When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:4-5

I became a Nonna (grandma) almost a year ago. A few months ago, while watching my grandson, I decided to take off my glasses. It’s not a conscious thing. I normally leave my glasses on. I happened to take them off for whatever reason. I noticed as my grandson was staring at me that he had a very worried look on his face and almost started to cry. It occurred to me he didn’t recognize me without my glasses. I started talking to him in a reassuring tone and he immediately began to smile. I quickly found my glasses and while I had his attention, I began taking my glasses on and off. He stared at me intently. Now we’ve made it into a game, and he gets a big smile on his face when he sees me both with and without my glasses.

My grandson didn’t recognize me for that moment, but he did recognize my voice. He had spent enough time with me that he knew simply by the sound of my voice that I was someone safe. Any fear he had was wiped away by the simple sound of my voice.

Sometimes we hear a voice that isn’t our heavenly Father. It’s the stranger’s voice. It causes confusion, negativity, and fear. It can cause a bad attitude and poor judgement. It’s a voice contrary to God’s word and who God is.

Sheep don’t recognize or follow a stranger’s voice. The more we get into God’s word and the nature of God, the easier it is to tell when the enemy (The stranger) is trying to tell us lies. It’s important we don’t give the stranger’s voice recognition. It’s important to run away from the stranger.

The Shephard’s voice is the opposite of the stranger. The stranger’s voice we do not follow. Today I want to be more like sheep. How will you devote2day?

When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:4-5

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.  For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,  that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:3-11

Confident- assured, secure, optimistic

Discernment-perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding: insight

Sincere– genuine, honest, heartfelt

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” Mark 11:1-3

Jesus was wasting no time. God’s purpose & plan for the Savior of the World was unfolding quickly. Steps toward the crucifixion of Jesus as the prophets spoke about thousands of years prior appear to be moving forward at an immediate pace.

I continue to see the word “immediately” through different lenses as I remain reading through Mark. I’m reminded of the words of Jesus…

“…and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3)

And scripture reference to His return…

 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31

Jesus said He would return. Jesus told us what life would be like before His return:

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.  Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14

As I read through Mark, the picture in my mind of the immediacy of how things were unfolding during Jesus’ ministry and before the crucifixion, reminds me of when it comes to the second coming of Christ, the immediacy of how things are occurring.  Jesus’ ministry was short. Only 3 years. So much happened during that time.

There are people all around us who need to hear about Jesus for the first time or need to be gently brought back. A revival is happening. There’s work to be done. I’m feeling the immediacy. How will you Devote2day?

Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”  And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:46-52

Bartimaeus was blind.  Bartimaeus was desperate to see. Bartimaeus was insistent. He cried out in insistent desperation. I believe Bartimaeus was healed by Jesus immediately because of his insistent desperation and unwavering hope. He had nothing to lose.

I can’t help but be intrigued by the word “immediately” I continue to see throughout the book of Mark.

Though Jesus healed him immediately, Mark doesn’t say how long Bartimaeus was blind. It could be that he was blind since birth. He was immediately healed after being blind for a period of time. Long or short, I’m certain he felt helpless.

As I think back on Jesus’s ministry, once it began everything was happening immediately. People were being converted immediately. People were being healed immediately. People were believing in Jesus, God’s Son, immediately. Crowds were becoming huge immediately.   However, His ministry didn’t officially start until He was about 30 years old. 30 years from birth is far from immediate. He had growing, learning, and maturing to do. Maybe even Jesus felt like He was doing a lot of waiting before His season of “immediately” began.

There are seasons of waiting and seasons of immediately. Both take levels of faith and trust. Sometimes we need to understand we are like Bartimaeus- blind and desperate.  Both seasons require expectant hope and reliance on God, who is in both seasons.

Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:52