Thought for July 16, 2024

  •  622: Muhammad begins flight from Mecca to Medina
  • 1054: Great Schism between Eastern and Western churches begins with excommunication of the Patriarch of Constantinople by the Roman Cardinal
  • 1429: Joan of Arc and her army enter Rheims
  • 1439: Kissing banned in England--to stop the Black Death from spreading
  • 1519: In a debate, Martin Luther denies the divine right of the Pope
  • 1756: John Adams graduates from Harvard
  • 1790: Washington declared permanent capital of the US
  • 1945: First detonation of atomic bomb at Trinity Site
  • 1951: "Catcher in the Rye" published
  • 1969: Apollo 11 launched to the moon
  • 1979: Saddam Hussein becomes president of Iraq
  • 2017: Roger Federer wins his 8th Wimbledon title
  • Born: Mary Baker Eddy, Roald Amundsen, Orville Redenbacher, Ginger Rogers, Michael Flatley, Will Ferrell, Margaret Smith Court, Jimmy Johnson, 
  • Died: Anne of Cleves, Mary Todd Lincoln, John F Kennedy Jr.
Thought:
Still thinking about Mark 1:21-28. Yesterday I was thinking about the authority and power of Jesus and His teaching. But there is one other thing that jumps out at me from the story in this passage. The people were amazed that unclean spirits obeyed Jesus, but they paid no attention to what the unclean spirits said. The unclean spirits said, "I know who you are---the Holy One of God!"  This is amazing. Jesus goes to the synagogue. He teaches amazingly from the scripture [I would love to know what He taught]. Then He overpowers the unclean spirits. What the people focus on is the spirits coming out of the man, not that Jesus is the Holy One of God. Do I find myself doing the same thing. I pray for Jesus to do something for me, not something in me. I pray for Jesus to change the circumstances around me, but not to change me. I want Him to use His power, but don't worship him as the Holy One. 

Notice what Jesus said--Be quiet and come out. No long speech, no lofty words--just shut up and come out. Just like He spoke to the stormy sea--hush, be still. I have said before that the Lord gives us no complicated instructions or commands. He doesn't give a long set of instructions like those we get telling us how to program our remote or put together a swing set. He speaks directly and clearly. Very concise. Even the father in the movie "A River Runs Through It" would not tell Jesus to do it again but shorter. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. Go and make disciples. My problem is not understanding the instructions, it is obedience. Lord, help me do things Your way.

Blessings
Larry

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