Reaction
“Broken” a painting by Lyn Deutsch
As this week begins anew, Father, may we all be back to good health and may we all sleep well tonight so as to be well-rested for the day and week ahead. Amen.
Luke 7:36-50 (<<click to read the passage)
Reaction.
What would be your reaction after hiking through dense woods on a humid summer’s day upon coming to the top of a rise and seeing before you a stream flowing with clear, cool water enticing you to dip in your hand for a drink to satiate your thirst?
What would be your reaction to, after a long exhausting day of labor, full of rain and windy storms, to place yourself by a cozy, crackling fire with a mug of hot cocoa held between your chilled hands as your favorite music enveloped you in its comforting, soothing embrace?
What would be your reaction after a life of disappointment and unfilled desires, that despite all of your disreputable attempts to satisfy, you realize that you have failed miserably in your endeavors to do so but…you find yourself in the presence of One who accepts you right where you are and even as He acknowledges your sordid lifestyle, He ever so lovingly extends a hand of forgiveness and compassion in the midst of your pain and loss?
That is where this woman in today’s passage finds herself. She has been lustfully pursued by some and disdained by many more but knowing, having heard herself, the unequivocal love of Jesus she weeps. Bitter tears for a life wasted – her life. But here she has fallen at the feet of the very Creator of life. There is no condemnation falling from His lips but spilling forth from His heart are words of compassion and understanding…and in a single heartbeat, her bitter tears are no more, for they have turned into tears of joy! Inconsequential are the words and thoughts of the nay-sayers for her faith in the only One that matters has brought her irrevocable salvation and peace!
Lord Jesus, may I whose “sins…are many”, may my reaction be to love You much, for my sins are truly forgiven. Praise to You my Redeemer!
Mar 8th, 2020, Sun, 5:26 pm
A Child No More
Father, I am sorry that we have taken Your perfect gift of Creation and defiled it. At its core it is still “good”, but we have piled upon it the refuse of our lives. We have buried so much of it in hate, violence, and perversion. Forgive us of our sinful ways. May we embrace the salvation freely extended to us and with Your goodness in us may we begin the reclamation of what is rightfully Yours. May the “good” be restored. Amen.
Luke 7:24-35 (<<click to read the passage)
To say the least, children can be very entertaining! Their imaginations run wild (and quite often they do, too!) I hear all kinds of things on my elementary bus. One kindergartener likes to call me, Mr. Chicken (I think he just has a thing for chickens!) A first grader calls me, Mr. Pickles…I have no idea. I hear a lot about the Tooth Fairy and have been asked if unicorns are real.
One problem, especially for my younger kids is that they get carried away in their little worlds and it is easy for them to zone out to the realities of this world.
Kindergarteners tend to live in their little worlds. It is hard for them to stay out of trouble on the bus because they really only see the here and now. The “big picture” is totally beyond their comprehension. I want them to be safe – staying seated in their seats, not leaning out in the aisle or over the back of their seat, not standing on the floor in front of their seat because it makes a great stage upon which to play or a great table upon which to draw or color. Their mile-a-minute minds potentially put them in harm’s way.
Being a child is all well and good and sometimes we may give up too much when we grow up but eventually, we have to put aside childish things. Paul in his infamous “love” chapter of 1 Corinthians wrote,
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)
In the last portion of yesterday’s passage, Jesus compares the people of that generation to children. The Amplified Bible’s translation is right on target (the bracketed portions really clarify what is being said).
“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation [who set aside God’s plan], and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, and saying, ‘We played the flute for you [pretending to be at a wedding], and you did not dance; we sang a dirge [pretending to be at a funeral], and you did not weep [so nothing we did appealed to you]. … Yet wisdom is vindicated and shown to be right by all her children [by the lifestyle, moral character, and good deeds of her followers].” vs31,32,35
The people of that generation, and really Jesus was pinpointing the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, were just pretending that they had a right relationship with God. They were going through all the motions of reality but they were zoned out to the realities of God’s Kingdom. They couldn’t stay out of trouble in their interactions with Jesus because they really only saw the here and now in their lives.
Lord Jesus, help us to grow up. Being a child is fun in its time but if we stay in that mode, we miss out on the wonderful things that maturity has to offer. It may be tough having to grow up, but it brings rewards to the fullest!
Mar 5th, 2020, Thurs, 12:10 pm
So Close, Yet So Far Away
An encouraging excerpt from the text of this Sunday’s sermon.
….the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
….never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! Psalm 121:3b-5a
Luke 7:24-35 (<<click to read the passage)
Recently I read a story about an explorer by the name of Guitan. He heard that there was a treasure in a cave just off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was a long journey but, regardless, he hired men to sail with him in pursuit of said treasure.
The voyage was replete with unexpected difficulties – storms and rough seas. The lost so much of their food and supplies that they despaired of reaching their destination. He wrote in his diary nearly every day in regard to the perils they faced.
