How can we prioritize seeking Jesus like the crowd in Mark 6:33? The Scene in Mark 6:33 “ But many saw them leaving and recognized Him. They ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.” (Mark 6:33) What We Notice about the Crowd • They kept their eyes on Jesus; the moment He moved, they noticed. • Recognition led to immediate action—no delay, no debate. • They ran, suggesting urgency and wholehearted effort. • They came from “all the towns,” showing corporate, contagious enthusiasm. • They arrived ahead of Him, arranging their schedules around His. Core Principles for Prioritizing Jesus Today • Awareness precedes pursuit—cultivate a watchful heart (Colossians 3:1). • Urgency honors His worth (Psalm 63:1). • Sacrifice of comfort and convenience is normal for genuine disciples (Luke 9:23). • Community momentum fuels individual zeal (Hebrews 10:24-25). Practical Steps to Pursue Him First 1. Guard the first moments of each day for undistracted Scripture reading and prayer (Mark 1:35). 2. Run to gathered worship—treat Sunday as immovable on the calendar (Hebrews 10:25). 3. Build “margin moments” through the day—short pauses to recall His presence (Psalm 16:8). 4. Fast periodically from media and entertainment to heighten spiritual appetite (Matthew 6:16-18). 5. Rearrange travel, leisure, and work plans when special opportunities arise to hear His Word—conferences, studies, outreach (Luke 5:1-3). 6. Memorize key promises to keep motivation fresh (Psalm 119:11). 7. Partner with believers who will “run on foot” beside you—accountability and encouragement (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Promises That Fuel Our Pursuit • “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) • “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) • “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) • “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) Closing Encouragement Like the crowd, notice where Jesus is moving through His Word and His people, then run—expecting to arrive before distractions catch up, confident He is worth every reshuffled priority. |
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