Mark 7:31-37
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Reflection
The healing of the deaf man who is also unable to speak is precisely the kind of thing that was expected with the coming of God’s promised kingdom (e.g., Isa. 35:5–6). When Jesus heals people such as this deaf man, we tend to view these miracles as unnatural. Yet the promises of the Old Testament talk about God’s kingdom as though it returns the world to the way things were at the very beginning. Miracles are not a disturbance of the natural order but a restoration of the natural order. We are so used to a fallen world that sickness, disease, pain, and death seem natural. In fact, these things are the disturbance. Jesus’ miracles return things to the way they are supposed to be.
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
7: Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Reflection
Believers and unbelievers operate from a different perspective on reality, and Paul calls us to live in a way that reflects the fact that we belong to Jesus. Just as Christ has nothing to do with Satan (2 Cor. 6:15) and light has nothing to do with darkness (v. 14), so the Christian must beware of intimate partnerships with unbelievers. This does not mean that we should avoid relationships with unbelievers, but we should avoid situations that force us to embrace principles or practices that are contrary to Christ.
We don’t do these things in order to gain favor with God, but because God has already given us his favor through the work of Jesus. We are already God’s temple (v. 16), God’s family members (v. 18), and heirs of God’s promises (v. 17). We should live in light of who we really are!
Psalm 141:3-4
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!
Pray that God would protect you from putting yourself in situations that force you to compromise your loyalty to Christ. Stay near to him and he will provide a way to escape from every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).