"Keep on loving each other as brothers." ~Hebrews
I just received a phone call from the man that led me to the knowledge of Jesus. He has cancer of the liver and has been sent home to await his appointment with death. There is no fear in his voice, he was laughing and bantering with me as always. I told him that since there is no time in heaven, I will be there when he gets there. I'll really miss him here on earth though. He said he would put in a good word for me and thanked me for everything. I needed to thank him! I'm jealous that it looked like he's going to see Jesus first. He laughed.
I didn't want to hang up because that familiar voice saying my name when I answered the phone may never call again. I may never hear that rumbling laugh again in this world. His voice dripped with love and I could picture his smile and the twinkle of his blue eyes. How I wish I could've hugged him through the phone. Again I'm reminded of what an awesome reunion heaven is going to be. Oh Lord, heal him completely or take him quickly. Either way, thank you!
"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of thier way of life and imitate thier faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." ~Hebrews 13:7
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Bait and Switch
Jesus looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." ~Mark 3
Yes, Jesus got mad. I know that it was the stubborn hearts of the men in the synagogue that caused him distress but what made him angry was their use of a crippled man as bait. They wanted a reason to accuse Jesus of breaking a commandment so that they could bring him up on charges and have him executed. They cared nothing for the man that had lived among them except how his healing could be used as evidence against the only one capable of doing that healing.
I imagine the man was surprised and perhaps taken aback when Jesus asked him to stand up in front of everyone. He probably held little hope of a miracle knowing the Sabbath law. I can imagine his joy as he watched his hand unfurl and the bones, sinew and muscles all line up. I'll bet he was thrilled with the wonder of stretching out fingers and flexing them back and forth. He must've gotten lost in amazement at the creases in his palm and laughed more than once at the change in his life. I hope he never missed synagogue after that. A constant reminder to the leaders there of the stinging rebuke from the Lord. A seed of the Kingdom planted in thier midst.
"So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." ~Jesus
Yes, Jesus got mad. I know that it was the stubborn hearts of the men in the synagogue that caused him distress but what made him angry was their use of a crippled man as bait. They wanted a reason to accuse Jesus of breaking a commandment so that they could bring him up on charges and have him executed. They cared nothing for the man that had lived among them except how his healing could be used as evidence against the only one capable of doing that healing.
I imagine the man was surprised and perhaps taken aback when Jesus asked him to stand up in front of everyone. He probably held little hope of a miracle knowing the Sabbath law. I can imagine his joy as he watched his hand unfurl and the bones, sinew and muscles all line up. I'll bet he was thrilled with the wonder of stretching out fingers and flexing them back and forth. He must've gotten lost in amazement at the creases in his palm and laughed more than once at the change in his life. I hope he never missed synagogue after that. A constant reminder to the leaders there of the stinging rebuke from the Lord. A seed of the Kingdom planted in thier midst.
"So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." ~Jesus
Friday, April 5, 2013
Do Tell
"Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. ~Luke
It's fascinating to think about all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asking Jesus to leave them. They were afraid of him because he had healed the town madman. This guy was scary! Naked, dirty and tortured, this man threw himself down on the ground in front of Jesus and screamed at the top of his lungs, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" Poor soul. The man was being tortured by demons and those demons were begging not to be tortured. Still a scary scene!
Jesus knew that demons were responsible and commands them to come out but the thing that causes me to well with love for Him is how He simply asks the guy his name. The demons answer with thiers and go on to beg for mercy but I believe that question struck a cord with the man. Had he forgotten who he was apart from the demons? Did he even remember his given name?
Those people asked Jesus to leave so He did, but he left a seed of the Kingdom among them. A candle in the dark to remind them of His love. I often wonder if this man's mother praised God for the return of the son she'd named. Was his father happy to see him? Did he have a wife and kids? Scripture is silent on these questions. It doesn't even name him, which I find merciful. He was given a new life and sent home to talk about that life! Perhaps, he was given a new name too.
