More from the coffee pot

They Have Got to Go!

Mar 5:35-42 NIV

 ³⁵ While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

 ³⁶ Overhearing^[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

 ³⁷ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹ He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” ⁴⁰ But they laughed at him.

   After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). ⁴² Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

        In this Scripture, Jesus turns out a funeral. In those days, there were paid mourners. Yep, people were paid to cry and make noise. There were others that came just to be part of the scene. You know the old crowd mentality. These people had to go. Jesus allowed only the immediate family and His closest disciples into the house for the miracle. He put the others out.

        There are people today in the world mourning us and our children. Let’s start with those that get paid to go on T.V. and say how bad things are for us. They are called experts.  Then there are those that don’t really know us, but are willing and eager to join the chorus of opinion- giving. We have to put the negative voices out of our lives. Who should we be listening to? The God who made us and knows us, or broken people that don’t know as much as we do? Whose report will we believe?

An Afterthought: I recently cut off my relaxed hair after letting the virgin hair grow for a while. I was amazed at how a little extra care brought nice results. I don't know why I waited so long to walk away form the court of public opinion. So now I wear my hair natural, leave my son in comfortable clothes on Sunday for church, and refuse to spend money on pantyhose. My now 13-year-old is a scholar and musician, not an athlete, while the tallest kid in 7th grade. I say stick to you guns, man! Don't let other people's ideas mold you or define you. Psalms say that God fashions each heart individually, and He considers all their works (Psalm 33:15)