The gospels are filled
with wonderful and true stories of people whose lives were forever changed by a moment with Jesus. They come in every size, shape, circumstance and experience. The wonder and beauty of these encounters is that they are not only inspirational, but they all have application for us. There is eternal, life-sculpting, unchanging, God-sized truth in every story. Truth that God gifts to you.
We find a such a moment in Mark chapter 7. Someone with a problem was brought to Jesus. What a picture of us. What a picture of me!
“A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.” Mark 7:32 NLT
Jesus didn’t merely look at the man in pity. He reached out. He touched a life. And when God puts His hand on you, things change. You cannot be touched by Jesus Christ and remain the same.
“Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue.”
Mark 7:33 NLT
Sometimes The Lord may take an unconventional approach, but fear not. He knows us far better than we know us. Here the man gets alone with Jesus, and Christ actually puts his fingers in the mans ears, spits on his own fingers and touches the mans tongue! What would you do in a situation like that? This would be alarming to say the least, even if performed by a close friend. But fear not! Jesus knows exactly what to do. And the results are God-sized!
“Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!” Mark 7:34-35 NLT
Imagine how life changing this moment is for a guy who woke up that morning prepared to slug through another day! And then Jesus changed everything. But the miracle wasn’t just for him. It was for those nearby, it was for the disciples and it IS for YOU.
When Christ touches our lives, He opens our ears. Ears that can now be used to hear His voice, learn His truth, and really listen to those in need. Not to hear merely what we want to hear, but to perfectly hear as the scripture says. Additionally Jesus frees the tongue to speak plainly. Not in a spirit of selfish deceit. Not to win an argument. Not in a false motive to manipulate and bring about our will. But purely and plainly. To speak honestly and with integrity. To graciously and yet boldly proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord.
I hope that today you will take a moment with Jesus. Let His unconventional ways touch your life. He’ll change the way you hear and the way you speak because His touch goes straight to the heart!
A moment with Jesus makes all the difference!
Pastor Kevin