OUR DAILY BREAD : JESUS' EYES

[cimi]

March 15
Friday


JESUS' EYES

READ:
Mark 5:1-20
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[Jesus] was moved with
compassion for them,
because they were
weary and scattered,
like sheep having no
shepherd.
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We were in line at the ice cream store when I noticed him. His face bore the marks of too many fights__a crooked nose and some scars. His clothes were rumpled, though clean. I stepped between him and my children, using my back to erect a wall.

The first time he spoke, I didn't hear him clearly and so just nodded to acknowledge him. I scarcely mad eye contact with him. Because my wife wasn't with me, he thought I was a single parent and gently said, "It's hard raising them alone, isn't it?" Something in his tone made me turn to look at him. Only then did I notice his children, and I listened to him tell me how long his wife had been gone. His soft words contrasted with his hard exterior.

I was duly chastened! Once again I had failed to see beyond outward appearances. Jesus encountered poeple whose outward appearance could ha e turned Him away, including the demon-possessed man in our reading for today (Mark 5:1-20). Yet He saw the heart-needs and met them.

Jesus never fails to see us with love, even though we have scars of sin and a rumpled nature that shows in our stutter-step faithfulness. May God help us to replace our haughtiness with Jesus' heart of love. __Randy Kilgore

````````Father, may the focus of our lives never disrupt`````````
```````our ability to see others with the same eyes that`````````
```````````Jesus sees them. Grant us Your heart.`````````````
``````````May we yearn to introduce others to You.````````````
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If you look through the eyes of Jesus,
you'll see a needy world.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Mark 5:1-20*****************

1 Then they came to the
other side of the sea, to the
country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when He had come
out of the boat, immediately
there met Him out of the
tombs a man with an
unclean spirit....

6 When he saw Jesus from
afar, he ran and worshiped
Him. 7 And he cried out with
a loud voice and siad, "What
have I to do with You, Jesus,
Son of the Most High God?
I implore You by God that
You do not torment me."

8 for He said to him,
"Come out of the man,
unclean spirit!" 9 Then He
asked him, "What is your
name?" And he answered,
saying, "My name is
Legion; for we are many."

10 Also he begged Him
earnestly that He would not
send them out of the
country.

11 Now a large herd of
swine was feeding there
near the mountains. 12 So all
the demons begged Him,
saying, "Send us to the
swine, that we may enter
them." 13 And at once Jesus
gave them permission. Then
the unclean spirits went out
and entered the swine...
and drowned in the sea.

14 So those who fed the
swine fled, and they told it
in the city and in the
country.... 15 Then they
came to Jesus, and saw the
one who had been demon-
possessed and had the
legion, sitting and clothed
and in his right mind. And
they were afraid....

18 However, Jesus did
not permit him, but said to
him, "Go home to your
friends, and tell them what
great things the Lord has
done for you, and how He
has had compassion on
you." 20 And he departed and
began to proclaim in
Decapolis all that Jesus had
done for hm; and all
marveled.