Refusal to go deeper


Mark 3:5

After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts, He told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Jesus is showing the Jewish leaders the depth of the Law and they only want to stay on the surface. He is pulling them deeper and they refuse to go claiming, through their silence, they already know everything about the Law and don't need Jesus to lecture them. They believe that they already have probed the deepest depths of the Law but in reality have barely scratched the surface (c.f. Mat 12:1-14). So Jesus becomes angry and sad at the same time. He is angry that they refuse to go deeper with Him and sad that they are missing great blessings in becoming intimate with GOD.

Often I have been the one refusing to go deeper not realizing that GOD is calling me deeper. I arrogantly act as though I already know everything and therefore don't need any of this "nonsense" that is illogical to me. What I must learn to do is to surrender to Him in everything so that I will stop egotistically thinking I know it all and relying upon myself for understanding. GOD gave me my heart and my brain so who better to guide them through a study of His Word than the Author and Creator Himself? It also means that I must be patient with those who are going through the same struggle.

LORD GOD of patience there is no other beside You. You are glorious in every way. Please forgive my great arrogance when I act as though I know better than You about Your Word. Please have mercy on me and forgive me. Please teach me how to humble myself before You. Teach me how to hear Your voice instead of listening to my own. Show me how to help those who are having the same struggle. I cannot learn this without You. I surrender to You. Have Your way with me. Please shape my heart, my mind, my life into the image You have in Your will. All glory be Yours forever in the name of Jesus amen.


Created 5 months ago