Daily Devotions - With God it is Personal

Mark 7:31-37 (NIV)
Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. 36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

 

Why do you think Jesus used this method to heal the man?

 

You are a loving and compassionate Lord. You treat each person as an individual. You know each of us personally and your response to each of us is customized for what we each need and who we are. I am touched by your response to the personal needs of the deaf man in today's reading.  You showed consideration for the feelings of the deaf man when you took him away from the crowd. When a deaf person starts to hear again, every sound would seem very loud. It would not be pleasant for the man if he were in a noisy crowd. You couldn't tell the man what you were doing so You used actions to get his attention. You showed the man what you were going to do, by first touching his ears. In those days people believed that spit could cure people and the man could see that You were intending to cure him when you spit. By touching his tongue You communicated to him that You would make a difference in his speech. You then showed the man that the power to cure would come from Your Father above when You looked up to heaven. Your actions showed that You understood human reaction and emotion. You demonstrated Your love to this man just as You demonstrate Your love to me. Thank You, Lord, for knowing me so intimately. You respond to me based on who I am and what I need. You understand my pain. It is personal. You are a loving God and You are compassionate with what I am going through right now. Help me to also consider the personal needs of others and respond in love. Allow me to treat each person as an individual and have compassion for them. Let me find ways to respect who they are and have concern for the challenges they face in their own life. And even when I don't know what they are going through, let me respond in kindness.  Lord, I thank You for loving me and teaching me how to love. Thank You for my personal relationship with You. You are a loving Father and I worship You. Amen