Week: Mark's Gospel
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Jesus, we hear Your invitation, and so we choose to follow You, with all our hearts, with all our minds, with all our souls and with all our strength.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Asaph
John 14:6
Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.’
John 14:6 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on one of the many times when Jesus miraculously healed someone.
Read by Asaph
Mark 1:40-42
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.
Mark 1:40-42 (NLT)
In Jesus’ time there was no cure for leprosy. People suffered horribly, often going blind or losing the use of their hands or feet. And they suffered in other ways too, because people would avoid them, calling them ‘unclean’.
Jesus was ‘moved with compassion’ for the man in today’s story. Let’s press pause and chat about today’s question, which is: What are some things that ‘move’ us – something we care about or feel is really important?
Sometimes we feel ‘unclean’, when we say or do bad things. Sometimes no-one else knows about it, but we feel ‘unclean’ inside.
Let’s close our eyes for a moment. Let’s imagine Jesus reaching out, just like He did towards the man with leprosy, and touching us on the head. ‘Be clean!’ He says. ‘I forgive you.’
Leprosy still exists. In fact, every two minutes someone is diagnosed with leprosy. That’s more than 200,000 people every year.* It’s curable, but many countries don’t have the correct medicine available.
Father God, we ASK You to help governments and organisations to work together so that people with leprosy can be helped and healed.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Mark 1:40-42
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.
Mark 1:40-42 (NLT)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, we say YES and receive Your great love for us. Thank You for reaching out and touching us, forgiving us and giving us a brand-new life.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 14:6
Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.’
John 14:6 (NCV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
* Adapted from www.leprosymission.org.uk
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Asaph lives in Portland, Oregon with his younger sister Adelina, father and mother. He enjoys riding his bike, camping, reading, playing flag football and watching Bible Project videos. Asaph is kind and smart and loves hanging out with friends!
