Reflection: The Heart of the Matter

Good morning! This powerful passage—Mark 7:1–13 is indeed rich with deep insight on the difference between outward tradition and inward transformation. Here’s a reflection and practical counsel drawn from it: Scripture Focus: Mark 7:1–13 (Summary) In this passage, the Pharisees and scribes question Jesus because His disciples ate without following traditional ceremonial handwashing. Jesus responds sharply, quoting Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:6-7, ESV) He exposes how they nullify the Word of God with their traditions, using the example of “Corban”—a loophole they created to avoid caring for parents under the guise of religious devotion. Reflection: The Heart of the Matter Jesus wasn’t condemning tradition in itself—but He was calling out the hypocrisy of upholding human traditions while disobeying God's commands. He shifts the focus: From hands to heart From ritual to righteousness From appearance to obedience True purity starts in the heart, not in mere habits. Counsel for Practical Living Today 1. Examine Your Heart, Not Just Habits Ask yourself daily: “Why am I doing what I do?” Is it just for appearance, or out of love and obedience to God? “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) 2. Beware of Empty Religion Don’t let church routines or spiritual talk replace a real relationship with God. Are you honoring Him with your life or just your lips? “He has told you, O man, what is good… to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) 3. Let God's Word Judge Your Traditions Test every practice by the Word. Good traditions are helpful—but never above God’s commands. If a tradition stops you from doing God’s will, it must be laid down. “All Scripture is God-breathed… so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17) 4. Serve with Substance, Not Just Symbolism Just like Jesus challenged them over neglecting parents for the sake of “Corban,” we too must be sure we’re not hiding behind religion to avoid real-life obedience. “Religion that is pure and undefiled… is to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27) Today’s Challenge Let us live in such a way that our inner devotion matches our outer expressions. Let no tradition, habit, or routine ever replace a sincere and surrendered heart. Prayer: “Lord, cleanse me not only outwardly, but deeply—make my heart pure, my motives true, and my worship real. Let Your Word be my standard, and not man’s approval. Amen.” #Mark7Reflection #JesusOnTradition #HeartOverHabit #PureWorship #ObedienceNotReligion #ChristianLiving #BibleDevotion #FaithOverTradition #DailyBibleReflection #JesusWords #TruthOverTradition #ChristianHeartCheck #WalkingWithGod #WordOfGodFirst #SpiritualGrowth #AuthenticFaith #KingdomLiving

Sixty Years Trudging...My Journey With Poliomyelitis and Faith

#PolioSurvivor #FaithInGod #GodsPlan #OvercomingAdversity #HopeInChrist #LifeTestimony #ChristianEncouragement #DisabilityAndFaith #StrengthThroughScars #PurposeInPain #GodIsFaithful #InspirationalStory #EnduringFaith #HealingJourney #TrustGodsTiming I walked for the first two years of my life—running, playing, full of energy. My mom used to say I was hyperactive, always moving, always curious. She often joked—half-serious—that perhaps some people had cast a spell on me because I was known to beat up my playmates. A wild little fire, she called me. Then polio struck. In a moment, the direction of my life changed. What was once freedom of movement became a lifelong limitation. Sixty years on, the scars remain—not just on my body, but on my journey, my pursuits, my dreams. Many things I once reached for are still works in progress. Some, I had to release altogether. And yet, here I am. Still standing. Still believing. Still hoping. There are days I wrestle with questions: What are you up to with me, Lord? Why this path? But in the stillness, I come back to this truth: God makes no mistakes. His plans are not only faultless—they are infused with purpose I may not always understand, but I can still trust. Even in my brokenness, God has been faithful. Even when I’ve struggled to complete what I started, He’s been completing something greater in me. I believe that my life is not a detour, but a testimony. Every scar, every delay, every limitation has been woven into a bigger story—a story of grace, endurance, and divine purpose. I am not forgotten. I am not disqualified. I am chosen—by a God who works all things together for good. My journey may look different, but it is not lesser. And though many things remain unfinished, I am being perfected. Day by day. Season by season. Because in the hands of the One who sees the end from the beginning, nothing is wasted.

