Today’s Devotion
Topic: Ephphatha!
Text: Mark 7: 31- 35

31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.

33 After He took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he begun to speak plainly. Amen

Anytime we hear the above passage in a sermon, we nod our heads in confirmation. For we know that Jesus is undeniably the greatest healer and miracle worker of all time. It is not surprising anymore that He healed anyone. As a matter of fact, if we knew anyone deaf or blind, we would gladly recommend Jesus. One touch of His hand will just set them free.

That is very true! But what we mostly miss out day in and day out is how deaf and blind we ourselves are, needing that same Jesus touch for our healing.

Many of us have known the Lord several years but are spiritually very deaf and blind. We can’t make any “spiritual or practical sense” of the Bible when we read. We easily doze off during each sermon. The little we hear of the sermon is not comprehensible to us so we neither live by it nor share with others.

Do not feel sad that you find yourself in this category. Several others do too. As a matter of fact, the disciples of Jesus walked, talked, lived and ate with Him. Yet some of them were still very deaf and blind spiritually. To them He once rebuked saying, “Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?” (Mark 8: 17b- 18).

The questions Jesus asked them suggest how unacceptable it is for us to remain that way. Rise up and enter into prayer. Today is Sunday. The sermon must not fall on deaf ears any more. Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding into spiritual things. Tell Him of how you want to see Him highly lifted up and exalted. Tell Him how much you hate to be totally dead to His voice and Word.

Pray fervently until you can hear within your spirit “EPHPHATHA!” Then you will know that your eyes are opened and your tongue loosened to begin to speak plainly the word of truth to those who are lost.

See you at church as the Shepherds of God lead us to pray. Shouting “EPHPHATHA” to every closed door, opportunity or blessing in our lives. We will not return the same in the name of Jesus! Kindly click, watch and be blessed: https://youtu.be/CcwZsbcyi8s

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