Reflection of the Day
"And a leper came to Him, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying to Him, 'If You are willing, You can make me clean.' And moved with compassion, He stretched out His hand, and touched him, and said to him, 'I am willing; be cleansed.' And immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, 'See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.' But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news about, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere."
Mark 1:40-45 (NASB)
There is a difference between doing what seems good for God to glorify Him and doing what God says. Undoubtedly, the leper, filled with joy at his miraculous healing when forth with great excitement to preach this good news. Yet, while doing this good, he disobeyed Jesus' command to: 1) say nothing to anyone; and 2) show himself to the priest and fulfill the Mosaic law as a testimony to them. As a result, Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city but had to stay out in unpopulated areas.
While much can be unpacked from this short passage, the main thing I want to highlight is that if God has commanded you to do something. Go do it to the letter, neither adding or taking away from God's command (if He has given the specifics). For failure to obey, even if from pure motives, i.e. to bring glory to God, to expand the Kingdom, etc., could result in something very contrary with you as the stumbling block to God's purpose and plan. In this passage, that of Jesus being forced out of the city because of the (former) leper's disobedience, in spite (and because) of his gratitude-and joy-filled sharing of the good news.
Has God commanded you to do something? Don't disobey to do something else which seems good in glorifying God and expanding His Kingdom. There is no substitute for obedience, regardless of motive.
While much can be unpacked from this short passage, the main thing I want to highlight is that if God has commanded you to do something. Go do it to the letter, neither adding or taking away from God's command (if He has given the specifics). For failure to obey, even if from pure motives, i.e. to bring glory to God, to expand the Kingdom, etc., could result in something very contrary with you as the stumbling block to God's purpose and plan. In this passage, that of Jesus being forced out of the city because of the (former) leper's disobedience, in spite (and because) of his gratitude-and joy-filled sharing of the good news.
Has God commanded you to do something? Don't disobey to do something else which seems good in glorifying God and expanding His Kingdom. There is no substitute for obedience, regardless of motive.
posted by desmond at 5:46 PM
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