Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Thursday, December 27, 2012     I Restored a Blind Man's Sight    

Page 141-142         Mark 8:22-26

In the preceding passage Jesus admonished his disciples, “You have eyes—can’t you see?” (Mark 8:19).  The lack of vision by the disciples is followed by Jesus restoring the sight of the blind man. There are some interesting parallels in how this story unfolds and in the following episode where Peter will make his confession of faith. In both cases there is a two-step process and in both cases, Jesus moves away from other people. Taking the man outside the village was a way of putting the spotlight on Jesus and the man. The two-step process in the healing illustrates that growing in faith does not happen all at once.

Two passages of scripture are helpful in seeing how Jesus’ two-step healing of the blind man is a metaphor for our need of divine help in answering Jesus when he asks us, “Who do you say I am?” The Apostle Paul warns us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12b NRSV) and in 1 Corinthians 12:3b Paul writes, “no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.”

Our culture has trivialized into cutesy sayings much of the doctrinal foundations of the Christian faith. But becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus is very hard work. The renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) is as much a matter of unlearning the ways of the world as it is learning the ways of Christ. I intently believe there can come a moment in our lives where we know, but we know, but we know to the very depths of our being that Jesus is Lord. We can only get to this place with the help and with the power of the Holy Spirit. But when we do, we live in that most wonderful of places where we know, but we know, but we know to the very depths of our being that we are safe and secure for all eternity in the hands of Christ Jesus our Shepherd, Savior and Lord. (See John 10:27-30)

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

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The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Friday, December 28, 2012          Simon Peter's Revelation and Rebuke   

Page 142-143         Matthew 16:13-28; Mark 8:27 - 9:1; Luke 9:18-27