THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 1:40-45
“Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news.” (Mark 1:45)
This man disobeyed Jesus, who needed Him to stay quiet so He could get around.
Jesus’ command not to share is not for us; we are called to be witnesses (Acts 1:8)
Can you blame this man for telling people – something huge happened to him.
This is true for us as Jesus-followers… do we also disobey by not witnessing?
As a Jesus follower, I have seen how Jesus has changed my life for the better.
He has defeated Satan, sin, death and hell in my life, and I am free in Him.
For my story, He set me free from the bondage of religion and self-righteousness.
He has placed His strengthening, comforting, guiding and empowering Spirit in me.
He is with me always, and He is helping me reclaim my LIFE as God meant it to be.
As a follower of Jesus, I do not want people to join my religion, or my church.
I point to Jesus, to let the world know what He has done for me!
I want them to know Jesus, and the power of the good news in their lives.
I want people to “come to Him from everywhere” (v.45) so they can find LIFE too!
Can people sense how big my experience of Jesus my eagerness to share it?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You are not commanding me to be silent. You have called me to be Your witness. May my enthusiasm be like this man’s, as I obey Your command to be Your witness!
Leprosy.
Leprosy during the time of Christ meant isolation. The lepers were dead to the community. When found in the community, the people would stone the leper. He was where no one wanted him. He was as dead to them.
And yet this leper came to Jesus Who reached out to him and healed him. Again Jesus was with the undesirables of His day showing His love to the unloveables.
And what would I do?
And how do I react to those who we find difficult to love?
I need to be as Christ to them.
Make me an instrument Lord of Your peace.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.