One by one his companions perished due to lack of sustenance until eventually in 1598 Guitan and one of his sailors reached the shore. They were the sole survivors of their quest. They were so weak from lack of food and dehydration that their strength was nearly gone.
As they drug themselves to the cave, which they could see in the distance, the remaining sailor died and only by sheer determination did Guitan forge ahead. But to no avail, his last diary entry was from the entrance to the cave, it was one sentence long, and it said, “So close, yet so far away.” And there he died, within a few feet of the treasure for which he had given his life.
In today’s passage from Luke’s Gospel, we see where the common people – people who were often considered the dregs of society – embraced John’s message and repented. While the Pharisees and experts in the Law rejected his teachings. The common people, through John’s teachings, were ready to see Jesus for who He was – the Messiah! The religious leaders “rejected God’s plan for them” and in turn rejected the Messiah!
They saw Jesus, they witnessed his touch upon those who had no hope – physically or spiritually, they interacted with Him, they spoke to Him, they heard Him speak. They were so close to Jesus, yet so far away. The treasure of the ages was within their grasp but instead, they clung to their petty power and prestige, which went to the grave with them.
Lord Jesus, may we seek the treasure found only in You. May we set aside worldly reward, and may we lay hold of the prizes of Your kingdom! Amen.
Mar 4th, 2020, Wed, 12:37 pm
Doubt
I am grateful that You understand my limitations, Father. I feel that I am often repetitive in my prayers to You. But You understand. You know my heart regardless.
Luke 7:18-23 (<<click to read the passage)
Doubt. Don’t we all doubt at some point in time? For that matter, we probably have doubts on a fairly regular basis. Usually, we don’t bat an eye about our doubts but when someone doubts us? Now that’s a whole different story! That is a sure way for someone to get our dander up and ready to fight, don’t you think? We don’t like others questioning our motives or actions.
So, to quote the key phrase in Charles Sheldon’s, In His Steps, “What would Jesus do?”
Today’s passage deals with John the Baptist’s questions to Jesus. Matthew’s telling of this same incident (Matthew 11:1-19) makes it clear that John is already in prison. He gave his all in completing the task given to him by God, in being the forerunner of the Messiah. God enabled him to stand strong and to not be swayed by any man, regardless of their power and position. And because of the stance he took, he found himself in the clutches of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee.
He had to have known that his days were numbered and wanting to assure himself that he had completed his task, he sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” v19
Doubt. He was faithful and soon his life would be forfeit…had it been worth it?
Did Jesus bristle at the question? Did He get His dander up? Did His anger flare and did He launch into defending Himself? Nope…He didn’t even flinch…not even a little.
He said to them,
“Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard – the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” vs22-23
In essence? “Rest assured John. Your labors have not been in vain. See? The things the Messiah was to accomplish, I have accomplished. Oh, and one more thing, hang in there, don’t give up, God’s blessing is just around the bend.”-
There should be no guilt in asking questions, even when they are tinged with doubt. We serve a mighty God. My Life Application Study Bible has this to say,
“God can handle our doubts, and he welcomes our questions. Do you have questions about Jesus – about who he is or what he expects of you? Admit them to yourself and to God, and begin looking for answers. Only as you face your doubts honestly can you begin to resolve them.”
Amen!
Mar 3rd, 2020, Tues, 12:37 pm
What Is Outside, Shouldn’t Change What Is Inside
Father, on this drippy day two hymns come to mind, There Shall Be Showers of Blessings and There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today. All of Your gifts are blessings and regardless of what is outside, it shouldn’t change what is inside of me! Praise Your Holy Name!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
Well, as I reached for my Bible, I can’t help but think, “Oh my, it’s sure getting a little ragged!”
The dust jacket has worn thin on the edges and has worn through in quite a few places. A couple of the corners has worn down to the cardboard core of the cover. The spine is coming apart and at the top has actually ripped. Some of the pages are curled on the edges. Yep, my Bible is most certainly used but definitely not abused! And once again, what is outside has no effect whatsoever on what is inside!
Over the ages, many have tried to eradicate God’s Word, but they have failed because His Word is eternal! The Old Testament prophet Isaiah proclaimed,
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NLT)
Jesus Himself said,
Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. Matthew 24:35 (NLT)
I can’t help but think about how through history some cultures have diligently attempted to rid their people of its presence but no matter how hard they try, they could not erase it from the hearts and minds of those who had it written on their hearts and minds.
Many have devoted years to trying to disprove its authenticity and relevance…but to no avail.
Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Proverbs 30:5 (NLT)
The Word of God gives us a firm place on which to stand. It is always new, though we read it over and over again. God can bring a new application to light and we end up saying, “I’ve never seen that before!” or things that were just beyond our comprehension, we can now see clearly!
Lord Jesus, may we use Your Word to draw us closer to You – the Author of it all!
The B-I-B-L-E
Yes, that’s the book for me
I stand alone on the Word of God
The B-I-B-L-E
Mar 2nd, 2020, Mon, 12:28 pm