Discipleship
January 30, 2021
Scripture Reading: Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Actions speak louder than words is an adage. There is undoubtedly some truth in it. Words, too, are essential, and we undermine our words when we do not live them. John attests to us that Jesus was the Word become flesh. We need to hear his words and live them. Mark, in the above segment, did not share what Jesus taught, but the story tells us that during the sermon, Jesus healed a man with an unclean spirit. He was living his love.
The Bible talks about false prophets, even false messiahs. We live in a world filled with false prophets. Such people say whatever they think we want to hear to gain power or money. We have an epidemic in our land now where we are being told we cannot believe anything anyone says except the false prophets. Seeking truth is necessary.
Sometimes I feel like I write the same thing repeatedly in these devotions, and I do. I borrowed one of those ideas from Jesus, who repeated and applied it regularly. If the words and deeds are not wrapped in love, they are not of God. The world is complex, and sin makes it more complicated.
I read a media post this morning from a young woman who said we are the world’s most privileged people. Our poverty level is much higher than any other country. She was writing from a coffee shop where she noted everyone had laptops or phones and nice cars in the parking lot. I guess she was saying we should be thankful for what we have and enjoy it. She did not source her information, but I am sure the defined level at which one is considered to be living in poverty is higher in the USA than in many places in the world. I doubt it is higher than all areas. My first thought is that there are no borders in God’s Kingdom. As Christ-followers, we are called to help all of God’s children have enough of at least necessities. My second thought was that in a country where one out of every four children is classified as food insecure*, the young woman needs to find out if the person who served her is paid less per hour than the cost of the fancy coffee she was drinking.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when our privilege blinds us to the needs of others. Open our eyes to see the people in our world, like the man with the unclean spirit, as we share your Word with others. Amen.
*https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/912486921/food-insecurity-in-the-u-s-by-the-numbers
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.