Mark 6:19

Perhaps the greatest thing that we often neglect about John the Baptist is that he lived his whole life and ministry in the shadow of someone greater than him - Jesus Christ. Yet despite this, we are never told of any feelings of jealousy or resentment. Just as John the Baptist’s ministry was gaining traction, it was cut short, presumably to make way for Jesus, someone greater than him. From his birth to his death, John the Baptist lived in the shadows of Jesus. But fulfilled his ministry and pleased the Lord. This devotional is an amended extract from an upcoming book by Jean Kabasomi.

Starting with God 5: How to Start is a 5‑day plan designed to help you encounter God through the Bible. Reading with confidence and faith. This plan encourages you to start not with self‑improvement, but with God—revealed fully in Jesus and faithfully through Scripture. You’ll explore what it means to be born again, why faith must lead to obedience, how to start reading the Gospels (beginning with Mark), and how to keep going with the whole story. No shortcuts—just a faithful beginning with Jesus.

Life doesn’t always go the way we expected. You pray with faith, but God doesn’t do what you asked. You seek Him but don’t feel His presence. You’re going through pain, but your cries for relief seem to go unanswered. This Life.Church Bible Plan will guide you through Scriptures to read When God Doesn’t Make Sense.

As we advance in our sophistication, humanity needs to be reminded of ancient simplicities that contain truth so potent that our lives can be enriched by their transformational power. Rest is one such ancient simplicity established by God at the beginning of His relationship with our first human parents. After working for six days, God declared the seventh day to be a day of rest – a day without boundary and equal.