MARK 7:31-37 – Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
THEME OF THE DAY: MODELING OUR MASTER. Today’s scripture is another riveting account of the Lord’s power and compassion on display. How thrilling to be in the crowd watching! It is no wonder Mark records the watching crowd’s reaction as being “astonished beyond measure.” But there was more. Their visual response of astonishment gave way to words of proclamation, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Obviously, this was appropriate for indeed Jesus did do the healing well. It was complete. The Lord didn’t half heal the man. No, there was no giving the helpless man the ability to hear, but leaving the speech impediment untouched. The Master thoroughly healed. No partial or half-work done toward the man.
As we ponder the account, and equally are astonished at the miracle, go back to the opening statement of the crowd – “He has done all things well.”
Think about this in our walks with the Lord, service for Him, and in fact, in all areas of our lives. I wonder in my own life, and now I asked you to wonder in your life, may this be said of us in all matters of life – We have done all things well? The Apostle Paul exhorts us that the Christian life, all the Christian life is to be done for God’s glory – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). He also told us whatever we do is to be done with zeal and fervency – Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord (Romans 12:11).
Now would be a good time to ask ourselves a couple of questions. First, “Am I as zealous in living and serving the Lord as I am in the pursuit of my hobbies, recreational passions, and occupations?” Next, “Do I get as excited about the things of the Lord as I do the pleasures of the world?” How we answer those questions will go a long way in determining if we are modeling our Master and holding the reputation “We have done all things well” for His glory.
PRAYER: “Father, may I see the pleasure I bring to You when I live my Christian life with zeal and passion.”
QUOTE: “If we rightly understand the Gospel and Christ’s love, there will be no lukewarm, half-hearted Christianity in us.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim