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Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Mark 7:35-36 (CSB): “Immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly. He ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more they proclaimed it.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
In Mark 7:31-37, we read that Jesus healed a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment (probably because he couldn’t hear the sound of his voice or other voices). The healing was instant and miraculous.
If I were that deaf man and Jesus healed me, I can only imagine how overwhelmed with excitement I would be! I would want to tell the world what Jesus had done for me!
Yet, in Mark 7:36, Jesus “ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more they proclaimed it.”
Why did Jesus want them to keep his miracle quiet? Was it because He needed time to rest and pray? Was it because people would come to Him with wrong motives (to see the “miracle-worker”)? Was there some other reason? We aren’t told.
But what we do know is that they disobeyed Him. He strictly told them to keep His miracle quiet, and everyone blabbered about it. They apparently thought it couldn’t hurt to tell others and so they disobeyed His direct order.
Virtually every time I read this story, I think of something else Jesus said, particularly what is commonly called “The Great Commission.” In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus explicitly told His disciples to tell others about Him and help them to become His disciples (followers).
Matthew 28:18-20 (CSB): “Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”
We’ve been given a wonderful message and a spectacular assignment, and Jesus has told us to go and tell everyone. We are told to tell people how they can get saved and then how they can grow in their obedience and relationship with Jesus.
Yet, just as the people in Tyre and Sidon disobeyed Jesus when He told them to keep the miracle quiet, we often disobey when Jesus tells us to make the message known. They disobeyed 2,000 years ago, and we continue to disobey.
Will you be restfully available to the Lord today? Will you be watchful for someone that He might send your way so that you can share the good news of the Gospel with them? I hope you will.
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to help you cultivate a competent grasp of the biblical Gospel and how to share it with others.
- Ask God to send someone your way soon so that you can share the greatest news they will ever hear.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into Jesus telling some to keep quiet while telling others to go and proclaim, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“Why did Jesus command people to not tell others of the miracles He performed?”
“What is the Great Commission?”
Sharing
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)
Matt’s Musings 