Today’s Reading
Mark 7:24-37
[bible passage=”Mark 7:24-37″ version=”esv”]Confusing Instructions
Where did Jesus take the deaf man in order to heal him? Why did Christ give those instructions to him after He had healed him (vs36)? One would assume that Christ would want everyone to see Him heal the deaf man. One would think that after He healed the man, He would want him to tell everyone what had been done for him. In this case, however, Jesus did not react that way. It must have been hard for the man to follow the instructions and hard to understand why they had been given. What do you imagine, was on Christ’s mind that led Him to make such a request. One thing we do know is that it was the best way to respond to what had happened. The hardest times to obey God’s commands occur when they seem to make no sense to us. As in this case, He asks us to do something that is difficult. It is important to remember that God knows what is best, and, while it might not make sense to you, His ways are always best. In what areas are you struggling right now to do what God has asked of you? Rather than try to figure out why He is asking that or trying to logically make sense of the situation, just decide do it.
Today’s Questions
Say What?
What is the hardest thing God ever asked you to do? What made it hard?
So What?
As you look back on it now, why do you think God asked you to do it?
Now What?
What is the hardest thing for you to trust God with right now? Why is it hard?
Then What?
Write out a prayer of commitment to begin to obey and submit to God in this area.