Tuesday, August 12, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Mark 7

If we aren't careful, our cravings can control us. When we sacrifice ourselves for the things we crave, we are looking for love in something that cannot love us back! “Unshakeable Joy” is found in and through God's love that is so freely offered to us. His love is abundantly greater than anything we crave from this world.

1 John 2:16-17
¹⁶ For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. ¹⁷ And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

There was a time in my life when I pursued the things of this world ahead of my marriage, my children, and my health. In the end, I found myself sitting alone, sobbing because it all turned against me. I was in a hopeless situation and couldn’t see any way out. I found myself believing that the universe was against me. Then the Spirit reached out his hand and lifted me out of the pit I’d landed myself in, and showed me a path back to him.

Genesis 3:6
The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

Like Eve, we can all forget that God already supplied everything we need. The world will never stop tempting us, and though we try, at times we fail. You can have great confidence however, that God is good and gracious. He will forgive when we seek him earnestly. There is no pleasure that can rise above that truth. No treasure on earth is greater than a relationship with Jesus and sharing the message. The greatest recognition we can have is claiming to be the chosen child of the one true King. There is nothing better than this.

Questions:
What are you craving? Does it keep you from giving of yourself to others?

How can you show Christ’s love to others?

Next Steps:
Attend Growth Track and find what spiritual gifts and talents you have to give of yourself at CedarCreek, in your home, work, school or community.

Consider ways you can share Christ’s love through your generosity. It doesn’t have to be monetary. Volunteer, read your child their favorite book for the fourth time, or offer to babysit for that couple that doesn’t have a lot of extra money but would be blessed by a date night. Take the love God has given you and invest it in someone else.

Prayer: 21 Days of Prayer - Day 9
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the precious gift of children that you have entrusted to us. Help us to guide them in your ways and to nurture their unique gifts and talents. We praise you for making our children in your image and giving them a share of our best qualities. Give us patience when we see our children struggle with doubt, pride, or selfishness, and remind us of your grace and mercy in our own lives. Lead us and our children back to your purpose and your truth. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Psalm 16:11
You will show me the way of life,

    granting me the joy of your presence

    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

This post was written by Julie Estep, a Perrysburg attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.