Mark 7
7 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
7
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
7 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 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. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Jesus is the Light of The World
Lighting all of mankind
Lighting the Nativity
Lighting the Transfiguration
Lighting our lives and path in Jesus.
Test what the Spirit is saying, make sure this corresponds with the teachings of the Lord.
Jesus does tell us, He gives CHARGES. We say today, in our wordage, "He has put this on my heart." This is something of importance and when this is very loud, Jesus says a "Charge".
We seem to have lost that vernacular.
And why do we sink into ruts. We have forgotten life is a quest. All quests have the swells of the ocean in Psalm 107. We want to have a quest, most Christians really want God to give them a "Charge", but to have a quest, you'd have to believe God wants you to. And some quests are simply look around, Shepherd the people near you.
And we think, well that's boring. A lot depends on the attitude. And if we picture the end of our lives, we certainly want to be seen as someone who loved and led the way in positive, good attitudes and the idea God is for us and will help.
Ministry has key components. Not a hammer. Jesus was a carpenter, but He did not weld this ever in His ministry. This is the invitation to Love. Used in appropriate times. Not a Chinese Water drip drip drip. This is forgiveness as we have been forgiven. Diligence is patient. A fruit, a gift, grown by the Spirit.
I know after my daughter Isabelle died, she died in childbirth of genetic complications, that Isabelle was beautiful and missing her left hand. That night I felt the Lord in my heart tell me, put your head on this pillow, picture a priestly cassock and rest on that white pillow knowing Holy has this situation. And for months later, as I awoke, my left hand felt the warmth of the Lord telling me - this still is in His Hand.
Today is a new day. The people in Heaven are loved, cared for, nourished and completed. Today I count my blessings, like going to Hobby Lobby and the lady cutting the trim and I rejoice that the trim is on sale (I shopped for this) and the exact amount to the very centimeter is available. Thank YOU LORD !!!
Paul knew this as well, see the diligence he tells Timothy, his child in the faith:
1 Timothy 4
4 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Father God,
Be the Light of this Nation,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is the true light that gives light to everyone. Your glory shines, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Grace upon grace.
Jesus be our Transfiguration each day of this Year. Let us look for Your Glory.
Let Your Power be in this Nation, her people, her Churches believing in Jesus and in the Power in His Word. We live our lives and trust in You. Lift up the ones we Love and the people You have given us. We rest in You, Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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