Verse 36 is always a great reminder to me, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” I used to thing this verse was strictly talking to non-believers, but the reality is it is talk to everyone. We need to do things with eternity in mind. It is our souls that benefit and/or suffer from our current actions. Money, fame, and earthly glory will benefit us for the short period of time we are here on earth, but to benefit eternity, we must focus on impacting God’s kingdom and for His glory alone.
2012 Day 43 – Mark 8
12 Sunday Feb 2012
Posted in Daily Reading
Daily Devotion 
Two things today. First, it sticks out to me in v 2 that the people that were listenting to Jesus had been there for 3 days without any food to eat. I think this shows us just how charismatic He was and how the people were starving for the truth He taught.
Second, I’ve read the section on the yeast of the Pharisees over and over and I’m not sure what the lesson is there. Can someone help me out? Is the point that Jesus provided enough for the people at the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000 that they should not be concerned about themselves? I don’t understand where the Pharisees come in to that. Any help??
I’ve read this passage a billion times, but never in the Message version. Complete new insight. Vs. 11-12 “When the arrived te Pharisees came out and started in on him, badgering him to prove himself, pushing him up against the wall. Provoked, he said, “Why does this generation clamor for miraculous guarantees? If I have anything to say about it, you’ll not get so much as a hint of a guarantee.'” The west has taken this approach. They want miracles as proof. Jesus didn’t perform miracles to prove himself. And he sure as heck wasn’t going to put on a dog and pony show to get people to believe him. Maybe some insight into why the we don’t see many miracles in our culture?
But I also love how Jesus is showing us his boundaries. He has his reasons and motivations for miracles and he abides by those. Miracles will happen on his terms, not based on the whims of emotions and feelings of others.