Verse of the Day 2/3

Through the Bible - Isaiah 32-33, Mark 8   

 

Good morning,

Are you thankful for speech, having the ability to speak?  It is something that most of us take for granted.  Some of us may know people who because of an accident or illness such as a stroke, can no longer speak.  What would it mean to you if you could not verbally share your needs, desires, and the feelings on your heart?  What would it mean to you to have this restored?

 

The New Testament reading plan allows you to read at a pace (usually 20 to 25 verses a day) that should allow you to take some time and try to put yourself into the situation.  Doing so may reveal so much more to you than simply reading for the sake of reading.  Try to put yourself in the "shoes" of the man in Mark 7 who had been deaf and couldn't speak.

 

Mark 7:33 Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man's ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man's tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, "Ephphatha," which means, "Be opened!" 35 Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!   NLT

 

I've mentioned many times before that our son Jeff suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an accident.  We were told that he would never walk or talk again.  For two years he didn't, couldn't speak, then one day he said his first words.  What a joy it was to hear those first few words.  What a joy it is to hear him say "hope is my favorite thing to have" or "thank you for this wonderful life".  His words may be slurred at times and slow to come out.  He may never be a great orator or debater, but though they be few, they speak of joy, hope, and praise to God for those who truly hear him.

 

I woke up this morning with the words and music of Charles Wesley in my mind.

 

O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing

 

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

 

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

 

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears,
'Tis life, and health, and peace.

 

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

 

He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

 

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

"Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak."  NLT (Mark 7:37)

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Mark 7:31-8:1

 

Jesus Heals a Deaf-Mute
(Matt 15:29-31)

 

31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."

 

35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.  37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."   NKJV