"...and I will also write on him my new name." ~Jesus
It's fascinating to think about all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asking Jesus to leave them. They were afraid of him because he had healed the town madman. This guy was scary! Naked, dirty and tortured, this man threw himself down on the ground in front of Jesus and screamed at the top of his lungs, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" Poor soul. The man was being tortured by demons and those demons were begging not to be tortured. Still a scary scene!
Jesus knew that demons were responsible and commands them to come out but the thing that causes me to well with love for Him is how He simply asks the guy his name. The demons answer with thiers and go on to beg for mercy but I believe that question struck a cord with the man. Had he forgotten who he was apart from the demons? Did he even remember his given name?
Those people asked Jesus to leave so He did, but he left a seed of the Kingdom among them. A candle in the dark to remind them of His love. I often wonder if this man's mother praised God for the return of the son she'd named. Was his father happy to see him? Did he have a wife and kids? Scripture is silent on these questions. It doesn't even name him, which I find merciful. He was given a new life and sent home to talk about that life! Perhaps, he was given a new name too.
"...and I will also write on him my new name." ~Jesus
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Battle Plans
"With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles!" King Hezekiah to the people and their officers when faced with Sennacherib's army.
The tension in the city would've been palpable. They had watched the King of Assyria gobble up countries and cities and he was on his way to Jerusalem. Hezekiah saw it coming and began preparing. He summoned the leaders. The men blocked the springs and the streams up so that the enemy would have little water. They all worked hard and fast to repair the city wall and build towers. They quickly built a second wall around the city and reinforced the roofs. Anxiety was turned into action. They were ready to take up their positions and stand firm.
A warrior king, standing at the gates of the city of his fathers, reminds them of the presence of God to encourage his people. The silence of the crowd brought the words of the past to his subjects as he shouted, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him!"
What a great story... 2 Chronicles 32.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." ~God
The tension in the city would've been palpable. They had watched the King of Assyria gobble up countries and cities and he was on his way to Jerusalem. Hezekiah saw it coming and began preparing. He summoned the leaders. The men blocked the springs and the streams up so that the enemy would have little water. They all worked hard and fast to repair the city wall and build towers. They quickly built a second wall around the city and reinforced the roofs. Anxiety was turned into action. They were ready to take up their positions and stand firm.
A warrior king, standing at the gates of the city of his fathers, reminds them of the presence of God to encourage his people. The silence of the crowd brought the words of the past to his subjects as he shouted, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him!"
What a great story... 2 Chronicles 32.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." ~God
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Forever To Rule
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." ~Peter writing to God's elect, the strangers in the world, concerning Jesus.
There are no such thing as benign insults and the natural reaction to being insulted is to return the favor. Retaliation is out of the mouth before the brain even fully grabs onto it. I was mulling this over and thought, what a different scene it would've been at the cross if Jesus hadn't entrusted himself to God as the one to judge him justly. What if he had gone to the cross throwing insults back at those who accused him and shouting threats about them getting thiers. The image I got was ugly. That's when the Holy Spirit whispered, "What you're seeing are the thieves".
Three men were executed that day but the insults and mockery were centered on only one. It's interesting to me that most of the jeering of the mob contained the same words Satan used to tempt Jesus with. The words, "If you are the son of God, then..." It's no wonder Jesus looked at his mother. He was the son of man too.
As the son of man, he died just like all the sons of men have and will but as the son of God, he came to life again. When He returned, He didn't go to the priests and the temple to get his revenge or to proclaim himself anything. He chatted with Mary by the tomb and walked to Emmaus with a couple of guys explaining scripture. He cooked breakfast on the beach and I like to think He laughed as Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to shore. He hugged them tight, ate with them, showed them his scars and comforted them with his words. Then he had to leave the earth because, as the son of God, he had to take up his position as King of creation.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." ~Jesus
There are no such thing as benign insults and the natural reaction to being insulted is to return the favor. Retaliation is out of the mouth before the brain even fully grabs onto it. I was mulling this over and thought, what a different scene it would've been at the cross if Jesus hadn't entrusted himself to God as the one to judge him justly. What if he had gone to the cross throwing insults back at those who accused him and shouting threats about them getting thiers. The image I got was ugly. That's when the Holy Spirit whispered, "What you're seeing are the thieves".
