(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)

Worship

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.

Thanksgiving

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)

Scripture Reading

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!

Scripture Reading: Mark Ch. 10 (ESV)

Meditation

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.

Devotional

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.)

(vv. 1-31) Jesus’ teaching from three different occasions can help us reassess our standards for three kinds of relationship. At first, the Pharisees tried to test Jesus by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” and Jesus taught them God’s intent for marriage. After that, people were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. This illustrates one kind of relationship between God and man. Finally, a young official ran up and knelt before Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” These dialogues help us reevaluate three kinds of relationships: 

• Relationship with spouse (vv.1-12): God said that “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” 
• Relationship with the Father (vv.13-16): Just like children, we must have a pure heart and admiration towards the Father, for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children. 
• Relationship with Jesus (vv.17-31): Jesus commands us to leave everything behind and follow Him! 

These three kinds of relationships have been severely impacted by the world we live in. We can hardly see figures with complete and functional family background in any movies, tv shows, in real life among neighbors or among children’s classmates at school. As for the adults, the world is full of pride and conceit, and people crave money, fame, and power above their desire for the Lord. The world tells you, you are the maker of your own fate, and be your own god. Some Christians began to follow the worldly trends, drifting away from God. They replaced God with human and other things, losing their knowledge of the Lord. 

Does my standard for these three kinds of relationships require any adjustment? Read through this passage one more time and see how Jesus wants you to respond to him!  

(vv. 32-45) Jesus foretold his death a third time. This time he spoke in more detail. “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.“ Still, the disciples didn’t seem to know how to respond. It’s puzzling that James and John even asked to be seated at Jesus’ right and left hands in his glory! It’s even more baffling that Jesus was not angered by their request (though the other ten were annoyed). Instead, he continued to teach them about being a servant. “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” 

This is a passage that some of us are familiar with. How well are you applying it in practice? Is there any room for improvement? The main question is: are we willing to deny ourselves to follow Jesus? He already told us, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus already set an example for us. 

(vv. 46-52) In Jericho, Jesus met a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. Jesus healed this man after hearing his persistent crying out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Upon the recovery of his sight, this man began his journey to follow Jesus. 

Have you noticed that Jesus asked the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” first to James and John, and then to Bartimaeus? What were their responses, and what happened afterward? If Jesus asks you the same question today, how would you respond? 

Pray

Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what/where are you going to lead me to today?”)