New Testament: Mark 7.34

To read the Bible in a year, read Mark 7.14–37 on February 28, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

Why did Jesus come to earth? It would not surprise me if over 90% of people answered that he came to save us from our sins. If you answered in that manner, you would be correct. 

However, people often only see him as a way to bless them physically, financially, and other things that are tied to this world. Therefore, when people brought a deaf and mute man to him, look what Mark said Jesus did: 

Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

– Mark 7.34 

Why did Jesus sigh? Did he not also come to heal people? Yes, he did, but not for that reason alone, and it was not his primary purpose. 

He wants us to see that, yes, he can bless our bodies and our lives in this life, but he wants that insight to lead us to see that he truly helps us in the spirit. He is all about the spirit. 

The flesh will age, slowly breaking down until it dies. Therefore, prayers for the body will eventually go unanswered or will receive an answer of no, but prayers for the spirit God will always bless because, although we age in the body, we can grow endlessly in the spirit. 

Let us learn that lesson so that the Lord will not sigh when we pray to him only about our bodies. 

Questions: 

• Do you pray more for the flesh or for the spirit? 
• What is your greatest spiritual need? 

To subscribe go to EmailDevotionals.com and click “Follow”