"Playing With Fire"

Scripture Passage

Luke 9:7-9; Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 14:1-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15; Mark 6:45-52; Matthew 14:22-33; John 6:16-21; Mark 6:53-56; Matthew 14:34-36

Scripture Focus

Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. (Mark 6:20 NLT)

Observation

The “classic” challenge from today’s reading is probably the story of the feeding of the 5,000. It is a great piece of history. When the disciples come to Jesus with the announcement that 5,000 men and their families are hungry and there’s nothing to eat, Jesus’ reply is straightforward—“You feed them.” (Mark 6:37) And the disciples do. They receive what is given them (the simplest of gifts)…distribute it among the hungry…and everyone is filled. Application? What you have, today, if you’ll offer it to Jesus, will do more than you can imagine—you’ll be satisfied and so will others!

Having said all that, the verse that captured my attention was Mark 6:20, describing the relationship between King Herod and John the Baptist.

Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. (Mark 6:20 NLT)

It’s funny (probably not quite the right word, but that’s the word I’ll use) how people respond to truth. Some find it so troubling they stay away from truth at any cost. Some embrace the truth in transformational ways. Herod, it seems to me, liked to play with the truth a bit, sort of like some people like to play with fire. He may have liked the stirring of emotion, the intellectual challenge, the give and take of relationship with John—but he never let the truth produce any change.

That’s a dangerous spot—a deadly spot, in fact. Paul writes to Timothy about people who are “…always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7 NIV). In reality, Paul says, “…these men oppose the truth—[they are] men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected” (2 Timothy 3:8 NIV).

My heartfelt response? Don’t want to be there. Don’t want to be among that number. “Lord, let your truth permeate who I am every day in life-changing, transformative ways!”

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