relationship with Christ.  Disobeying God to keep peace with other people is never wise.  Peace with God is always paramount.

Jesus warned that obeying Him might cause division in your relationships (Matthew 10:35-36).  If Paul’s primary goal had been to please others, he would never have become an apostle of Jesus Christ.  Paul went completely against the wishes of his colleagues in order to obey Christ.  At times, obedience to God sets family members at odds with each other .  When you follow Jesus’ Lordship, your family may misunderstand, or even oppose you, yet your obedience to God reflects your identity as His child.  Jesus said that those who obey His will are His brothers and sisters (Mark 3:33-34).  God does not intend to divide the home, but He places obedience before domestic harmony.

It is important to get alone in quietness with God so that you understand what pleases Him.  The world’s thinking will mislead you more easily when you are not clear about what God desires. It broke Peter’s heart to know that the opinion of a servant girl had mattered more to him than the approval of his Lord!  If the desire to appease others tempts you to compromise what you know God wants you to do, learn from Peter’s mistake.  Determine that you will please your Lord regardless of the opinions of others.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Sermon (partial audio) can be downloaded to your PC from here by RIGHT clicking with mouse and selecting “Save Target As” for the Internet Explorer browser or “Save Link As” for Firefox browsers.  

Text: Mark 13:32-37

Fact 1: We can be certain of Christ’s return
Testimony concerning His return:
New Testament writer.  See: Hebrews 9:27-28, John 14:1-3, Testimony of the Angels: Acts 1:9-11

Fact 2: We can be certain that only God knows when Christ will return.
READ: Mark 13:32

Why doesn’t God want us to know?

1. The uncertainty of the time of His return tests our faithfulness.
   See: 1st Corinthians 16:13-14
   2.  Every generation of Christians has known the joy and hope of the expectation of Christ’s return.

Fact3: We can be certain that we should be prepared for His coming.

1. Keep working (Mark 13:34) See: Ephesians 2:10
2. Keep watch(Mark 13:35-37)

Conclusion
There is no inside information about the return of Jesus.
What we do know?

1. We can be certain Jesus will return.
2. No one knows when that will be except God.
3. We can be prepared when He does come.

Are you ready for His return?