Three men were executed that day but the insults and mockery were centered on only one. It's interesting to me that most of the jeering of the mob contained the same words Satan used to tempt Jesus with. The words, "If you are the son of God, then..." It's no wonder Jesus looked at his mother. He was the son of man too.
As the son of man, he died just like all the sons of men have and will but as the son of God, he came to life again. When He returned, He didn't go to the priests and the temple to get his revenge or to proclaim himself anything. He chatted with Mary by the tomb and walked to Emmaus with a couple of guys explaining scripture. He cooked breakfast on the beach and I like to think He laughed as Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to shore. He hugged them tight, ate with them, showed them his scars and comforted them with his words. Then he had to leave the earth because, as the son of God, he had to take up his position as King of creation.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." ~Jesus
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Bread Alone
The tempter came to him and said,"If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written; 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Certain things in the temptation of Christ stood out to me this morning. Satan appeals to Jesus by planting seeds of self-doubt about his really being the Son of God. It gives me joy to see that Jesus used his being the son of man to avoid the temptations. What an honor to his mother since he got his human side from her. Son of man is the title that he uses to describe himself the most in scripture. Being a man helped him to avoid the temptations.
Jesus didn't have to make stones into bread, he knew God would provide food. He didn't need to test the Lord by jumping off a building. He knew it would prove nothing. All the kingdoms of the world and thier splendor? Pshhhh... They were standing on a very high mountain! Talk about splendor! It's funny, the devil takes him up there and then just leaves him there. Angels show up and feed him though. I'll bet it was bread and tasted really good... just like his Mom used to make. (Matthew 4)
"Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." ~Jesus
Certain things in the temptation of Christ stood out to me this morning. Satan appeals to Jesus by planting seeds of self-doubt about his really being the Son of God. It gives me joy to see that Jesus used his being the son of man to avoid the temptations. What an honor to his mother since he got his human side from her. Son of man is the title that he uses to describe himself the most in scripture. Being a man helped him to avoid the temptations.
Jesus didn't have to make stones into bread, he knew God would provide food. He didn't need to test the Lord by jumping off a building. He knew it would prove nothing. All the kingdoms of the world and thier splendor? Pshhhh... They were standing on a very high mountain! Talk about splendor! It's funny, the devil takes him up there and then just leaves him there. Angels show up and feed him though. I'll bet it was bread and tasted really good... just like his Mom used to make. (Matthew 4)
"Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." ~Jesus
Monday, April 1, 2013
Do Rest
"So then, the word of the Lord to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there- so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured." Isaiah 28:13
It took some time for this truth to sink in. God was rebuking the priests and prophets in Jerusalem when He accuses them of making His worship nothing more than a list of things to do and rules to follow. He tells them, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place of repose"- but they refused to listen. So, God allowed them to reap what they had sown. They wanted God's word reduced to a list of things to do and rules to follow so that's what it became. Thier own legalism had become thier curse. But notice, God's motive for letting His word become that way. They would go backwards and be injured. They would be snared and captured. The Sovereign Lord would make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line. God goes on to say, "The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror." Indeed!
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~Jesus
Today, I'm thankful for the rest Jesus has given me!
It took some time for this truth to sink in. God was rebuking the priests and prophets in Jerusalem when He accuses them of making His worship nothing more than a list of things to do and rules to follow. He tells them, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place of repose"- but they refused to listen. So, God allowed them to reap what they had sown. They wanted God's word reduced to a list of things to do and rules to follow so that's what it became. Thier own legalism had become thier curse. But notice, God's motive for letting His word become that way. They would go backwards and be injured. They would be snared and captured. The Sovereign Lord would make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line. God goes on to say, "The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror." Indeed!
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~Jesus
Today, I'm thankful for the rest Jesus has given me!
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