QUESTIONS FROM MARK: ARE YOU WILLING?

Day 1: God’s Presence in Our Praise and Gathering
When we praise God and gather in His name, He draws near to us, inhabiting our worship and making Himself present among us. This truth is a powerful reminder that God is not distant or detached; He delights in the praises of His people and promises to be with us whenever we come together in His name. Whether in a sanctuary, on a beach, or in the quiet of your home, you can be assured that your heartfelt worship invites the living God to meet you right where you are. [00:10]

Psalm 22:3 (ESV)
"Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel."

Matthew 18:20 (ESV)
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

Reflection: When you worship today, whether alone or with others, can you pause and intentionally sense God’s nearness, believing He is present with you in that moment?


Day 2: Jesus’ Compassion and Willingness to Heal
Jesus is both able and willing to meet us in our deepest need, reaching out with compassion even when others turn away. The story of the leper who knelt before Jesus, unsure if he was worthy of healing, shows us that Jesus does not recoil from our brokenness or shame. Instead, He moves toward us, touches us, and brings cleansing and restoration, demonstrating that His heart is full of mercy for all who come to Him in faith and humility. [38:04]

Mark 1:40-42 (ESV)
"And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, 'If you will, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean."

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel unworthy to ask for Jesus’ help? Will you bring it honestly to Him today, trusting in His compassion and willingness to meet you?


Day 3: Trusting God’s Will in Prayer
God always hears our prayers, but His answers come according to His perfect will—sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait, and sometimes in ways we do not expect. True faith is not demanding our own way, but humbly submitting to God’s wisdom, trusting that He knows what is best for us even when we do not understand. Like Paul, who was told “My grace is sufficient for you,” we are invited to rest in God’s sufficiency and timing, knowing that His purposes are always for our ultimate good. [43:19]

James 4:13-15 (ESV)
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'"

Reflection: What is one prayer you have been waiting on God to answer? How can you surrender the outcome to His will today, trusting His timing and wisdom?


Day 4: Jesus Traded Places With Us
Jesus took our place, bearing our sin and separation so that we could be made clean and restored to God. Just as He touched and healed the leper, Jesus became the outcast for our sake, suffering outside the city and dying alone so that we might be brought in and made whole. This great exchange is the heart of the gospel: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Through faith in Christ, we are washed clean and given new life. [52:37]

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus traded places with you—taking your sin and giving you His righteousness—change the way you see yourself and others today?


Day 5: Sharing the Good News—Are You Willing?
Having received forgiveness and new life in Christ, we are called to share this hope with others, reaching out to those who feel untouchable or alone. The church is not a place to avoid the hurting, but a hospital for sinners, where the love and healing of Jesus can flow through us to others. It takes courage and willingness to step into someone’s pain, but there is no greater purpose than to spend your life for what will outlast it—helping others find freedom and wholeness in Jesus. [57:46]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Reflection: Who is one person in your life who needs to hear or experience the love of Jesus? Will you ask God for courage and an opportunity to share His hope with them this week?