Daily Devotional for August 23

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August 23                                                        Mark 12:13-27

Under ancient Jewish law, if a married man died childless, it
was his brother's duty to marry the widow and produce off-
spring. Here the Sadducees construct a scenario in which each
of seven brothers dies childless after marrying the widow. Then
the Sadducees ask the key question: "In the resurrection whose
wife will she be?"

The Sadducees did not, in fact, believe in resurrection, and
their question is framed to prove that the notion of a resur-
rection is ridiculous. Jesus replied that they were badly
mistaken, inasmuch as they knew neither the Scriptures nor
the power of God.

While a debate about a widow's marital status seems somewhat
quaint to us today, the question of how we arrive at spiritual
truth is as significant now as it was in the days of Jesus. Do
we read the Bible to confirm and prove our own theological,
political, or social ideas, or do we approach Scripture with
hearts and minds open to the guidance of God's Holy Spirit?
To be open to the Holy Spirit involves a willingness to give
up the comfort of what we think we know and to let God
change us.

Take a few minutes now to pray for a sincere willingness to
learn and to be changed, for the ability to set aside your
preconceived notions, for openness to hearing and under-
standing the special truth God's Word has for you this day.

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From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.1989