#DailyDevotion Are You Someone’s Friend In Jesus?
Mark 7:31 Then [Jesus] 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.”
What kind of friends do you have? What kind of friend are you? This deaf mute had friends who loved him and who had faith in Jesus. Now no man may believe for another for their salvation. We all must believe for ourselves. But faith comes through hearing the word of Christ. Someone brings us to Jesus to hear his word. Someone loved us enough to share the good news of Jesus with us that we might believe. These friends faith and love brought the deaf mute to Jesus.
Not only did they bring the man to Jesus but they interceded for him to Jesus. It is a great thing to have friends who love us enough to use their faith in Jesus to intercede for us before Jesus. Jesus sees their faith, hears their prayers and answers them. He takes the man, does several things to indicate to the man what he is about to do and then he speaks word that creates faith, “Ephpatha!” Be opened Jesus tells the man and his ears can hear and his mouth can praise.
Are you a friend like these to the people in your life who don’t know Jesus? Do you risk sharing the Good News of Jesus with the people God has placed in your life so that they too may have faith in Jesus? Do you intercede for your unbelieving friends whose ears cannot hear Jesus and whose mouths cannot proclaim his praise? If you haven’t been then start today. Intercede for the people you know that Jesus may open their ears to hear and mouths to proclaim his praise. Bring them to Jesus through the sharing of your faith. Bring them to Jesus by bringing them to Church where he promises to be (wherever two or more are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of you).
In healing the death-mute man Jesus shows he is the God who has come to save us. He not only heals him but Jesus heals the lame, the lepers, the unclean, even raises the dead. Indeed, Jesus has done all things well. Let us join those who gave him thanks and praise and spread his name abroad.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for those who brought us to Jesus. Now grant us faith, courage and love to bring those around us to Jesus that they may hear his word and believe. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.