A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. (Mark 1:40 NLT)
The man's name is unknown. He is just "leper" to us - unnamed and unclean. He approaches Jesus. Really? Aren't lepers supposed to stay out of the way, unnoticed and unseen? What was there about Jesus that emboldened the leper to come to him?
Jesus responds with kindness. He is he motivated from a heart of compassion. Not from arrogant condescension ('poor pitiful guy,' deep sigh, 'I guess I can help') or from duty ('I am a Christian, I have to be nice'), but from a heart broken for the lost, the least, the leper.
Who are the lepers in my world? Do I even see them? Is there enough Jesus in me that they would feel invited to approach me? And if so, what is my response?
Read Part 2.
Read Part 3.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
My God...
... marches on the waves of the sea Job 9:8 (NLT)
... walks on the vault of heaven Job 22:14 (NLT)
... rides upon the wings of the wind Psalm 104:3 (NLT)
... sits above the circle of the earth Isaiah 40:22 (NLT)
... dwells in unapproachable light 1 Timothy 6:16 (NASB)
... lives in eternity Isaiah 57:15 (NLT)
... abides in me John 15:4-10 (NASB)
... walks on the vault of heaven Job 22:14 (NLT)
... rides upon the wings of the wind Psalm 104:3 (NLT)
... sits above the circle of the earth Isaiah 40:22 (NLT)
... dwells in unapproachable light 1 Timothy 6:16 (NASB)
... lives in eternity Isaiah 57:15 (NLT)
... abides in me John 15:4-10 (NASB)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
The Carpenter
He was a carpenter.
But he cast his net for men on the shores of Galilee.
He was a carpenter.
But he caused the lame to walk and the blind to see.
He was a carpenter.
But he fed the hungry crowds with living bread.
He was a carpenter.
But he opened graves and he raised the dead.
He was a carpenter.
But he died and rose and set me free.
He is a carpenter.
And he builds his holy temple inside of me.
But he cast his net for men on the shores of Galilee.
He was a carpenter.
But he caused the lame to walk and the blind to see.
He was a carpenter.
But he fed the hungry crowds with living bread.
He was a carpenter.
But he opened graves and he raised the dead.
He was a carpenter.
But he died and rose and set me free.
He is a carpenter.
And he builds his holy temple inside of me.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Every Word
"...man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." Deuteronomy 8:3b NIV
I can't pick and choose which parts of God's word I want to hear or believe or embrace. EVERY word is given as spiritual nourishment. To be healthy and strong I have to take the brussel sprouts as well as the fudge.
I can't pick and choose which parts of God's word I want to hear or believe or embrace. EVERY word is given as spiritual nourishment. To be healthy and strong I have to take the brussel sprouts as well as the fudge.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
On change
“I am the Lord, and I do not change." Malachi 3:6 (NLT)
God never changes. He doesn't need to. He is perfect just as He is.
God's immutability is one of the things I love best about Him. The same God who divided the sea for the Israelites to pass through, the same God who enabled little David to bring down big Goliath, is the same God who helps me through obstacles and bring down giants in my life.
And it is also wonderful that I am not immutable. Since I am not perfect I need to be able to change and to be changed. And I can. I can become a better person, a kinder friend, a more loving spouse. Herein is a gift of God to us. We are not the same yesterday, today and forever. Hallelujah!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Call On Me
It was a moment when we received some devastating news. As soon as I could get alone, I cried out to God -- seeking his comfort and his wisdom. I asked him to take this bad thing and somehow bring glory to His name through it.
Later that day, as I thumbed through the book of Psalms to find comfort, my eyes fell on these words: "Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory." Psalm 50:15 (NLT).
It was then I realized it isn't only in resolving the problem that God receives glory. He received glory in this situation the very moment I called on him. Yes, there is a promise to rescue, but the immediate comfort for me was knowing that in turning to God in my time of need He had already answered my prayer for His name to be glorified.
