This day with God, we can make what others see as complex more user friendly so they can understand how to live their life more efficiently. We should also fulfill our purpose out of love. To find our strengths, talents, and gifts for the purpose of the kingdom building.

Today, we are reading in Mark 7:31-37. Jesus is returning to the Decapolis after a journey north and then back south again which probably took about an eight months. Remember from Mark 5:1-20 that Jesus left the Decapolis the first time because the people pleaded with Jesus to leave their region after healing the demon possessed man who lived among the tombs.

The Decapolis which is a group of ten Greek cities in eastern Palestine, formed after the Roman conquest in 63 BC. Jesus was able to return perhaps because they were more accepting of Jesus since they had been hearing of the other miracles being performed.

Upon His return, the people brought a deaf and mute man to Jesus for healing. They could tell that Jesus genuinely had concern for people and He wasn’t trying to attract crowds but preferred to heal in seclusion since He took the deaf and mute man away from the crowd. Putting his fingers into the man’s ears, then He spit and touched the man’s tongue (v. 33). He looked up to heaven and prayed that the man’s ears would open and his tongue be loosened (v. 35). The deaf man could then suddenly hear and speak.

The take away for me is that Jesus’ ministry is not in the procedure but in the person of Christ who creatively used the sense of touch for this unique circumstance of healing a man who could not hear. Our obedience to Jesus has an effect on others so let us take special interest in others to creatively help them understand spiritual matters.

The photo below was taken before a July 4th parade in my neighborhood in 2009. The kids on their bikes now have their own cars. Some have gone off to college. Some neighbors and their families have moved to different communities but we stay in touch through facebook and continue to build memories.

Lord, this day we are reminded about how we can live best by using our individual strengths for the benefit of others. Helping our fellow neighbor out of love because You first loved us. If we give You our best by fulfilling our purpose out of love for others, there will be peace and joy because we know that the future can be amazing. Amen.