No Bad

Eph 4:29  When you talk, don't say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you. 

People who have been hurt often seek to hurt other people. They deserve it?  Really, do we know another persons motives or experiences?  Let God search your heart and show you what troubles you, then give it all to God. Accept the love of God through Jesus who came to take away your sins and guilt. Be the person that God created you to be. 

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Healing of a Deaf Man

Jesus healed in many different ways. In this story he heals a deaf man.

Mar 7:31  Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 

Mar 7:32  And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 

Who were they who brought the man to Jesus?  They were people who cared about the deaf man and who had heard that Jesus healed all who came to him.

Mar 7:33  And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 

Taking him aside from the crowd, perhaps many  had unbelief or were just looking for a reason to accuse Jesus to the jealous religious leaders. This was a private manner. Would we want a crowd watching us when brought to a doctor? He placed his fingers in the deaf ears of the man and spit, perhaps applying spit to the stammering tongue.

Mar 7:34  And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 

Jesus looked up to heaven. He always did his father's will. God is our healer and life giver. Jesus spoke "be opened" a command from the giver of life and health.

Mar 7:35  And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 

A miracle of God; perfect hearing and clear speech. 

I am reminded of Moses making excuses to the LORD who was calling him to speak before the Pharaoh in Egypt. He humbly said that he was slow of speech. 

Exo 4:10  But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 

Exo 4:11  Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 

God made us and he has a reason. Some he heals while others may be given a handicap.  God has a purpose and a reason for all people.  If he calls you to a task he will give you the abiliy to fulfill it.  God cares about us, he heals and encourages us. When he saw that we were lost and separated from God, he sent his son Jesus to die in our place and to give all who believe in him eternal life. We may be someone who can pray for anothers healing. Pray and let God hear your concerns. He will respond according to his will.

A Rebellious People

People look for fulfillment in the wrong places. They may blame others for their unhappiness, but really we are all somewhat rebellious, seeking our own way. We like friends who agree with us, even when we know that it is wrong. All have struggles in this life. Look to your creator, the creator of heaven and earth. Have we given him any thanks. Do we seek our way through him?

 Isa 30:8  And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. 

Isa 30:9  For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD; 

Isa 30:10  who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, 

Isa 30:11  leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 

In some of the largest churches the leaders have become worldly people pleasers. They write books about being successful in the world while neglecting the things of God. All this world will be left behind. Is your soul ready for eternity?

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

The Cornerstone

People are searching for meaning to life. They are searching for real truth, not your truth or my truth, but real eternal truth. If we build our lives on lies, then we have a false security. 

Isa 28:15  You have said, "We have made an agreement with death. We have a contract with death. So we will not be punished. Punishment will pass us without hurting us. We will hide behind our tricks and lies." 

Isa 28:16  Because of these things, the Lord GOD says, "I will put a rock—a cornerstone—in the ground in Zion. This will be a very precious stone. Everything will be built on this very important rock. Anyone who trusts in that rock will not be disappointed. 

Isa 28:17  "Workers use a string and weight to show their work is straight and true. I will use justice as the string and goodness as the weight when I lay that foundation. But your safe places were built on lies. So they will be destroyed and washed away when the troubles come against you like hail storms and floods.

Jesus is our rock that we build our lives upon. Learn of his justice, his goodness and his love for you. He makes all things new. We need him now and forever.

Cold Reception

Mar 6:2  And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 

Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 

Mar 6:4  And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 

Mar 6:5  And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 

Usually the first born son was given more honor and received the most encouragment.  Imagine how the family of Jesus could have misunderstood this son of Mary and son of God who had no sins.  Humans often gossip and see things wrong. There may have been jealousy and social unacceptance, especially when Jesus began his ministry at age thirty. He was thought to be a carpenter or builder.  What do people say of us when we follow God? He's got religion?  Jesus has more than religion, he is God the Son and he would be about his heavenly father's business. 

Luke 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 

In spite of their unbelief, Jesus healed a few people.

Rom 5:6  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 

Rom 5:7  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die 

Rom 5:8  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus deserves all honor and praise. Give him your respect. Believe in him and he will give you a new life and purpose. 

Questions

Are you all that you were made to be? Do you even care?  It is good to be content with life, but is our life useful? Asking questions is  most useful.  If we have a question then we seek the answer. Life becomes a quest. Questions begin a quest for answers. Jesus wants us to ask questions of him.

 Mat 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 

Mat 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

What great promises. Ask. and it shall be given. The answer may be a simple yes or no. Seek and you will find. Some questions require us to be active in finding answers. Lastly is a door to knock on. In Revelation Jesus is knocking on a church door. Will they let him in?  We are to knock on the door of opportunity. Don't talk yourself out of opening this door.  It may change your life. In another place Jesus himself is called the door. He is the good shepherd who will lead his sheep.

John 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 

Some questions we can find answers to, but others are beyond our natural understanding .  We are to ask, seek and knock to God who created life and who has all the answers. Jesus is the answer, in him we have eternal life and purpose.

Perfect Peace

These are uplifting verses.

 Isa 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

1Jn 4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 

1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

Be at peace.