Sabbath, July 12, 2008
Mark 7:31-37
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 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. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (ESV)
by Leota Stevens
How blessed we are that the Creator of the ends of the earth considers us as part of his family. All who do the will of God have this distinct privilege. When I consider the complexity of individuals that make up my biological family, I cannot help observing that everyone I know has at least an odd apple or two attached to their family tree. Our spiritual family has similarity in that particular area. True believers come in an assortment of sizes, shapes, colors and opinions. As each variety is filled with the Spirit of Christ, dimension is added to the church. We are members of the same family, and as the old saying goes, “The family that prays together, stays together!”
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
dbm