Welcome to our new project, the Daily Bible Devotional. The goal is to help you understand and apply

scripture as you go through a New Testament Bible read five days a week, Monday through Friday,

as we move from Matthew straight through to Revelation. In under four minutes each morning, we will recap the chapter,

make some application, present thought questions for the day, and offer a prayer together.

I'm excited about exploring God's word with you, so let's get started.

Welcome to our study today from Mark chapter 8. Jesus has a compassionate heart. This leads him to feed

thousands because he sees that they are hungry. This is a sign of his power and love. However,

the Pharisees come asking for more signs. For them, nothing Jesus does will ever be enough to believe.

It is this hard-heartedness he warns the disciples to avoid.

Jesus then heals a blind man.

This physical sight given by faith is said in contrast to the Pharisees who think they see

and yet remain spiritually blind.

Jesus then asks his disciples who they believe him to be. They say, quote,

you are the Christ. This faith would be crucial, as their faith would be tested by his arrest and

death, as well as the extreme sacrifices they would be called to make in his name. Let's look at some

ways that might connect to you and me. Jesus demonstrates his

glory and his right to be called the Christ. We must choose whether to believe in him or not,

but this cannot be done halfway. His call to disciples is extreme. It starts with demanding we

understand that his lordship would require his death.

Peter struggled with this.

More than that, he demands allegiance from us for his glory.

We must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him.

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