Week of Monday July 28 – August 3
Open – Man as Instructor
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 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. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” - Mark 7:31-37 ESV
In his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, former professional football quarterback Brett Favre shared the following story:
One more thing about my father, and this is something I've never told anyone, including Deanna. My dad was my high school football coach. … So it was the last high school football game of my high school career, and although I don't remember how I had played before, and I don't remember how I played in the last game, what I do remember is sitting outside the coach's office, say, on a Wednesday, waiting for my father to come out so we could leave. It was dark. And I overheard my father talking to the three other coaches, and I heard him—and I assume I didn't play as well the previous week only because of what he said, and he said: I can assure you one thing about my son, he will play better. He will redeem himself. I know my son. He has it in him.
What a blessing to overhear that affirmation! You know, it’s easy to take our God-given abilities of hearing and speech for granted. Those abilities were certainly precious to the man Jesus healed in Mark 7. This miracle is often overlooked, but you can be sure that the healed man never forgot it! We can only imagine how he felt, but it’s reasonable to assume he felt immense gratitude, amazement, and wonder at being able to hear and speak.
We need the Lord Jesus to speak that same word over us that He spoke over this man: “Be opened.” When we allow His words to enter our hearts then express them through our speech, it matters more than we can imagine! The messages we’ve heard from the Lord throughout our lives have guided and protected us, brought us joy, and most importantly, shared the life-changing message of the gospel with us. Similarly, the words we speak on the Lord’s behalf offer instruction, assistance, advice, and blessing. Our response to what we hear from God and the words we choose to say can have an eternal impact.
What a man allows into his heart and soul matters, as does what he chooses to say. God will hold us accountable for both, as we are responsible for the spiritual health of others as Instructors. Therefore, let us open our ears to hear and our mouths to speak the things of God!
- Do you need to be more careful about the things you allow to enter your heart and mind? What spiritual disciplines do you have in place to ensure your speech is seasoned with the Word of God?
- How are you actively involved in shaping the spiritual input and influence of your family?
- Pray and ask God to “open” your ears, mind, and heart to His Word and then enable you to speak what He gives you with those you love and lead.
Open – Man as Instructor
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 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. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” - Mark 7:31-37 ESV
In his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, former professional football quarterback Brett Favre shared the following story:
One more thing about my father, and this is something I've never told anyone, including Deanna. My dad was my high school football coach. … So it was the last high school football game of my high school career, and although I don't remember how I had played before, and I don't remember how I played in the last game, what I do remember is sitting outside the coach's office, say, on a Wednesday, waiting for my father to come out so we could leave. It was dark. And I overheard my father talking to the three other coaches, and I heard him—and I assume I didn't play as well the previous week only because of what he said, and he said: I can assure you one thing about my son, he will play better. He will redeem himself. I know my son. He has it in him.
What a blessing to overhear that affirmation! You know, it’s easy to take our God-given abilities of hearing and speech for granted. Those abilities were certainly precious to the man Jesus healed in Mark 7. This miracle is often overlooked, but you can be sure that the healed man never forgot it! We can only imagine how he felt, but it’s reasonable to assume he felt immense gratitude, amazement, and wonder at being able to hear and speak.
We need the Lord Jesus to speak that same word over us that He spoke over this man: “Be opened.” When we allow His words to enter our hearts then express them through our speech, it matters more than we can imagine! The messages we’ve heard from the Lord throughout our lives have guided and protected us, brought us joy, and most importantly, shared the life-changing message of the gospel with us. Similarly, the words we speak on the Lord’s behalf offer instruction, assistance, advice, and blessing. Our response to what we hear from God and the words we choose to say can have an eternal impact.
What a man allows into his heart and soul matters, as does what he chooses to say. God will hold us accountable for both, as we are responsible for the spiritual health of others as Instructors. Therefore, let us open our ears to hear and our mouths to speak the things of God!
- Do you need to be more careful about the things you allow to enter your heart and mind? What spiritual disciplines do you have in place to ensure your speech is seasoned with the Word of God?
- How are you actively involved in shaping the spiritual input and influence of your family?
- Pray and ask God to “open” your ears, mind, and heart to His Word and then enable you to speak what He gives you with those you love and lead.