40 A man with leprosy[a] came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Jesus was indignant.[b] He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Mark 1:40-45 NIV
I can see this story, and many other miracles of Jesus, depicted in fuzzy flannel graph in my mind. I’m not sure if the flannel itself was fuzzy or if my childhood memories, in general, have lost their sharpness in my middle-aged brain. What I do remember is that Jesus’ instructions to this man confused me. Be quiet. Don’t tell anyone, He said. What? How could this man not tell EVERYONE about the most exciting thing that’s happened to him? And furthermore, didn’t Jesus want others to know about Him? The healed man obviously didn’t understand either and chose what HE thought was best – blabbing about the miracle to anyone who would listen. And it hindered the ministry of Jesus. Our Savior didn’t (and still doesn’t) just want people to know ABOUT Him. He wants people to know HIM. The crowds became too interested in the works He could do to listen to His message of love and forgiveness.
In Acts 22, we find the apostle Paul in a similar struggle of good vs. God. After his dramatic and miraculous blinding and conversion, God speaks to him (Did you hear that? He didn’t just have a feeling. GOD SPOKE TO HIM!) and told him to leave Jerusalem to preach to the Gentiles. And yet Paul argued that his own people knew his conversion story and would listen to him. Bringing the Good News of Jesus to the Jews was a noble endeavor, but not what God had for Paul. So like the patient Father He is, he calmly reiterated that Paul was to go.
Not even by taking off my socks and my shoes can I count the number of times I decided to forge ahead into something “good” without waiting for confirmation that it was from God. I get overcommitted by jumping to fill a need that I don’t have time for. And I get over my head when I tackle projects that aren’t in my wheelhouse. More importantly, when I lack the discernment to decipher good deeds from God ordained ministry, I miss what God is inviting me to be a part of and potentially rob someone else of the blessing that was theirs.
What makes sense in my feeble brain is most often not God’s best. Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord.9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
Psalm 127:1 NLT
Now for this week’s featured post
Does Your Fresh Start Need a Fresh Start? by Lois Flowers
Oh how we beat ourselves up over those blasted New Year’s resolutions or the belief that things will be better just because the calendar page turned. I know I’m in this category right now, but Lois offers sweet encouragement for us here.
Visit Waxing Gibbous here to read the post.
Now for this week’s link-up! Let’s bless and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord.
Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement every week. If you’re a blogger, we hope you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader, we hope that you’ll encounter new bloggers that love Jesus as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.
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Maree Dee
Lauren Sparks
Heather Hart & Valerie Riese
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This hit home ! I love that Jesus touched the unclean.
And, I tend to think I’m doing good with “staying in my lane”, but then I get overwhelmed. I finally realize I’m trying to do everything and I’ve overcommitted.
I struggle with saying “yes” to too many things. Trying to get better at that and follow Jesus’ leaning.
Lauren, I remembered that my pastor spoke about God and Paul in a few months ago. I never forgot some amazing verses. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you, Joyce.
Lauren, I’m happy to see that you’ve joined Grace & Truth as a hostess. And what fun to see the link to my post today … thank you! it continues to be two steps forward, three steps back for me this year, so you are definitely not alone in maybe feeling disgruntled about the new year. 🙂
So pleased to be a part of the team and get to feature your contribution this week!
I love how you share your passions and such great messages, Lauren. Thanks so much for sharing and linking up with me.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Thanks, Shelbee. I keep linking up because I love our online friendship and encouragement.
Lauren, I have done the same thing so many times. As you said, choosing what seemed good to me and not waiting on the Lord. I think I’m better about it than I used to be (after 37 years as a believer, I’m a slow learner) but sometimes I feel like the growth is minuscule. LOL Thanks for hosting. Have a blessed week.
Sometimes this disciple life feels like one step forward and two steps back, and sometimes it’s the other way around!
I think we’ve all done that Lauren, jumping into the “good” that looked so right when it wasn’t God’s best for us! But hopefully we learn wisdom along the way 😀
Bless you,
Jennifer
I wish I learned more quickly sometimes Jennifer. Thanks for weighing in.
I always wonder about why Jesus says don’t tell anyone as well. Yes, we need to know Him. Thanks for the reminder to check in with Him first before we start our own plans.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks for joining the convo Katherine!
Wow! I love this insight, Lauren! It gives me plenty to chew on! 🙂 Praying for God’s wisdom to discern His path for my life choices.
I’m so glad you found it helpful, Carlie. And that you stopped by!
I miss flannel graph! What a wonderful childhood memory. I have often said that good is the enemy of great. Sometimes, we have to say no to the good things or let go of the good things, so that the better, the greater, the God things can take their place. Let’s look today for the God things—they will be so much better than all the good things we can imagine! Thanks for these excellent reminders, Lauren!
Tweeted & pinned.
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Good is the enemy of great. That’s is a good (or great) reminder. And thanks for sharing, Patsy. I really appreciate it.
Wow! What a wonderful distinction, Lauren. The difference between knowing ABOUT Jesus and knowing HIM means everything. Thank you for making me see this story in a brand new light.
Thanks, Laurie.
I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve forged ahead or thought I knew what was best rather than waiting on God. But as the years go by I’m learning more and more that His way is best and His timing is perfect. Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at #TellHisStory.
Same here, Gayl. Writing that post was a reminder to myself.
Lauren, I love this post. It always seemed strange to me that Christ instructed people not to share the healing they’d received, you make such a good point. “Our Savior didn’t (and still doesn’t) just want people to know ABOUT Him. He wants people to know HIM. The crowds became too interested in the works He could do to listen to His message of love and forgiveness.” What a beautiful perspective!
Peace and grace, Tammy
Thanks so much Tammy. That means a lot coming from you!
Not even by taking off my socks and my shoes can I count the number of times I decided to forge ahead into something “good” without waiting for confirmation that it was from God. I get overcommitted by jumping to fill a need that I don’t have time for. And I get over my head when I tackle projects that aren’t in my wheelhouse.
I have lived in this place since I started blogging. I’m listening to Him now and making changes and it feels like I’m getting out of jail! God gives us such freedom when we seek His will and walk in it!
I hear you, Valerie. So glad you are making some progress in making less progress!
Another great post as always! Thanks so much for linking up with me. I have just returned from a 10 day blogging break and I am playing catch up!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Welcome back!