F O O T H O L D
READING
7 CONSTANT CARING
PRAY Thank you, Lord God,
for your constant love, Help me to learn more
about it today.
READ Mark 1:2945.
THINK How did Jesus manage
to maintain an exhausting program of caring
and sharing (35)?
FOCUS IN A HOME (2931).
From the excitement and bustle of the synagogue
Jesus is able to retreat to
the quiet of a humble home. But he
didn't rest until he had met
the need that was there.
IN THE STREET (3234).
Sunset marked the end of the Jewish
Sabbath, and so the Jews
then felt free to bring needy people to
Jesus. Picture the scene. As
stars began to appear in the sky
crowds gathered at the door.
The crowds were great, but not
greater than the compassion
of Jesus and his power to heal them.
ON THE MOVE (3945). In
those days there was no known cure for
leprosy and the victims had
to be completely isolated from their
family and friends. It was a nohope situation
until Jesus came
along. He 'stretched out his
hand and touched him' (41). Jesus
could have healed without
touching, but it was an act of
compassion. Noone ever
touched lepers.
WITH HIS FATHER (3537). If
anyone had an excuse for a 'layin'
after a tiring day, it was
Jesus. (Check again his day's program,
beginning at chapter 1:21).
Time for prayer is not an extra, a
luxury, or a 'special'; it
should be part of the routine of life,
even at the busiest time.
Compare the amount of time
you spend praying with the amount
watching TV, on hobbies,
with friends. Are there any practical
things you could do to make
more time for prayer?
PRAY Lord, show me someone
today to whom I can show that extra 'touch'
of compassion that means so
much.