The Demoniac of Mark 5: Thoughts Arising

This is a deep and thoughtful question—and one that many sincere Christians have wrestled with. Let's unpack it carefully: The Passage – Mark 5:1–20 (also in Matthew 8:28–34 and Luke 8:26–39) In this story: Jesus meets a man possessed by a "Legion" of demons. The demons beg not to be sent "out of the region" or into the abyss (Luke’s account). They request to enter a herd of pigs. Jesus permits them. The pigs immediately rush down a steep bank and drown. The herdsmen flee and report it. Now to your questions: 1. Why did the demons ask to go into the pigs? The demons didn’t want to be disembodied or banished from the area (possibly into the abyss—see Luke 8:31). They preferred some form of embodiment or physical habitation. Possibilities: Avoidance of judgment: Some interpret that they were trying to avoid being sent to the abyss prematurely (cf. Revelation 20:1–3). Strategic move: By entering the pigs and destroying them, they might have hoped to cause fear or resentment in the local people toward Jesus (which worked—they begged Him to leave). Demonstrating their destructive nature: Their true character was exposed—whatever they enter, they destroy. Even animals. 2. Did Jesus know what would happen? Yes, absolutely. Jesus, filled with divine knowledge and discernment, would have known the outcome. So why permit it? Possible reasons: To show the true nature of evil: The demons claimed they had power, but their work is always destructive. Jesus allowed the physical demonstration of this. The man’s soul was more valuable: This man, previously isolated and tormented, was now completely free, clothed, and in his right mind. A whole person restored is of greater eternal value than livestock. To confront the local culture: The pigs may have represented an economic system that prioritized profit over holiness or people. Some scholars believe the pig farming may have been unlawful for Jews, or served Gentile markets in the Decapolis region. To test the people's hearts: Instead of rejoicing at the man’s healing, the people cared more about the pigs. This reveals their misplaced priorities. 3. Was the swine herders' business unjustly ruined? On the surface, it seems so. But we are not told the entire spiritual context: Jesus did not directly destroy the pigs; He permitted the demons to go into them. The demons caused the destruction, revealing their malice—not Jesus’. The incident may have been a judgment or exposure of a spiritually compromised economic practice. No mention is made of compensation, but it’s possible this story is not about economic justice but spiritual priorities. 4. Couldn’t Jesus have cast out the demons without all this? Certainly. But Jesus often used miracles to teach lessons and expose hearts. Here, He: Delivered a man no one could tame. Exposed the destructive intent of demons. Confronted a community’s value system. Gave the formerly possessed man a mission to testify about God’s mercy. Final Thought: Jesus valued one tormented soul more than a large herd of pigs, and that lesson echoes through the ages. This event wasn’t unjust—it was a deeply layered act of justice, mercy, and revelation, although it came at an earthly economic cost. If you're still feeling uneasy about the fairness of it, you're not alone. This story challenges us to consider how God's priorities differ from ours—and how deliverance often disrupts systems that seem normal but are spiritually broken. We shall next explore how this story connects to modern applications or personal faith questions.

When Church Leaders Disagree: Lessons from Paul and Apollos (1 Corinthians 16:12, RSV)

"As for our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brethren, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity." This short verse may seem like a simple travel update—but read closely, it gives us a window into real-life tension between two respected leaders in the early church: Paul and Apollos. Paul says he strongly urged Apollos to visit the Corinthian church, but Apollos refused to go at that time. The wording in the RSV translation sounds sharp—almost like Paul is a bit offended or surprised. It seems Apollos had his own reasons, and Paul didn’t override them. What does this teach us? 1. Even Spiritual Leaders See Things Differently Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, felt it was important for Apollos to go. Apollos, a powerful teacher and encourager (Acts 18:24–28), didn’t feel the timing was right. Both men were led by the same Spirit, yet had different senses of timing and direction. This happens more often than we admit—even today. 2. Paul Didn’t Force or Manipulate Though he “strongly urged,” Paul respected Apollos’ decision. No guilt-tripping. No spiritual superiority. Just honesty. That’s maturity. Real Christian leadership isn’t about control—it’s about trust, humility, and cooperation. 3. God Uses Differences for Growth Remember, the Corinthian church had a tendency to pick favorites—“I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos” (1 Cor 1:12). Paul might be clarifying that he and Apollos weren’t enemies—they just had different assignments at different times. Even differences, handled with grace, can model unity for the wider body. 4. Scripture Doesn’t Hide Tension The Bible doesn’t try to “protect” its heroes from looking human. It tells the truth. Paul’s letters reveal not just divine wisdom, but real emotion, real conflict, and real growth. That honesty gives us hope—we don’t have to be perfect to be used by God. We just have to be faithful. Reflection: Have you ever misunderstood a fellow believer because of timing, direction, or personality? What if your differences were actually opportunities to grow in humility and love? May we learn from Paul and Apollos: Disagreement is not disunity. Maturity is when we honor one another, even when we don’t always agree. #UnityInChrist #ChristianLeadership #PaulAndApollos #GraceInDisagreement #ChurchGrowth #1Corinthians16 #SpiritualMaturity