Trying to Help, but sometimes Hindering

Jesus Cleanses a Leper
Mark 1:40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.


My 6 year old daughter Alison, is truly amazing. She loves being a "second mother" to our baby Luke. Yesterday she woke up, got Luke out of the crib and then got His clothes on for Church. Now that may not sound like much, but it is a huge help (please read the previous "toddler rodeo" post for more details). I praised her efforts as I hugged her, and let her know my gratitude. As we got home from church, everyone had made it inside the house, except for Alison and Luke. Evie had to run inside quickly to go to the girl's room, and I had carried lunch and Eli inside. After about thirty seconds, Evie and I looked at each other and thought "Uh Oh, Alison is trying to get Luke out of the car seat". As I made it out into the garage, I saw Alison trying desperately not to drop little Luke on the concrete floor. She was struggling with all of her might not to, and I made it there in time to pick him up and bail her out. Her heart wanted to help, but she was unaware of her ability (or lack there of) to accomplish the task at hand.

Take a look at the passage above in Mark. Jesus heals a leper but gives him a "stern" warning to testify to no one EXCEPT the priest. Jesus wanted the healed leper to witness to a particular audience, but he did not obey. Instead, the man runs around and tells everyone about Jesus freely, as he was warned not to, and this had its consequences. We see in verse 45 that it results in crowds seeking the gifts of Jesus (not Jesus necessarily)so forcefully that it drives him out of towns and in to desolate places. Stop and think through that. A man bragging on Jesus, hinders the ministry of Jesus. The leper's blatant disobedience derailed the course of Jesus's ministry. Why? Jesus had a plan to be followed,but the leper had his own.

So what can we learn from this? We can have the best of motives, but we can not run ahead of our calling as it will have consequences. Just like Alison's proactive desires to help, that could of produced some hurtful consequences, we must learn to ask our heavenly father BEFORE we act. We need to Follow in obedience, not lead out in our own hopeful, well intentioned best effort. They may have consequences that hurt us, and more importantly, the Kingdom. I have found that to be the simplest, yet most difficult part of walking with Christ. Following Him on even the smallest of details.

I can not count the times I agreed to do the "God looking" thing to do without ever asking God if it was actually His thing for me to do or not. It always leads to me crashing and burning....not exactly the fruit of the spirit. The only way we will ever benefit the kingdom is by following the King. It is the only invitation Jesus gives: Follow Me. The only other option is cutting our own trail and spreading Jesus's name on it like peanut butter if it works and blaming the devil if it fails.