1 Kings 11:29-32, 12:19; Mark 7: 31-37
As God promised, Solomon’s kingdom would be divided. To his son Jeroboam, “Solomon gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph.” After slavery in Egypt, now Israel is enslaved by their own king. God cries out in the psalm: “Oh, that my people would listen to me!” Evidently the Syro-Phoenician woman opened Jesus, because instead of crossing Galilee en route to the Sea of Galilee, he traveled through the Decapolis, a area of ten Greek cities. There he healed a deaf man with a speech impediment and the people, pagans no doubt, were astounded and said, “He has done everything well.”
Paul writes: “For freedom Christ has set you free. Let nothing enslave you again” (Gal 5.1). First ask the Spirit to show you any area of unfreedom in your life. Hear God cry to you, “Oh, _______, if only you would listen to me!” How will you respond? Finally, tell Jesus in specific detail some of the things he has done so well in your life.
We pray for all those in slavery today: women and children who are trafficked, those caught in any kind of addiction, those used by their bosses. Set us free, make us one.