Going through Mark 7:31-37—

And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; and were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

—the phrase “He hath done all things well” struck me and got me thinking what did this mean? Different translations of the same text rendered the phrase as ‘awesome, excellently, commendably and nobly’; and yet out of public glare, seeking anonymity! Not popularity. As I pondered the entire event my exclamation was: what a God! when I came face to face with the meaning of John 5:41-44 (AMPC).

I receive not glory from men [I crave no human honor, I look for no mortal fame], But I know you and recognize and understand that you have not the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me [your hearts are not open to Me, you give Me no welcome]; but if another comes in his own name and his own power and with no other authority but himself, you will receive him and give him your approval. How is it possible for you to believe [how can you learn to believe], you who [are content to seek and] receive praise and honor and glory from one another, and yet do not seek the praise and honor and glory which come from Him Who alone is God? John 5:41-44 (AMPC)

And therein also is the frailty of many a gifted man or so-called gifted men in the service of God or ministry today! We are the exact opposite of how Jesus walked here!

Behold, the path of the perfect man:

• Was isolated John 1:11, and as prophesied by Isaiah 53:3;
• His disciples faltered sleeping in the:
  • hour of the revelation of His glory (Luke 9:32)
  • Garden of Gethsemane in the presence of His agony (Matthew 26:36-46).

**And all of this for purpose and for cause yet He met all these with grace, patience and tenderness. He answered their questions; He corrected their notions; He hushed their fears; He solved their difficulties; He met their needs; He made allowance for their infirmities; He gave them credit for devotedness in the moment of desertion; He looked at them through His own loving eyes and loved them, notwithstanding all: “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

Let us seek to drink in our blessed Master’s spirit and walk in His footsteps. Then our isolation will be of the right kind, and through the path may be narrow, the heart will be large. **Adapted from Isolation: False or True by C. H. Mackintosh

Yet I must be like Him, conformed to His image. Can I? Can we be like Him? Selah

Pastor Afolabi Oladele