Don't Be Misled

Mark 8 vs 14-26

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

An african adage says " It is what is inside a person that wine exposes when he is drunk. Often times, you get to see people misbehaving when they are drunk and you are shocked and keep asking yourself if such a person can really act like that because of the things he is saying.

The disciples minds were preoccupied with the miracle of the bread and fish. They therefore totally missed the real meaning of Jesus warning.

How often does your concern for what to eat or wear cause us to miss God's visitation? Read in your spare time about the 8 or 9 questions in Verse 17-21 of the opening passage. Try and answer each of them in your present situation. For the true meaning of "Yeast of the Pharisees, See Mathew 16 vs 12.

In the healing miracle recorded in today's reading, the healing of the blind man was not instantaneous. Does this teach us anything? Why did Jesus choose a gradual process for this healing? Perhaps this is recorded to make us realise that all healings need not take place instantly.Do you acknowledge what the Lord is doing in other peoples lives?

Notice the role played by some people in the blind man's life (vs 22). Even if you have nothing to give, you can pray for God's intervention in the situation of those in need.

Yeast influences silently but surely. Identify the sources of some influences in today's world. COnsider for instance the role of internet and the media. How best can we handle the negative pressures from these influences?.

Prayer

Therefore, you need to pray and confess that like the disciple, that you lack spiritual discernment. May your Holy spirit endow me with wisdom and understanding.

Thanks for reading

OS