20151123 WHAT DO YOU SEE?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Matthew 12:9-13 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue,  (10)  where He noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?" (They were hoping He would say yes, so they could bring charges against Him.)  (11)  And He answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you work to pull it out? Of course you would.  (12)  And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."  (13)  Then He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one!

Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees is reminiscent of Solomon’s answer to the two women arguing over a living baby. (1Kings 3:16-25)

It had been prophesied the Jesus would be wise. Isaiah 11:2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Not only is He wise but He is compassionate. The Pharisees only see the potential of someone breaking one of their rules. Though the Sabbath laws are pretty particular the Pharisees had added to them making the Sabbath a burden instead of a rest. But Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath sees the man with the withered hand. He sees the opportunity to give this man a blessing of rest that will remove the yoke of oppressive begging, and return him to the work force. He is giving Him a new yoke, a fitting yoke.

Before presenting the blessing He answers the Pharisees, silencing them with His wisdom. In His answer there is so much more. I repeat myself, but please grasp this. Whether you are the one ignored because of rules, or the one ignoring others because of rules… Jesus sees the man as a man who has worth. In God’s sight you have worth and those around you have worth.

Do you see others? Do you see the hurting? Are you in such a hurry, or so agenda driven that you miss the opportunities to bless those around you? Dallas Willard said, “Arrange your days so that you experience total contentment, joy and confidence in your everyday life with God.” Do you pack your days so full that any interruption, or “chance meetings” (God moments) would be frustrating?

I would be remiss not to point out that Jesus gave the man with the withered hand a part in his healing. Some will read this and say, “Yeah, you people should see me and help me.” Jesus never encourages laziness nor a refusal to work. And Paul takes it a step further, saying "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat." (2Thess 3:10b)

Father in heaven, as we look at our calendar and plan our day remind us to leave breathing room, that is room for contentment, joy and confidence in You. Open our eyes to see, really see those around us who need a compassionate word or a helping hand. Grant us wisdom, health and strength to accomplish what must be done. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20150929 BE INTERRUPTIBLE, BE ENCOURAGED, HANG IN THERE

BE INTERRUPTIBLE, BE ENCOURAGED, HANG IN THERE

Matthew 9:20-22 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind Him. She touched the fringe of His robe, (21) for she thought, "If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed." (22) Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment.

Jesus is on His way to raise the daughter of a synagogue leader when He is interrupted by a sick woman. She had no intention of getting any attention for herself except healing, but she got so much more. She got a glimpse of the compassionate Savior.

1.  She saw that He, Jesus is interruptible. I heard a man pray that one day. He said something like this, “Lord, give us interruptible hearts. Let us see the delays of life, the inconveniences, the detours as opportunities to see someone who needs a touch or an encouraging word from You. And may we be the conduit through which You meet those needs.”

2.  She saw Jesus see her. He saw all the suffering she had endured. Mark tells us that she had suffered many things from doctors and that she had spent all she had trying to find a cure. Jesus knew all this in a single moment. He could see it and He could see her faith. “If I can just touch His robe…”

If you have ever had an extended illness you know what it is to face discouragement. I spent 10 years on Lortabs and other narcotics dealing with severe and, at times, crippling pain in my lower back. Every time we would see another doctor we got the same news. “I can’t see anything on X-rays or MRIs that would cause this problem. Let’s try therapy and more medication.” There were a couple times that God touched me and I received a partial healing. I won’t go into all the details here, but those touches carried me through until in 2004 I had back surgery for a slipped disc. While the surgeon was fixing that he discovered a bone spur that was hidden from all our present technology. When I woke from that surgery I had immediate relief I hadn’t known in years.

I share that to say, be encouraged. Illness can be so mentally, spiritually and physically fatiguing. Hang in there. Keep the faith. Keep reaching for the hem of His garment. He sees you. Don’t give up.

3.  She saw herself as a daughter. Often sickness makes us feel abandoned, but He called her, "Daughter." He had not forgotten her. 

4. She saw encouragement that her faith in Jesus paid off in the end.

Father in heaven, grant that we may remain faithful to trust You and to keep reaching for the blessings You have available to us. And I repeat what my friend said, “Lord, give us interruptible hearts. Let us see the delays of life, the inconveniences, the detours as opportunities to see someone who needs a touch or an encouraging word from You. And may we be the conduit through which You meet those needs.” In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20150918 FORGIVENESS AND HEALING

FORGIVENESS AND HEALING

Matthew 9:5-8 Is it easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk'?  (6) So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"  (7)  And the man jumped up and went home!  (8)  Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.

Sickness is, at least, the indirect result of sin. Often upon healing Jesus would tell the healed to go and sin no more. We know that there was a blind man about whom Jesus said his blindness was for the glory of God, but had Adam and Eve not eaten from the forbidden tree there would have been no sickness, no death. In the verses we’ve been looking at the last few days Jesus seems to allude to the fact that this man’s sickness was the result of sin. Jesus first words to him signify this.

Yesterday we talked about the evil in the hearts of men who thought Jesus a blasphemer because He dared to forgive this man’s sins. Today we see His final response to them. He commands the man who was carried to Jesus by his friends to stand up and carry his bed home. The man did it and Jesus proved His point… He, the Son of the living God, Creator, King of kings has the power to forgive sins and to heal the sickness that sin has caused.

Once again I urge us to always search our own hearts when sickness strikes us. Confess any known sin, and pray for healing before reaching for the medicine cabinet or the doctor’s phone number.

Father in heaven, today I pray with the Psalmist, Psalms 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  (24)  Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20150910 AMAZING FAITH

AMAZING FAITH

Matthew 8:5-13 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with Him, (6) "Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain." (7) Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." (8) But the officer said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have You come into my home. Just say the word from where You are, and my servant will be healed. (9) I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it." (10) When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to those who were following Him, He said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel! (11) And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. (12) But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (13) Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened." And the young servant was healed that same hour.

This Roman soldier came to Jesus for his servant and he came with a faith that amazed Jesus. Jesus points this out and berates His own people for their lack of faith and gives them a strong warning about the outcome of those who choose not to believe.

I think it important to comment on the illustration the Roman officer gave. He recognized Jesus as having the authority to simply speak a command and all of creation would have no choice but to obey.

Jesus honors his faith by speaking, “Because you believed, it has happened."

Father in heaven, grant us that kind of believing, understanding faith. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!