In Mark 1:40-45, we read about a man who was healed from leprosy by Jesus. With compassion, Jesus reached out, touched him, and made him clean. But then came the command: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing.”
The man, overwhelmed with joy, “went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news.” Can you blame him? He had been an outcast, but now he was restored. But here’s the sobering truth: his disobedience carried consequences. Mark notes, “As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.”
Think about it. The excitement of one healed man may have hindered countless others from experiencing the touch of Christ. Our decisions matter. What Jesus says matters. Even when His instructions don’t make sense to us in the moment, obedience is an act of trust that ripples far beyond our own lives.
How many times do we rationalize our own disobedience? “It won’t hurt anyone.” “Surely God will understand.” Yet one choice can alter the path of blessing for us—and for others.
The challenge for us is simple but sobering: Will we trust His Word enough to obey, even when it doesn’t align with our emotions, excitement, or reasoning? Eternal impact often hinges on our willingness to say, “Yes, Lord.”
And that’s the mid-week memo.
