“And he said to them, ‘Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.’” Mark 1:38 (ESV)
I was setting my priorities for the new year when my mentor gently told me that I’m often easily distracted by “bright, shiny, new opportunities.” Is he saying I’m like a cat chasing a laser light? I thought.
He encouraged that if an opportunity came up that didn’t fulfill my priorities, I needed to say no. Period. But I’m one of those people who dives into every exciting idea. If it’s a good thing, why not?
Honestly, it can be exhausting. Thankfully, Jesus shows us a better way.
Mark 1 records how Jesus began His public ministry. In one day, He cast out an unclean spirit and healed Simon’s mother-in-law. As soon as the sun went down on the Sabbath, a crowd of suffering people rushed to Him, and He healed them.
Observe Jesus’ next moves: “Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ And he said to them, ‘Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.’ And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons” (Mark 1:35-39, ESV).
Everyone wanted Jesus’ miraculous touch. But having spent the morning in prayer, Jesus told the people that it was time for Him to move on to the next town because preaching the gospel was “why [He] came out.”
Healing people was a good thing, but it was not His primary why. Jesus knew His priority was to point people to God by preaching the gospel and ultimately dying for their sins.
How often am I guilty of doing too many “good things” to the detriment of pursuing my God-given purpose?
Jesus had the wisdom and the conviction to pursue His purpose. We see this throughout the Gospels. Whenever people became distracted by or demanding of His miracles, Jesus would move on to continue His primary mission. I’m sure some people were disappointed, but Jesus was rightly focused on His purpose.
Many of my commitments — work, personal projects, church responsibilities — are good things, but do they all align with my God-given purpose? As I begin to cut out the distractions, there will be disappointed people. But even if I’m good at those things or if others find them meaningful, I must be able to say “no” to anything that does not align with my God-given purpose and priorities.
If you and I pursue God’s assignments wholeheartedly and undistractedly, we’ll ultimately be pursuing our Savior — the biggest why of our lives.
Father, help me look to Jesus’ example. Help me to spend time with You, keep my eyes focused on my why, and have the courage to remove the things that are not Your priority for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Have you ever noticed how the Gospels show us Jesus meeting people right in the middle of their real lives? Not when everything was calm. Not when their faith was perfect. But when they were afraid, uncertain, desperate for healing, or unsure what to do next. That’s exactly what we’ll see as we study the Gospel of Mark together in our upcoming First 5 study — Mark: Trusting King Jesus as the One Who Sees You, Saves You, and Never Lets Go. Through these passages, we’ll encounter the Savior who steps toward people in their questions, their suffering, and their need — reminding us that even when life feels fragile, He is steady. If you’d like to follow along and spend time processing these moments in Scripture more deeply, you can get the Mark study guide now in the Proverbs 31 Bookstore, and you’ll find expanded teaching, guided reflection, and space to process all God is speaking as we walk through Mark together.
Find out more about today’s devotion writer, Shala Wilson, and how you can connect with her online here!
Ephesians 2:10, “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing” (NCV).
Isaiah 26:3-4, “You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever; he will always protect us” (GNT).
Spend time praying about your purpose and defining your why. Write it down.
What “good things” may distract you from pursuing your purpose — and your purpose only? Join us in the comments to share your thoughts about today’s devotion and God’s purpose for your life.
© 2026 by Shala Wilson. All rights reserved.
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