Father, thank You for Your watchcare over us as we ventured out to restock our supplies for ourselves and family. I would ask that Your hand would be upon us and if we did come in contact with the looming virus, that You would stop it in its tracks, for our sakes and the ones with whom we interact and love out of the necessities in which we find ourselves. Amen.

Luke 9:1-6 (<<click to read the passage)

Balance. Our lives are so full of so many things. And if we are not careful, we can become tempted to lean too heavily into certain things. Sometimes they are bad things, to the detriment of ourselves and others. They can be good things, as well. But even good things, in excess, can be detrimental.

Jesus was the embodiment of balance – fully God and fully man. That is who He was, but it is also how he lived.

In today’s passage, Jesus sent his disciples “out [on a brief journey] to preach the kingdom of God and to perform healing.” On this journey, they were to live and work as Jesus did, with a balance between preaching (the spiritual) and healing (the physical).

Living in this world as followers of Jesus, we must balance between the spiritual and the physical, too.

First of all, why did Jesus come as God incarnate (Emmanuel – God with us) into the world? Because of our disobedience, we caused a rift between ourselves and our Creator. That rift was sin. Jesus came to institute a permanent “fix”, if you will, for this rift. The penalty for sin is death but as Romans 6:23 says, “but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(AMP) (emphasis mine)

So, our responsibility is to broadcast that good news to all the world, that is to every man, woman, boy, and girl – no exceptions! And for all who would accept and embrace this good news, eternal life in Jesus is the reward – not eternal death separated from Him!

But then here is the second point, if I just went out to my neighbor (the world) and said, “Hey! You’re as good as dead, straighten up…or else!”

Some might respond and change but many would just ignore me, at best!

I’ve watched many videos involving abandoned dogs. Many suffer from neglect, starvation, and not a few are diseased or injured as well.

A common thread in each story is a caring soul or group of people that attempt to intervein to help relieve them from their misery.

Every single one of them retaliated in fear and anger. Their breed or size makes no difference. If cornered, their teeth are bared and they lash out at any who draws near. Sometimes they can be lured into capture but most times they are physically wrangled to get them the help they so desperately need.

But over time, what gains their trust? Love. And not just words of love but love in action! And that’s when true healing begins.

James 2:14-26 speaks of faith and deeds (or works). A key phrase in the passage is, “faith without works [of obedience] is also dead.”

Jesus’ ministry here was filled with examples of physical and spiritual impacting in tandem to bring the world to faith in Him and the salvation He offered.

Lord Jesus, may we follow in Your steps! Amen!

Mar 31st, 2020, Tues, 7:40 pm