WilmotBaptist Church Nova Scotia
208 Dodge Road B0P1W0

Devotion by Douglas MacLeod Devotional - [email protected] Who Then Can Be Saved?... Scripture Reading Mark 10:17-31 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, Who then can be saved? Mark 10:26 In reading stories about people like the man in this episode, people who don’t really understand Jesus, I’m tempted to look down on them. The man appears to have been wealthy, and he had a high opinion of how well he kept the law. But he seems to have had no idea that Jesus was simply calling him to give his whole life to Godor maybe he just didn’t want to do that. I think to myself, I guess he just doesn’t get what it means to follow Jesus. And yet I often respond to Jesus in the same way that man did. Often I don’t catch what Jesus is about, or understand what he has just said, or realize what he expects of me. But in this story, Jesus doesn’t look down on the man. Jesus looks at him and loves him, the Bible says. I am so thankful thateven though the man had it all wrongJesus didn’t just dismiss him or condemn him. Instead, Jesus loved him and invited the man to follow him. Right there is something wonderful I can learn from Jesus. When I don’t understand his teachings, or when I misunderstand the truth about Jesus and his kingdom, there is still a loving invitation from Jesus to follow him and keep learning. Whatever else Jesus says to the man in the story, it’s in the context of Jesus’ love for a person who doesn’t fully get it. That is reassuring to me! Prayer Thank you, Jesus, for looking at me with love even when I have it all wrong. Instead of seeing what I have done, show me what you have done for me. Amen.

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Tonight at 7:00 pm. Plan to attend now.

Devotion by Douglas MacLeod Devotional - [email protected] The Savior’s Touch... Scripture Reading Mark 10:13-16 He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:16 This is such an endearing scene! It may seem merely sentimental, but that is surely not what Jesus has in mind. Still, it is a wonderful and inspiring story that makes us feel good for the children, and none of that should be lost. Of course, this scene is about much more than being nice to children. And it is not meant as an example for political candidates to follow in their attempts to win over adult voters. Jesus really did bless the children, and that included his hands personally conveying his holy love and care. We all have a need to be blessed, and at the root of it all is that God created us with a desire to be blessed by God himself. We can even imagine ourselves being the children in this storybecause, deep down, that is who we are. Jesus welcomes us, and in his welcoming we receive the kingdom of God. No matter our age or size, we don’t access Jesus by our credits or our victories or by the name we have made for ourselves, but only by our needfulness and the generosity of his blessing. As grown-ups or adults, we are still the children of God. Sometimes it can be hard to believe that Jesus would really welcome us and really give his blessing to us. But when we feel that waywell, read the story again! Prayer Thank you, Jesus, for welcoming me and blessing me. May I be assured of your love for me. Amen.