👐 Mark 10:15 | Our Perfect Model

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Happy Thursday, everyone!

Today we’ll learn that Jesus’ statement about approaching the Kingdom as a child isn’t just found in the whole of Scripture, but in the very life and person of Jesus Christ.

In today’s email…

• ✝️ Connecting our verse to the life of Jesus

• 👐 An encouragement to let go of control

• 🔦 Community spotlight

✉️ subscribe here | support our work 👐 

MEMORIZE 🧠 

Truly, _ ___ __ ___, whoever ____ ___ _______ ___ kingdom __ ___ ____ _ _____ shall not _____ __.

Mark 10:15

TOGETHER WITH PRISON FELLOWSHIP

“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

— Hebrews 13:3 

God’s Word instructs us as believers to remember those in prison as if we were behind bars, sitting right next to them. 

But how can we do this? 

Thanks to Prison Fellowship, living out this verse is simple and life-changing for us and for our incarcerated brothers and sisters.

The answer? Bibles. 

Your gift today to Prison Fellowship will put Bibles and Christian content into the hands of waiting prisoners. Give now to reach men and women with what they need most: God’s Word!

Thank you for remembering those in prison.

CONTEXT 📕 

Yesterday, we highlighted two ways Jesus wants us to be more like children:

1. Being completely dependent on the Father

2. Being willing to receive a gift we do not deserve

And when we look to the cross and resurrection, Jesus brings these two ideas together.

Complete Dependence

Long before the Gospels, Scripture points to the value of childlike dependence on God.

Psalm 131 uses the image of a child resting quietly with its mother to capture the image of a level of complete trust.

I can’t help but think about our newest daughter resting in the arms of my wife.

In my experience, there is nothing like the level of trust a young child places in their mom and dad.

As a human parent, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to steward that trust well.

I never want to fail in a moment where one of my children depends on me.

And as I meditate on this week’s memory verse, I asked myself a few questions:

• If I don’t want to fail my child when they trust me, how much more does God perfectly steward any trust I place in Him?

• Do I trust God like a baby trusts her mom?

• Am I willing to be that dependent on Someone else?

Throughout Jesus life, we see the perfect model of living a life completely dependent on our Heavenly Father:

• Ministry: "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." - John 4:34

• Prayer: "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God." - Luke 6:12

• Judging: "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." - John 5:30

• Speaking: So Jesus said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.'" - John 8:28

• In Gethsemane: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." - Luke 22:42

• On the cross: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." - Luke 23:46

Ability to Receive

Thanks to Jesus’ perfect dependence on the Father, we have the opportunity to emulate the other innate ability children display:

receiving a gift we do not deserve

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God unlocked the door for us to receive what we did not earn.

Life with God. For eternity.

Hallelujah!

APPLY AND RESPOND 🏃‍♂️ 

Think about a baby resting peacefully in their mother's arms — completely surrendered, trusting, unworried about tomorrow.

Now consider your own life today.

• What are you trying to control that you haven't surrendered to God?

• What decision, worry, or area feels too important to place completely in His hands?

• What would childlike trust look like in your life today?

Discuss these questions with your spouse, a close friend or your small group.

Let’s become like children and receive the Kingdom.

Pray 🙏

Jesus, help me approach you like a child. I want to experience what it’s like to trust You more fully. Give me an opportunity to do that today. Amen.

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ❤️ 

Another great one, thank you guys so much for taking this kind of time and sharing it with others. I pray God blesses all of you beyond your imagination!

- L. Brown

This is a great way to dive into Scripture. Not only does it provide context, but it also gives historical reference so you can get an idea chronologically where it is occurring in the Bible. I also love how it provides so many different ways to support learning. Coming from a teacher, that’s super important for retention. Well done!!

- F. M.

SHOUT-OUTS 📣 

HUGE thank you to Tom, MP, and John for choosing to pay-it-forward to help us keep operating!

In addition to helping us operate, you get access to our new course: Renew Your Mind.

This course is not about “thinking positive.” This is a proven, Scripture-based approach that has radically transformed my everyday life (and the lives of countless others).

In it, you'll learn:

• What Mindset Is & Why It’s Important: What God’s Word says about the power and importance of your mind

• The Identity Secret: Why willpower doesn’t work (and what God's Word offers instead)

• How to Take Your Thoughts Captive: Identify negative thought patterns and how they’re impacting your life

• Make Your Thoughts Obedient to Christ: How to replace lies and negative thoughts with the truth

• Practical Application Worksheet: The exact worksheet I used (and still use) to change my thinking and change my life.

If you’ve been a Christian for a long time but still feel like your mind is a battlefield, this course is for you.

ANSWER KEY ✅ 

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.

Mark 10:15