Daily Devotional for September 29, 2016

Mark 3:5-8
Jesus was angry as he looked around at the people. Yet he felt sorry for them because they were so stubborn. Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his bad hand was healed.

The Pharisees left. And right away they started making plans with Herod’s followers to kill Jesus.

Jesus led his disciples down to the shore of the lake. Large crowds followed him from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. People came from Idumea, as well as other places east of the Jordan River. They also came from the region around the cities of Tyre and Sidon. All of these crowds came because they had heard what Jesus was doing.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

When I was growing up, my daddy and my Mam-ma Polly had a saying, “Tend to your own rat killin’!”  What they meant was, “Mind your own business, do what you know is right, and don’t worry about what the other guy thinks.”  My mother also had a favorite saying in her last years…”You can’t fix stupid.”  I know these may not be the nicest things to say…but at face value, they do hold a lot of truth.

I could not help but think of both of these phrases as I read today’s scripture passage.  On the one hand, Jesus had demonstrated His power in both word and deed…and there were still some who simply refused to believe Him. The Book of Mark tells us that this angered Jesus…but it also saddened Him. On the other hand, people were rumbling and grumbling about Jesus’ miracles…doubting His authenticity - and even making plans to kill Him.  And Jesus just “went on with His rat killin’!”  He continued to minister to those who came to Him…to heal those who trusted and believed in His power and sovereignty.

What does this mean for you and me?  Every day, we encounter people who, at best, do not agree with us on some level…and some who do not believe in Jesus or the faith in Him that we demonstrate. We are questioned, doubted, challenged…and sometimes mocked or ridiculed.  We can get angry…and even stoop to the level of those who would argue with us.  Or we can rely on God’s strength, stay in communication with the Holy Spirit…and “tend to our rat killin’!”  We can go about our day doing what God has told us to do…sharing the love, grace power and mercy of Jesus Christ with others…and let God handle the rest.

Thankfully, the chances that you or I might be killed for our faith are slim to none.  But there may be some lonely, hurtful, frustrating days/weeks/months/years.  Do not be discouraged.  Remember this passage from Mark 3.  Take heart that you can’t fix everyone – and you’re not supposed to.  You are simply to tend to the business and ministries of Jesus – and give Him room to do the heavy lifting.  Are you with me?


©2016 Debbie Robus

No comments: