Question to Ponder/Approach Question:
What do you do when you are popular?

Observations:
I asked myself what did Jesus do?
1. A few days later, Jesus again entered Capernaum.
2. Jesus preached the Word to them.

I asked myself what do we learn about the people?
1. The people heard that he had come home.
2. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door.

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what is the significance of  Jesus' actions?
It was the loving presence and power of Jesus that drew people to Jesus making everyone want to see Jesus. After the people gathered, Jesus could have done many things but Jesus takes it as a witnessing opportunity to preach the Word to them. It is very interesting that Jesus would spend time right away preaching the Word right after He comes home, emphasizing the importance of the Word and God's laws. Jesus wanted to give them the Good News.

Jesus used His popularity to speak the Word of God and the Truth the people needed to hear. Jesus was about proclaiming God's Kingdom using His popularity because Jesus knew the Word of God has the keys to Eternal Life.

Yesterday, at Transformers Small Group of Oakland International Fellowship, Elise and Brian shared about Jesus teaching the Truth!

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself what could the content of the Word have been?
We are not told the content of the Word that Jesus preached using His popularity but Jesus' desire to make the Kingdom of God known and emphasize repentance makes me think Jesus could have spoken about man's condition and God's grace.

When man was separated from God due to his sinful nature, God in His love for humanity sent Jesus Christ into the world to preach the Word to them. This was a stepping stone to what Jesus would eventually do which is to die for the sins of humanity so that His precious cleansing blood can redeem humanity from the bondage of sin to those who turn to Him. Jesus became the Initiator on the cross to save man by His grace and man can receive the free gift of grace God has to offer.

If man rejects this grace then man continues to be condemned but when man accepts the grace and forgiveness offered because of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross then man is set free and can use His life now for the advancement for the Kingdom of God.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
When people heard Jesus had come home, they gathered around Jesus and Jesus preached to them the Word of God. Jesus used his popularity to preach God's Word. I need to use my popularity to preach God's Word too so Jesus can be known to whoever I come in contact with. I love what Calvin, our small group leader shared yesterday about how passages in Gospel of Mark can sometimes give a different application to different  people based on where they are in life when read the same passage. That happens to me too. I love going through the Gospel of Mark even after we study it in small group because the more I study it, there are new insights I learn. Yesterday, we did not talk at all about using our popularity for the Kingdom of God as an application but that is something that came to my mind as I restudied this passage.

I ask you now dear friend, how should you use your P.O.P.U.L.A.R.I.T.Y in life?
Dear friend, there are those that are popular who have used their popularity for selfish reasons instead of for the good of others. Jesus used His popularity for the good of mankind. Jesus could have done many good things when He came home but He focused first on giving the crowds gathered there God's Word, so they can  be helped. 

Jesus did not use His popularity for selfish gain but for the advancement of other people into His Kingdom so that they can be saved from the clutches of Satan who comes as a roaring lion.

We should use our popularity to let others know about Jesus Christ and point others to Jesus and not to ourselves.

The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, seek, and save the lost.

That should be our main goal to serve, seek, and save the lost as our Lord Jesus helps us.

If we are given the opportunity to preach, we should take it depending on the Lord's guidance and help. If we are given other opportunities because of our popularity, whatever opportunities they are, they should be used for the advancement of the Gospel as we depend on the Lord.

Friend, God places us in strategic locations at strategic times for His Kingdom's sake. Whoever you come in contact with, it is not an accident but a divine appointment where the Lord Jesus wants to use you.

For you were brought here for such a time as this. Your popularity can be used for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. I speak from experience my friend.

In 2007, I won the biggest campus celebrity award chosen by Pitt students and others. I asked myself what's the point of being popular if I could not turn my popularity into a means of sharing the love of Christ with others directly and indirectly.

I did not want my popularity to be in vain so I asked the Lord Jesus to help me use it to let others know about Jesus Christ as opportunities arose. I still have that desire whether I am popular or not.

This past summer, I got an opportunity to share about Christ and ministry when the Pitt News interviewed me for a story. I was blessed to have that opportunity. You see friend, I try to use my popularity as a means to ministry in the hopes of drawing people to Christ. That's the reason, I decided to join facebook, take classes usually, go to Pitt football games, work for Sodexo, and publish Pittsburgh Standard.

I joined http://www.facebook.com on November 2006 so that I can use facebook as a tool to reach others with the love of Jesus Christ. When I became really popular on facebook having a lot of friends I know by name, I took that more of an opportunity for Christ. Whatever I do on facebook is a means to influence others on biblical truths or as a springboard in the hopes others will come and check out the Bible verses pertaining to Salvation, the notes I write pertaining to God's Word from the Gospel According to Mark, etc. I thank the Lord Jesus that facebook has been used as a means to ministry.

I take classes not because I have not graduated but because I use my classes as a means to ministry too. I would prepare my own sample exams in certain classes I have taken and post them at http://www.pittsburghstandard.com under the EDUCATION section. Then I would email my class roster or let others search for the sample exams. In the process when others see the sample exams, Bible verses are embedded there that show up each time the page is reloaded.

I have used my popularity by going to football and basketball games to show that even followers of Christ can have fun by painting myself and relating to those around me by the clean fun I have there.

I have also used my popularity at work as a means to draw people to the http://www.pittsburghstandard.com so that they can read the Bible verses there, the devotionals there, and anything else that can influence them to further the Kingdom of God.

Friend, no matter where you are you can use your popularity for the furthering of God's Kingdom and His work. My desire is to use the popularity the Lord Jesus has instilled to me to be used as a means to promote the Word of God and preach it through spoken Word and written Word as opportunities arise. You can look for opportunities too.

May you use your popularity for the Kingdom of God to make Jesus known and be known by Him in your words and deeds so God's Word can transform and change lives! Amen!

The purpose of today's devotional was for me to understand the importance of using my popularity to advance the Word of God to make Jesus known and be known by Him in your words and deeds so God's Word can transform and change lives! Amen!

"Popularity Offers People United Leverage Always, Readily Inspiring Towards Yeshua!" (P.O.P.U.L.A.R.I.T.Y)/"How do you use your P.O.P.U.L.A.R.I.T.Y in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much when people heard that you had come home, they all gathered to see you and you used your popularity to  preach the Word to them. Thank you Jesus for taking that opportunity and reminding me and all of us when we are popular, we should not use it for selfish reasons but we can use that opportunity for advancing your Gospel so that people can be saved. Help me to do that and others to do that. Oh Lord, I also pray right now for those that are popular but have used their popularity for selfish reasons. Please forgive them Oh Lord and bring them to you. Forgive me Lord when I have gone my own way too. And Lord thank you for the importance of your Word. Help us to dwell in your Word richly Lord so we can be guided by you. Thank you so much for the emphasis you have put on Your Word. Thanks so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

"May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I still struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!