Today’s reading

Leviticus 22-23; Mark 1:1-22

Selected Verses

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, “These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.” Leviticus 23:1-2

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15

Reflections

At Creation God gave time to humanity. He divided it into segments: evening and morning, days, seasons, and years (Genesis 1:5,14-19). In Leviticus the Lord gave the Israelites feasts which marked the transitions in the agricultural calendar and celebrated God’s gracious acts in their history.

Jesus appeared on schedule when the time was fulfilled (Galatians 4:4-5). The kingdom of God was at hand. There was to be a new chapter in God’s unfolding redemptive story. The Lord proclaimed that the moment had come to repent and believe the gospel.

What would life be without time, without seasons and cycles, without beginnings and endings? Surely we cannot imagine it. Time is a good gift of God to us. His providence refers to His active working in our time and space as He fulfills His plans and purposes down through human history.

Think about it

We live in a day unlike any other. Our access to global communication, transportation, and technology is unparalleled. The rapid changes which are occurring leave us somewhere on a scale between awestruck and disoriented. Yet the gospel is still true. God is still God. Man is still sinful, needing redemption. Christ’s work still stands as the only means for reconciliation with the Creator, the Holy Eternal God.

God works in all things for His glory and all the advances which we make only serve to make His majesty more amazing. The final culmination of this world, the end of history, is still ahead. It may be near or distant to our day, but the message is still true: repent and believe the gospel. Carpe diem: seize the day. Time’s a-wasting.

© 2017 John A Carroll Used by permission