January 21st, Wednesday: Mark chaps. 7-8

We'll read about defilement.

Unless we are careful, religious rituals can create some serious problems.

They may be given as much authority as God's Word and even replace God's Word.

These rituals may give a false confidence, that what you do on the outside will somehow change the inside.

But the heart must be changed.

And external rituals cannot do that.

The heart can be purified only by faith.

We'll be reading about distance.

Jesus healed both the centurion's servant, and this woman's demonised daughter, and did both from a distance.

Both were Gentiles, not Jews.

And the Gentiles are at a distance, spiritually.

But Jesus would erase that distance at the cross.

Now as you pray for those far from you, or far from the Lord, remember that He can send His Word and do mighty works.

We'll read about deliverance.

The miracles of healing of the blind man and the deaf man are recorded only by Mark.

Both were in Gentile territory, which would interest his Roman readers.

Both were performed away from the crowd, and both were performed despite difficulties.

The Servant can work at a distance, or when we bring people to Him, and He does not fail.

We'll read about defective faith.

The disciples didn't know what to do with the hungry crowd – yet they had seen Jesus feed the 5000.

They apparently soon forgot His works.

They did not wait for His counsel.

Each work that He does should encourage you to trust Him, to help you solve your next problem.

Keep a long memory for His mercies.

And a short one for your failures.

We'll read about defective understanding.

The disciples did not perceive what He meant by the leaven.

The blindness of the Pharisees does not surprise us.

But why were His followers so blind?

Like Israel of old, the disciples saw His acts, but did not understand His ways.

Ask God to give you spiritual insight.

We'll read about defective devotion.

One minute, Peter is inspired from heaven, and the next minute, his tongue is ignited from hell.

Peter saw only shame in the cross, but Jesus saw glory.

Peter saw defeat, but Jesus saw great victory.

Never be afraid or be ashamed to be His disciples.

And bear your cross, for Jesus bore it first.