Later that day, as I thumbed through the book of Psalms to find comfort, my eyes fell on these words: "Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory." Psalm 50:15 (NLT).
It was then I realized it isn't only in resolving the problem that God receives glory. He received glory in this situation the very moment I called on him. Yes, there is a promise to rescue, but the immediate comfort for me was knowing that in turning to God in my time of need He had already answered my prayer for His name to be glorified.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wisdom from Above
"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." James 3:17 (ESV)
Sometimes trying to figure out what is wise in a particular situation is difficult. But God does give guidance. Here's one of His checklists:
For something to be truly wise it must be:
____ pure
____ peaceable
____ gentle
____ open to reason
____ full of mercy
____ full of good fruit (beneficial outcomes)
____ impartial
____ sincere
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Happy, Holy, Healthy
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints... Ephesians 6:18 NASB
Praying for others...
May they be
Happy, Holy, and Healthy
in
Spirit, Soul, and Body.
Happy in Spirit.
Full of joy.
Happy in Soul.
Full of peace.
Happy in Body.
Full of energy.
Holy in Spirit.
Pure motives.
Holy in Soul.
Pure thoughts.
Holy in Body.
Pure actions.
Healthy in Spirit.
Right understanding of God.
Healthy in Soul.
Right relationships with others.
Healthy in Body.
Right care of self.
Praying for others...
May they be
Happy, Holy, and Healthy
in
Spirit, Soul, and Body.
Happy in Spirit.
Full of joy.
Happy in Soul.
Full of peace.
Happy in Body.
Full of energy.
Holy in Spirit.
Pure motives.
Holy in Soul.
Pure thoughts.
Holy in Body.
Pure actions.
Healthy in Spirit.
Right understanding of God.
Healthy in Soul.
Right relationships with others.
Healthy in Body.
Right care of self.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Desert life
Exodus 6:2 (NASB) God spoke further to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD..."
This place in northern Kenya was desolate. The ground was dry and hard. Vegetation sparse. A small crowd gathered to welcome the boxes of booklets on the backs of camels and to dedicate the newly translated Bible portions of Genesis and Exodus. The singing began and the dancing started. Mothers with infants sat under the whispers of shade given by a lone acacia tree.
I looked around at the level land stretching farther than I could see and considered the stories now available in the tribal language. Moses, herding his flock when a burning bush caught his eye. Joseph, left for dead in a pit in the desert. The children of Israel wandering and wandering, year after year in the wilderness. At that moment I considered how I must use my imagination to picture each of those events, but how familiar these stories will be to the camel-herding nomads of eastern Africa. They will know parts of God’s goodness and character that I, from my university-trained, interstate-laddened western perspective, will never quite comprehend.
Later other books of the Bible will be translated and they will learn of David the shepherd and Jesus the Christ. But for now they will know of the God who created the heavens above their heads and the earth beneath their feet. And who travels with them across the deserts of land and life.
This place in northern Kenya was desolate. The ground was dry and hard. Vegetation sparse. A small crowd gathered to welcome the boxes of booklets on the backs of camels and to dedicate the newly translated Bible portions of Genesis and Exodus. The singing began and the dancing started. Mothers with infants sat under the whispers of shade given by a lone acacia tree.
I looked around at the level land stretching farther than I could see and considered the stories now available in the tribal language. Moses, herding his flock when a burning bush caught his eye. Joseph, left for dead in a pit in the desert. The children of Israel wandering and wandering, year after year in the wilderness. At that moment I considered how I must use my imagination to picture each of those events, but how familiar these stories will be to the camel-herding nomads of eastern Africa. They will know parts of God’s goodness and character that I, from my university-trained, interstate-laddened western perspective, will never quite comprehend.
Later other books of the Bible will be translated and they will learn of David the shepherd and Jesus the Christ. But for now they will know of the God who created the heavens above their heads and the earth beneath their feet. And who travels with them across the deserts of land and life.
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