March 19, 2024

March 19th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
Mark 1:29-34 (Jesus at Simon’s house)
That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch. – Mark 1:32-33 (NLT)
“Are You Buying or Just Looking?”

Some people love to shop. Not buy, just look. They can go to store after store, browsing and touching, trying on and taking off, and never buying a thing. They don’t want to buy. They just want to look. For some people, I think, shopping is a form of relaxation. Somehow crowds, pushy salespeople, and exorbitant prices help them feel more peaceful. These people are obviously insane. Other people who just look are just cheap. My wife says, “thrifty,” but it’s the same thing. They get joy out of seeing things and knowing that they can either get it cheaper somewhere else or they can live without it altogether.
Then there are those of us who are buyers. When we shop, it’s almost certain we’re going home with SOMETHING. Shopping for us is not exercise. It’s an EXPEDITION. We’re hunting, and you can bet we’re going to bag what we’re looking for. We may or may not compare prices. We’ve learned you can spend more on gas or use hours of precious time trying to save a lousy couple of bucks. Our joy is not found in looking at dozens of shoes, shirts, or jeans. Our joy is in striding into work and someone saying, “Wow, where did you get THAT?!”
There are buyers and lookers when it comes to Jesus as well. Our passage talks about the fact that there were two different kinds of people who came to the house where Jesus was. There were people who wanted to be touched—they wanted to be healed, helped, or set free. Then there was a large group of people who were just there to watch. They heard about Jesus and what He could do and came just to get a peek. The “lookers” had no idea that this Jesus they were gawking at was one who could change their lives just like He was changing the lives of those who came to “buy.” The lookers went home with an interesting experience. The buyers went home TRANSFORMED.
How about YOU? Are you a looker or a buyer? Some of us go to church all our lives, and all we ever go home with is an interesting Sunday experience. Others go to church, open their hearts to Jesus, and take home all He has to show them, teach them, and give them. Jesus didn’t come to impress you or give you a good show. He came to change your life from the inside out. Don’t be just a “looker.” Be a buyer. That’s God’s Word for you today.