How can we cultivate a similar eagerness for Jesus as in Mark 9:15? Setting the Scene in Mark 9:15 “As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were astonished and ran to greet Him.” An entire crowd is electrified by one sight of the Lord. Their first instinct is to drop everything and hurry toward Him. Our goal is to nurture that same immediate, wholehearted eagerness. See Him as He Truly Is • Gaze on His glory in Scripture. 2 Corinthians 3:18—“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord…are being transformed into His image.” • Recall His majesty at the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3). When we remember His divine splendor, indifference melts away. • Recognize that the King who once stood on that mountain now indwells every believer (Colossians 1:27). Marvel at His Readiness to Draw Near • He willingly “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). • He still knocks at the door and desires table fellowship with His people (Revelation 3:20). • Knowing He wants us first ignites our eagerness to run to Him. Nurture Childlike Expectation • Psalm 34:8 urges, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” Sampling His goodness fuels hunger for more. • Daily read the Gospels as eyewitness testimony, not distant history. Picture yourself in each scene. • Celebrate answered prayer—recording personal “God-moments” keeps wonder fresh. Clear the Path of Distractions • Hebrews 12:1 calls us to “lay aside every encumbrance.” Identify activities or media that dull spiritual appetite and limit them. • Set “appointment time” with Jesus first in the day (Mark 1:35). What we schedule, we prize. • Fast periodically—letting physical hunger remind us of our deeper need for Christ (Matthew 9:15). Cultivate Community Excitement • Acts 2:46-47 shows believers meeting daily with “glad and sincere hearts.” Joy spreads in groups centered on the Word. • Share testimonies regularly—hearing how the Lord is working in others revives zeal. • Serve together; hands-on ministry lets us see Jesus in “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Anchor Eagerness in Love, Not Duty • 1 John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.” Duty fades; grateful love endures. • Meditate on John 15:13—His ultimate sacrifice is the wellspring of our devotion. • Pray Psalm 63:1 aloud, affirming sincere longing: “O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You.” Keep the Vision Fresh • Regularly revisit prophetic promises of His return (Titus 2:13). Anticipation quickens the heart. • Sing Christ-centered songs—music cements truth in the soul (Ephesians 5:19). • End each day reflecting on where you recognized the Lord’s presence; gratitude fuels tomorrow’s eagerness. As the crowd in Mark 9:15 sprinted toward Him, so we deliberately fix our eyes on Jesus, cast aside hindrances, and run with unrestrained joy to greet the One who first ran to us. |
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