Daily Readings - Wed Apr 25 2018
1 Peter
5Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.11To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.12By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.13She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.14Greet one another with the kiss of love.Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Mark
15And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of humility, trust in God, and the call to share the Gospel. The first reading from 1 Peter encourages believers to embrace humility and cast their cares on God, trusting in His providence. It reminds us that while we face challenges, including the devil's temptations, God's grace will sustain and strengthen us. The second reading from Mark's Gospel is the Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to spread the Gospel to all creation, promising that signs of faith will accompany their efforts, such as healing and casting out demons.
The context of 1 Peter is likely a time of persecution for early Christians, urging them to remain steadfast and humble. Mark's passage concludes his Gospel, emphasizing the disciples' mission post-resurrection. Together, these readings highlight the dual aspects of Christian life: internal virtues like humility and trust, and external actions like preaching and ministering.
Applying this to our lives, we are called to remain humble and trust God with our anxieties, while actively sharing our faith. The moral lesson is clear: a balanced Christian life combines inner humility with outward action. Let us embrace both, trusting God's grace and actively spreading His love, just as the early disciples did.