Friday, February 13, 2015

Feb. 13, 2015: Mark 1:29-39


We encourage you to read this devotion three times a day.  Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon question for reflection.  For the evening, take time to ponder how this has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening question.  We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we invite you to pray what is in your heart.

 
Mark 1:29-39
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.  35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ 38He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
  
Key Verses:  vv. 29-31 
Reflection: 
The Gospels and filled with stories of Jesus healing people from all walks of life.  It seems as though God's reach of redemption, through the example of Jesus, broke all the boundaries followers of God had created.  Healing stories are hard to grasp in today's scientific world.  We want more details like How?  What was exactly wrong with her?  What constitutes a miracle?  Today, I I want to focus specifically on the woman's immediately reaction to Jesus healing her because I think she sets a model for all of us who have experienced the redemption of God through Jesus.  She "SERVED".  That is a key word and a key response.  When we engage in service in the world, whether through the church or of some other venue, we are responding to our own healing.  Service is a natural and necessary response to a relationship with God.  The mark of servanthood and those who bear a servants heart are people who are transforming our broken world.  I want to be a part of that redemption and I hope you do as well.

Reflection Questions:
Morning: In what ways do you serve God in your life?  Where do you need to grow and deepen the ways you live out a your life of service to God?

Noon:  What would you have me do and where are you asking me to do your work?

Evening :  What would my life look like to have a servants heart?  How would I respond to the reality that Jesus has healed me?

Prayer:  God make me a servant of you.  Whatever that looks like, break me and make me into the person you desire me to be.  Remind me that you are God and I am not.  I pray for inspiration and then the courage to act with perspiration toward your work here in my community and ultimately the world.  Help me to not put limits on what you are calling me to do.  Help me to be available for your will and work.  Open my ears, my heart and my mind so that I might experience, with clarity the work you would have me do.  Amen

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