Tuesday, September 10, 2013

9/10/13:

TFTD: “And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.” Mark 7:33-36

Reread the passage one more time. It seems like just another day for Jesus right? Traveling from place to place, telling the world about God’s love and curing those who need it. But if you look a little closer you might notice the part about not listening. How often when you were a little kid did your parents or someone in charge tell you not to do something. Like not to touch the stove because you will get burned, or don’t go off that jump with your bike because you will hurt yourself or maybe they told you to do something and you really didn’t listen. I can remember countless times when my parents told me to do the dishwasher or laundry or some other chore, I told them I would do it during the commercial break from whatever I was watching and proceeded to forget about it whether intentionally or unintentionally.
            Most of the messages we hear from pastors and people in the ministry include something about the great commission. “Go and tell the nations because they need to hear.” We hear those words so often that it becomes like a daily chore that you want to put off because it is not high on your priority list. I wonder what would happen if we told people not to go and share the Good News of Christ. Don’t get me wrong. I would love to see people lining the streets declaring the Gospel message (in an effective way, not a bible thumping kind of way). I just don’t see that happening. Maybe if we treat it like the best kept secret, we would be like the people who were with Jesus that day and go tell others about Jesus because we aren’t supposed to. Because it is the “taboo” thing to do. It worked for Jesus. The more He told them not to tell others about what happened, the more they told people. So today why don’t you keep the secret of Jesus to yourself. Don’t go tell anyone. It’s something that you should keep to yourself because it is too special to share with others. Don’t do it. It’s a bad idea. People don’t need to hear the message of Jesus, it’s just for you. But really, you know what to do.

“If you truly want to measure the success of a man, you do not measure it by a position he has achieved, but by the obstacles he has overcome.” –Booker T. Washington

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