Mark 7

Scripture  Mark 7:32-35 

They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him.  Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”  And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. Observation-What does it say? In this chapter of Mark, he discusses tradition of religion and the idea of uncleanliness of the heart, as well as accepting “unclean” people.  He wraps up the chapter with the miraculous healing of a mute and deaf man.  Throughout the gospels, there are more than 30 miracles recorded, many of which were healing of people afflicted with chronic or debilitating pains, some were even brought back from death.  Each healing or miracle was done in somewhat of a special way.  In this particular healing Jesus gives the deaf man a wet willy and spits in his mouth.  Once, while healing a blind man, Jesus spits on the ground to make mud, then he puts the mud on the eyes of the blind man and tells him to wash it off (John 9).  He healed another blind man by spitting directly in his eyes (Mark 8).  And yet, two other blind men he healed by simply touching their eyes (Matthew 9).  Through his healings and miracles, Jesus fulfilled prophecies about him.  “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.  Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:5-6).  Not only did he heal physically, but he also heals us in the same ways spiritually. Understanding-What does it mean?  I remember being in the hospital after my first bad car accident when I was 18 year old.  After almost killing myself, I have a handful of very vague and fuzzy memories from the next week.  The first one being in my car, upside down, and realizing that I was hurt pretty badly.  The next one, I was trying to spell out someone’s name using my hands because I couldn’t talk.  There were a few others, but none of them really important enough to hold onto.  However, one memory that I will never forget, no matter how drugged I was, is the moment when they removed the tubes that had been feeding me and helping me breathe.  From a week of nearly all darkness, I remember coming out of the fog to someone telling me to try to swallow.  The next thing I know, it felt as if someone were ripping my stomach through my mouth, while punching me in the throat and cleaning my sinuses with acid all at the same time.  But, once the tubes were removed, it felt as if I were breathing for the first time.  It was both freeing and painful at the same time, like when you jump into an icy stream in the mountains.  This feeling is what I would imagine it was like to be miraculously healed.  After having spent their whole lives on mats, without sight or hearing, or with disfigured limbs, the people who were healed by Jesus were thrown into a life of full mobility in an instant, using muscles they had never used.  A feeling I imagine to be both freeing and painful, at the same time.  When God sets us on the path of healing, he can do it in many ways, whether it be spiritually or physically.  Either way, as we experience his power of healing, we will come to realize the power of his greatness in comparison to our weakness and brokenness.  A difference that can at times cause us to grieve.  But, when we are made complete in heaven, we will no longer experience the pain of this life (Revelation 21:3-5).  Our experience on earth will be seen from the perspective that it was the path that led us to a relationship with God.
Life Application 

Jesus, heal the blindness in my heart and allow me to see every day as important in my journey to you.  Heal my deaf spirit and allow me to shout your great name to those around me.  Forgive me for the times I have been ashamed of your name.  Help me to share your story of healing.

 

-Tyler Galloway          

Psalm_72

Scripture  

 

Psalm 72:1-4 

 

1 Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s son.  2 May he judge Your people with righteousness And Your afflicted with justice. 3 Let the mountains bring [e]peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness. 4 May he vindicate the afflicted of the people, Save the children of the needy And crush the oppressor

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Observation-What does it say?   

 

This psalm is a prayer for the King Solomon.  It may have been the prayer at the coronation ceremony, when he attained the throne from his father, David.  The prayer expresses characteristics of the ideal king, and looks forward to the reign of Jesus, the perfect king.  In the beginning of the prayer, we see a plea for the king’s righteousness, that he may reflect God. The prayer also expresses the desire of enduring righteousness, that people would benefit from the king’s wisdom.

  
Understanding-What does it mean? 

 

It’s easy to get caught up in the speed of life, especially in Southern California.  In this age of instant information, we are constantly being bombarded with messages of the newest trends and of the newest life changing product.  Amidst all the new, is the pressure to keep up with the times. I can’t even tell you how often I get made fun of for having an “old” phone (iPhone SE, looks like the 5 but is actually newer).  It’s not like I am dragging around a rotary phone. As a byproduct of the pressure to keep up, we are often looking at situations in the light of how it will benefit us and help us keep up. And the question of “What’s in it for me?” looms in the back of our mind.

I am very guilty of this in my work environment.  There are many instances where I look at what I am doing and try to figure out how it will make me look for promotions, and special assignments.  The people I come into contact with become statistics, instead of people, and the problems they are encountering become statistics, instead of life events.  So, work becomes about the bottom line of promotion and accolade, instead of a way to serve people or as an act of worship to God.  

My paradigm is in need of a shift.  Scripture tells us that our focus should be on bringing worship to God.  In Colossians 3:23-24 Paul writes, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”  To the Galatians he writes, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (6:8-10). In other places, we find that God’s will for our lives is to be content with what we have (1 Timothy 6:6-10), and to serve widows and orphans (James 1:27).

Life Application 

 

Jesus, help me to carry the example of King Solomon into my work.  Help me to put the needs of others before my own. Let me act in a way as to protect the dignity of the afflicted, and serve those who are struggling.  Most of all, give me a heart of worship. Let all the works of my hands bring you glory. May you increase and I decrease.    

 

-Tyler Galloway

Psalm_71

Scripture

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:15‬ ‭‬‬

“I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words.”

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

In this psalm David is already old and gray. He continues to call out to God in his times of need. David’s enemies are now plotting against him. His enemies think that God has abandoned him. But David continues to trust in God and God’s faithfulness, strength, and protection. God has been with him since birth. Why would God abandon him now? David’s faith is in God, and he is willing to tell everyone about how great and awesome God is.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

David the evangelist???

 

When we hear the word evangelist, we think of people like Billy Graham or Greg Laurie. But reading this passage reminded me that King David was an evangelist in his own right too.

 

“My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.”-‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:7-8‬

“I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just. O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:15-17

 

Throughout the good times and even the bad times, David trusted God. Whether it was through songs of praise, or just words of affirmation, David was telling everyone about God’s saving power! Others may have looked at him as if he was crazy (especially when he was going through rough patches) when he was constantly praising God, but David trusted and knew firsthand of God’s faithfulness. His life was an example of it! Now he wants the whole world to know about the awesome God he serves.

 

Life Application

 

Share with others what God has done in your life.

 

David wasn’t shy about sharing God’s love and faithfulness with others. He was constantly reminding others of God’s faithfulness. His life proved it to them! In the same way, I feel led to do the same. I have a friend at work who I have been sharing with. I would tell him what the Bible says regarding God, and how to live our lives. But when I share about my personal relationship with Jesus, and how Jesus has changed my life, and what Jesus has done for me, that is what seems to get through to him. The personal stories and experiences make it more relatable for him to understand how knowing and trusting God can bring peace and joy in our lives. And knowing that God has given each of us our own stories and experiences to relate with others is what can help bring people to Christ. It’s a matter of us being bold and courageous to share with others the way David did.

 

-Moses Gaddi