Day 285

By
Serve Like Jesus!

Scripture

October 11—Mark 4-7: Service of the Servant

Observation

It is one thing to make a claim of greatness; it is something else again to back up that claim with credentials. Through both his words (parables) and works (miracles), Christ proclaims his true identity to his disciples and the multitudes, confirming who he is by what he does. At first, even his disciples are perplexed by his power and authority. "Who is this man, that even the winds are perplexed by his power and authority. "Who is this man, that even the winds and seas obey him?" (4:41). But Jesus patiently works with them, in anticipation of the day when their faith will be sparked to believe his claims.

Application

Question: What do a lead foot, "creative" arithmetic, and a pile of paper clips have in common? Answer: They can each be the undoing of a parent's best efforts to teach a child right from wrong. Consider the following:

Scene I: It is Sunday morning. Bobby has just disobeyed his mother. But since the family is late for church already, she saves her tirade until everyone is in the car, traveling 70 miles per hour...

Scene II: It is income tax time. Two sons tangle in a game of Monopoly, and one accuses the other of cheating. The father leaves his paperwork long enough to deliver his finest homily on "Thou shalt not cheat," then returns to the absorbing task of figuring a way to make golf clubs a medical deduction...

Scene III: While at work, a father receives a phone call from the police. His daughter has been picked up for shoplifting, and would he please come immediately? He hangs up the phone, pausing only long enough to grab a box of paper clips that are much needed at home...

Where are your actions drowning out your words? (Ask someone close to you for help on this one!) Remember, your talk will only be as believable as your walk.

Prayer

We draw near to your throne in loving obedience and in awe at your goodness, Father God. We know that we have access to you through our prayer because of our obedience to you but we want to always be able to walk the walk that we proclaim to others in teaching your Word to those with ears to hear. We pray for your guidance in sayings and doings as doers of what is right and just. Loving obedience puts us where we can ask anything in Jesus' name and we have the assurance that it will be done. Thank you for the assurance that if we draw near to you, you will draw near to us. Amen! 

Draw Near to Jesus!



© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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