Then they went into Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, he was teaching them as one having authority. Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, “What do You have to do with us, Jesus-Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit convulsed him, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so they began to argue with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee. Mark 1:21-27
My words…
Praise
Praise be to the Holy One of God whose presence ensures that unclean spirits have a really bad day. They are not powerful enough to withstand Your authority. They wish they could, but when You give them an order, they must obey. And they often do so kicking and screaming. The scribes and teachers of the law did not see through their own piety and recognize the Son of God standing in their midst. The demons saw clearly through their own wickedness and recognized You as the only One they would be forced to obey. They disobeyed a direct order from their master and obeyed You instead. They know the fullness of Your power better than I. Here is where I can take a lesson from an unclean spirit: Obey the Holy One of God!
Prayer for me
Obedience happens for a reason. I have spent nearly a lifetime obeying: You, parents, bosses, rules and regulations. I obey because there is a reward attached, and I focus on the reward. When I obey You, there is a reward attached, and I most definitely focus on that everlasting reward of life with You in a place without sadness and pain. But when I obey You, I am drawn to the truth that You are pleased. Especially when I do it with a full heart, not kicking and screaming. The more fully I obey, the broader Your smile. Therein lies my reward.
Forgive me
Disobedience happens for a reason. I have spent nearly a lifetime disobeying: You, parents, bosses, rules and regulations. I disobey because I lose sight of the reward. I plant my wants and needs in front of my own face and do what I please. I don’t think about the impact on anyone else. It’s called pride. When I disobey You, I am drawn to the truth that You are displeased. Therein lies my confession and request for forgiveness.
More praise
What reason could I possibly give for not obeying You when the wind and waves obeyed Your voice, when the sun and moon obeyed and held their places in the sky during Joshua’s battle with the Amorites, when the Red Sea split in obedience for Moses? The seas and the sun obey You gladly; they do so in submission to their Master. How much more should I obey You – the Master of my life, the One who has proven His love for me? How much more?
