...don't procrastinate - instead, prioritize...

“29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him”

Mark 1:29-32.

Jesus, Simon and his brother, Andrew, along with James and his brother John,  sons of Zebedee, the first four of the twelve disciples Jesus called into His “small group”, were in the synagogue together. When they left they went to Simon and John’s home, the home of Zebedee. James and John were with them, and when they arrived they discovered that Simon and Andrew’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. Verse 31 is so amazing and tender: “Jesus came to her and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them” (v. 31). No doubt she served them the Sabbath meal.

What touches me the most is that the first four disciples were already following Jesus, going where He went, being trained by observing their teacher. Later Mark points out that they will be commissioned to do as Jesus does (Mark 6:6-13, 30). These four were being shown by Jesus that “fishing for people” includes teaching, healing, and driving out demons. So Jesus’ ministry points out what the disciples will later do!

I am also touched that Simon and the others leave everything to follow Jesus. Yet Jesus bring them back to their homes and to the boats they once fished in. A reminder to me that we, too, should not worry about giving up the most important things in our life to follow Jesus because Jesus brings us back to the things we love during our life. Leaving everything to follow Christ is really about our priorities more than our things. We follow Jesus by establishing a whole new set of priorities in our lives.

So take some time today and think about things in your life that are your dearest priorities. Do they get in the way of your following Christ? If so, take stock of your need to rearrange them. Do it now! Don’t just think about it! I have found in my own life that the greatest reason why I don’t prioritize is that I talk myself into doing it later. Mañana! But mañana doesn’t work! How about you?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner!