Word:
Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
Jesus reached out and touched him, “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. —Matthew 8:2-3
When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left here. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
—Matthew 8:14-15
Observation:
I noticed two distinct things happening here in these two portions of scripture within the same chapter of Matthew. In the first one, at first glance, I see what seems like a typical healing by Jesus. But at second glance, and especially after reading through this whole chapter I see that this is a demonstration of perfect faith. A man sick with one of the worst illnesses of the day doesn’t come begging Jesus to heal him, but approaches Him with the respect He deserves. Not expecting Jesus to heal him necessarily, but nevertheless completely convinced that Jesus CAN if He is willing to. And as a result of that faith, Jesus is willing and the life-destroying leprosy is eradicated from the man!
The second observation I made is related to the faith that the man with leprosy had, however this scripture gives amazing instruction on how to handle ourselves, yes every day, but especially after an incredible encounter with the Lord. Peter’s mother-in-law has a fever, and after Jesus heals her, I noticed she didn’t get up and begin bowing at His feet and thanking him. She got up and showed Him her thanks and immediately prepared a meal for Jesus.
Revelation:
Two distinct observations about having faith with two distinct realizations. Faith is absolutely necessary to our survival in this world. Clearly God can do anything. His power is unlimited and if He wants to, He will heal a complete unbeliever miraculously if it is what He desires. However, this leprosy-ridden man shows us a clear demonstration of how the Kingdom works. He didn’t beg Jesus, shouting over and over hoping Jesus would finally give in and just heal him. This man KNEW that Jesus COULD heal him. Much like the woman with bleeding that simply touched Jesus’ cloak, this man was confident that this was God in the flesh and that if He wanted to, He would heal him. He came to Jesus with reverence. His approach was to come and kneel before Jesus respectfully, and in a few simple words he proves his faith to the Lord. In a more modern tongue it may sound like, “Jesus, I KNOW you can heal me, I need you to heal me, so if it is what you want to do, clean me!” The result? The Lord exclaims, “Be healed!” The exclamation mark almost implies the excitement of Jesus that someone with such dire circumstances would be so sure that not only was Jesus who He claimed to be, but that He could do anything he wanted to do. I know that’s what my Lord desires from me, to be the kind of person of faith that comes not merely expecting God to do a miracle, but KNOWING He CAN do the miracle if it is His plan or desire. To me personally, expecting something can almost have a hint of speculation to it. Expecting your bills to be paid sounds different than KNOWING that your bills will be paid. I think that’s because with the former you might not be doing a thing to actually make that come about, while knowing something means you have the up-and-up on the situation putting your faith to action just like the man with leprosy. He didn’t expect Jesus to heal him, but he came anyway, reverently kneeling before Him, knowing that, “if Jesus wants to heal me, He can.” Boy do I want to approach God that way. From now on I want to not come expecting God to do something for me, but rather knowing that if God wants to do something miraculously for me, He will. I think there’s more peace-of-mind and spirit as well as wisdom in this approach to the Lord.
The second part of this revelation is what Peter’s mother-in-law did as soon as she was healed. She didn’t run around telling everyone what Jesus had just done for her, and didn’t fall at His feet thanking Him with words. She got up and she did something for Him. She physically did what she could to satisfy what need or desire the Lord had at that moment. In this case, He was hungry, so she fed him. I’m not in any way implying that one should not tell the whole world about Jesus and what he may have done for one’s self. I’ve been there many times myself; wanting to exclaim to the world the majesty and mercy of Christ because of something He did for me financially or maybe just emotionally. But I think, for me, the message here is to be ready to work for the Lord. The work isn’t going to do itself, and especially in times where Jesus comes and touches something in my life, instead of simply telling Him how grateful I am, I will show Him. I’m very guilty of being very thankful for something the Lord has done for me one day, telling him how thankful, and then moving on to the next need I have. I want the Lord to see through my actions, not just my words, how grateful I am to Him not just for what He does for me in a moment, but for what He did on the Cross. Everyday I will live my life in a way like I’m preparing a meal for the Lord.
Prayer:
Thank you Lord for your Word. I hunger after it and thank you that we have It here in this life as a guide to help us live better and better for you on a moment-by-moment basis. From now on, give me the faith to come before you reverently, not expecting you to do something for me, but knowing that if you want to you CAN do it. And regardless of my circumstances, and especially when you have shown your glory miraculously, will I not be content with simply telling you how grateful I am, but I will “prepare a meal for you” and put my faith to work! I love you Jesus!
Amen!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Running to Obey
Word
Acts 8:29-31
The Holy Spirit said to Phillip, "Go over and walk along side that carriage." Phillip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Phillip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The man replied, "How can I unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Phillip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
Acts 8:36-37
As they rode along they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water. Why can't I be baptized? And Phillip said, "If you believe with all your heart you may." He answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Observation
Phillip is told by an angel of the Lord to go a certain direction and he obeys. And on that path he sees a carriage driving along when the Holy Spirit speaks and tells him to go and walk beside it. Phillip again obeys without hesitation and runs to the vehicle. The eunuch is reading the Word of G-d without guidance. Phillip asks him if he understands it, and he responds, "How can I unless someone instructs me?" He urges Phillip to get into the carriage with him, and as a result the eunuch declares Jesus the Son of God and is baptized by water.
Revelation
Several things strike me in this passage. For starters, Phillip's hesitation free obedience leads to someone's salvation. The Word doesn't say anything about Phillip asking why he should do these things, he just does them.
Secondly, when instructed by the Holy Spirit, instead of questioning whether it's his own voice in his head or really the Spirit, Phillip runs, not walks to his destination. What tenacity for the Lord he had that he would run after the call of G-d.
Thirdly, when Phillip arrives at the carriage he hears the eunuch reading from Isaiah, which leads him to ask a simple question: "Do you understand what you're reading?" It doesn't say G-d revealed anything to Phillip. It just says that he heard what the eunuch was reading, assessed the situation, and responded with both logic and faith. I think we make this too hard most of the time. I saw someone on a bench at Walgreen's today. The Spirit told me to go over to her. Unfortunately I didn't run, but I eventually got up the nerve and went over to her and told her what I know to be true. I said, "If you'll call on Him He'll save you." She said, "Okay." I saw her name tag and said, "Melissa, I'm talking about Jesus." She said, "I know." with her head bowed. There's no specific formula for spreading the Word of G-d. We just have to be willing vessels and He will use us.
Lastly, it was the way that the eunuch asked for instruction and urged Phillip to get into the carriage that got my attention. And while this world may not be doing that with it's mouth, it does it with it's actions. It's begging for us to share the good news of Jesus, for us to disciple them, and help them obtain salvation through Christ.
Devotion
I want it all G-d. I want to be like Phillip with his tenacious spirit to just obey at a moment's notice. When You call I want to run to where You're calling me to. I want to stop the madness of thinking I'm not good enough, or that I'm too busy, or whatever the excuse to not obey. I just want to help people to get saved. They're begging for us to do it, even if they don't know it. Amen.
Acts 8:29-31
The Holy Spirit said to Phillip, "Go over and walk along side that carriage." Phillip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Phillip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The man replied, "How can I unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Phillip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
Acts 8:36-37
As they rode along they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water. Why can't I be baptized? And Phillip said, "If you believe with all your heart you may." He answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Observation
Phillip is told by an angel of the Lord to go a certain direction and he obeys. And on that path he sees a carriage driving along when the Holy Spirit speaks and tells him to go and walk beside it. Phillip again obeys without hesitation and runs to the vehicle. The eunuch is reading the Word of G-d without guidance. Phillip asks him if he understands it, and he responds, "How can I unless someone instructs me?" He urges Phillip to get into the carriage with him, and as a result the eunuch declares Jesus the Son of God and is baptized by water.
Revelation
Several things strike me in this passage. For starters, Phillip's hesitation free obedience leads to someone's salvation. The Word doesn't say anything about Phillip asking why he should do these things, he just does them.
Secondly, when instructed by the Holy Spirit, instead of questioning whether it's his own voice in his head or really the Spirit, Phillip runs, not walks to his destination. What tenacity for the Lord he had that he would run after the call of G-d.
Thirdly, when Phillip arrives at the carriage he hears the eunuch reading from Isaiah, which leads him to ask a simple question: "Do you understand what you're reading?" It doesn't say G-d revealed anything to Phillip. It just says that he heard what the eunuch was reading, assessed the situation, and responded with both logic and faith. I think we make this too hard most of the time. I saw someone on a bench at Walgreen's today. The Spirit told me to go over to her. Unfortunately I didn't run, but I eventually got up the nerve and went over to her and told her what I know to be true. I said, "If you'll call on Him He'll save you." She said, "Okay." I saw her name tag and said, "Melissa, I'm talking about Jesus." She said, "I know." with her head bowed. There's no specific formula for spreading the Word of G-d. We just have to be willing vessels and He will use us.
Lastly, it was the way that the eunuch asked for instruction and urged Phillip to get into the carriage that got my attention. And while this world may not be doing that with it's mouth, it does it with it's actions. It's begging for us to share the good news of Jesus, for us to disciple them, and help them obtain salvation through Christ.
Devotion
I want it all G-d. I want to be like Phillip with his tenacious spirit to just obey at a moment's notice. When You call I want to run to where You're calling me to. I want to stop the madness of thinking I'm not good enough, or that I'm too busy, or whatever the excuse to not obey. I just want to help people to get saved. They're begging for us to do it, even if they don't know it. Amen.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Human Rabbit's Foot
Word
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram.
–II Kings 5:1
Observation
Naaman was regarded highly because of what God did through him for the kingdom of Aram. Because of the Lord working in Naaman others were blessed; even a kingdom at odds with Israel–God's chosen people.
Revelation
It's amazing the power we as Christians carry. Good things can happen to people living in opposition to the Lord simply because we, those who trust and obey the Lord, are in their life. There are those in my life who are dedicated believers that love Jesus with all their heart and follow His commandments that work for people who are either atheist, or agnostic, or something other than the Truth. I believe fully that in each of these situations the businesses and companies have flourished because of the God-fearing believers they have on staff.
It serves as such a great testimony to how awesome God is, that even a heathen can be blessed because of what God's doing though someone else. For the world we're like giant human rabbit's feet that bring about good fortune to those in our lives. Of course that's the pagan view but in reality we know that if it were not for the obedience to the Lord of the employee, then the employer would be fresh out of luck...blessing that is!
Devotion
Lord, You are so awesome. I pray that I'm so obedient and love You so dearly that just my presence on some one's payroll brings them blessing. Not for my own glory, but to show how glorious and real You are, and that without You we are truly lost. Amen.
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram.
–II Kings 5:1
Observation
Naaman was regarded highly because of what God did through him for the kingdom of Aram. Because of the Lord working in Naaman others were blessed; even a kingdom at odds with Israel–God's chosen people.
Revelation
It's amazing the power we as Christians carry. Good things can happen to people living in opposition to the Lord simply because we, those who trust and obey the Lord, are in their life. There are those in my life who are dedicated believers that love Jesus with all their heart and follow His commandments that work for people who are either atheist, or agnostic, or something other than the Truth. I believe fully that in each of these situations the businesses and companies have flourished because of the God-fearing believers they have on staff.
It serves as such a great testimony to how awesome God is, that even a heathen can be blessed because of what God's doing though someone else. For the world we're like giant human rabbit's feet that bring about good fortune to those in our lives. Of course that's the pagan view but in reality we know that if it were not for the obedience to the Lord of the employee, then the employer would be fresh out of luck...blessing that is!
Devotion
Lord, You are so awesome. I pray that I'm so obedient and love You so dearly that just my presence on some one's payroll brings them blessing. Not for my own glory, but to show how glorious and real You are, and that without You we are truly lost. Amen.
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