WILD THINGS

He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Mark 1:13 (NAS)

 
Recently, while studying the gospel of Mark, part of verse thirteen lit up as never before—and He was with the wild beasts.

Why had I never noticed that? The gospel of Mark is succinct, and yet He used six words to tell us there were wild animals alongside Jesus in the wilderness. A fact omitted by the other gospels. Why?

My curiosity piqued. Upon researching, I found many people posed the same question. However, none of their ideas satisfied me.

Praying, I asked God what He wanted me to see. Since the Bible is the living word of God, it began to speak to my spirit.

In the Garden of Eden animal and man lived in harmony. After the fall, peace was shattered—animals became wild. Jesus was in the desert as man and yet, the animals did Him no harm.

All creation recognized His authority—everything except man, who He came to save.

Jesus changes everything for all time. This was the prelude to a new beginning. When Jesus returns, the lion and the lamb will lie down together. Perhaps the wild beasts recognized that Jesus was The Lamb, to be offered for our sins.

I pondered how Jesus changed my wild heart into a tame heart that seeks Him. He changed my selfish desire into caring desire for others to know Him as well.

Indeed, Jesus changed everything and He continues today.

I encourage you to invite Jesus to change the “untamed” part of you. You will never be the same. You will be better!

 Thank You Jesus, for your changing power. Amen.

 © 2019 Bonnie Mae Evans

BIG 'H' VERSUS LITTLE "h"

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NAS)

Many times I watched my grandmother iron clothes. She vigorously shook her silver, sprinkler-topped Coke bottle over each piece of clothing dampening it before pressing out the wrinkles.

Decades later, ironing my family’s clothes, I think of her while using my new-fangled iron with steamer and sprayer ready at the push of a button.

One day however, while ironing, the wrinkles were especially stubborn in a pair of khakis. I pressed harder and kept spraying the steam to no avail. I checked the tag to see what kind of fabric blend could be so difficult. That’s when I noticed the plug had slipped out of the socket. My iron was no longer connected to the power.

It caused me to wonder how many times I worry over a problem that appears to be insurmountable. The world has many suggestions to help. When they all fail, exasperated and weary, I realize I’ve been attempting to solve the problem without my power source. The Bible says it is “within me” and what’s more, it is greater than that of the world. HE, the Holy Spirit, is closer than my skin. He lives inside believers. When we pray, God is the power, not us. Prayer is the cord that makes the connection.

Do you have situations that are wearing you out and feel impossible? Take heart, my friend, you have what is needed. Take the authority that is your God-given gift and use it. In God’s time, He—Big “H”, will overcome the little “h” of the world.

Thank You, for being greater than the world!

© 2018 Bonnie Mae Evans