Tools - Binoculars 4

2 Timothy 1:7-8

If we believe that Paul was led by the Spirit of God and not by the spirit of the world, then it would follow that we must have some confidence in what Paul said and did.  If we know that Paul was led to share the gospel message with the Gentiles, to open the love of God to those beyond the traditional faith of which he was a part, then it would follow that we also should be sharing the love of God with people outside of our faith.

Such an approach may be very challenging to us.  It may require a new way of looking at how we do things and how we live as believers.  We may even see this as something we would rather not accept, rather not believe.

But the working of the Holy Spirit in our faith is not there to just upset us or cause disharmony.  The working of the Holy Spirit that enables us to have a new perspective in our faith and of other people is meant to give us strength.

In this letter to the young church leader Timothy what is said of the spirit we receive from God?  What should our approach be?

Although allowing the Holy Spirit to give us a new way of looking at the world and our faith may disturb us in some ways, we must realize that God is working in us for the good of His kingdom.  God does not give us a spirit that makes us worry and fret.  Instead God gives us a spirit – perhaps a new spirit – that is meant to be bold and powerful.  This new spirit in us is intended to help us in loving other people, and we do that through the self-discipline of a trusting faith.

When we allow God to move in us and bring us a new faith, a new perspective, we need to be bold and daring.  We need to be willing to live out God’s love, perhaps in a new way, doing new things and accepting and reaching out to new people.

We must trust in the immeasurable abilities of God.  We must allow God to help us see our faith in a fresh way, perhaps a way that will make us stronger in our beliefs.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you be bold in your faith?

Tools - Binoculars 3

Ephesians 3:20-21

There is an expression often used in the business world in regards to changing the way things are.  When things need to be altered to a new way of doing things people will say, “We need to turn this elephant around.”  Just as an elephant is a large, cumbersome animal that would be difficult to get to change directions, so it is sometimes in our established thinking.  It is difficult to turn around the elephant of our traditional approaches.

Our faith and religious practices may be steeped in years of tradition.  How we look at God and the world may be based on generations of teaching.  We may have established ways of living the faith we are called to have.

But we must be open to the leading of God.  We must be willing to accept the new ideas and new beliefs that the Holy Spirit can bring to us.  This may be a drastic approach to the way we think and act.  It may require a complete turn-around in our beliefs.  Or it may simply bring a new life and new vigor to an already firm faith.

Whatever changes we may be facing in how we believe, we may have our doubts as to whether or not we can change.  But the words that conclude Ephesians 3 should give us confidence in the power of God.  What is God able to do?  What words of praise are offered?

It may be a challenge for us as believers to begin to accept people with whom we are not already familiar.  It may be a challenge for us to welcome strangers or to tolerate people who have not found the faith we have.  It may be daunting to think we may have to accept new ministries and outreaches, or change the ministry we already have.

But the presence of the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to look at our faith in a new way.  The presence and power of God can revitalize us, give us new energy, and open our hearts and minds to new ways of sharing God’s love.

When we doubt or ability to change we must trust in God’s ability.  Ephesians acknowledges that God is able to do more than we can imagine.  His power and love, the grace He gives us to do His work, is beyond what we can measure.  And that power and presence is with us throughout the many generations.  We must trust in the Lord to make us able to have a new way of living out our faith.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How will you show your trust in God’s immeasurable and unimaginable abilities?

Tools - Binoculars 2

1 Corinthians 2:12-13

Many driver’s education instructors prefer that their students attend classes before they spend any time being taught by their parents.  The reasoning is that these qualified teachers would rather teach about driving properly without the influence of the bad habits an older driver might impart.

In many ways our faith can become distorted and flawed if we follow too closely what we are accustomed to practicing in our religion.  Sometimes our practice of faith is influenced too heavily by human tradition.  Sometimes our faith can be guided more by human thinking than by the leading of God.

In his first letter to the believers in Corinth Paul talks about what has guided him in his teachings.  What has NOT influenced him?  What guides his messages?  What is the result?

It can be challenging to practice discernment, that ability to determine what is correct and what is flawed.  It is easy to have our faith and our beliefs influenced heavily by the traditions our churches practice and by the traditions we have honored over the years.  It is easy to be influenced by popular beliefs in our society.

But like Paul we must be certain that we are being guided by the Spirit of God and not the spirit of the world.  Our faith choices must be led by the Lord and not by the thoughts and desires of ourselves or other people.

As we work through our faith journey, as we make decisions about what we believe and how we will love out the love of God, we must seek direction from God.  We must open ourselves up through prayer and meditation, through Biblical study, through holy examples to receive the guidance that the Holy Spirit can provide.  We must open our hearts, souls and minds to the leading of the Spirit to gain a new way of looking at our faith.

With this new perspective on our relationship with God we can approach how we live out our faith in a new way.  We can become people who are able to truly love others.  We can be the people who share the good news of Christ with those who need to hear it.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How do you know you are being led by the Holy Spirit in your faith?

Tools - Binoculars 1

Ephesians 3:6

While church buildings are built to honor God, made to be large so they may hold a good number of people, rising high above many other buildings to remind us of the greatness of the Lord, they are often an intimidating sight to those who are not familiar with religion.  Those who are not acquainted with the ways of doing “church” may feel that they are not welcome in such imposing buildings.  But God’s grace and love is intended for all people.

As we continue our faith journey equipped with the backpack of God’s love and the light that Jesus brings, we can add another tool for our trip.  We can add binoculars to our collection of equipment.

Just as binoculars allow us to see things from a distance, allow us to see better the details of those objects that are far away, the third chapter of Ephesians gives us a new way of looking at our faith.  What is the mystery of faith?  What good news do the Gentiles receive?

Through the working of the Holy Spirit we can take on a new way of looking at faith.  It is no longer a mysterious and incomprehensible idea.  It is no longer an attitude that excludes the outsider.  Instead we must see that the love and grace – the care and forgiveness – that comes from God is open to all who will receive it.

Although at first it seemed that Jesus was born to be the Messiah for God’s chosen people as his ministry grew the message of salvation was offered not just to the Jews but to Gentiles as well.  God’s grace was extended to those who were outside the Jewish faith.

This message continues to be offered to all people through the sacrifice of Christ.  The mystery of faith is that God’s love and mercy is meant for everyone and not just a select group.  Paul and his followers were given direction from God to share the message of salvation to those who were not already part of the predominant faith.  The Gentiles were then welcomed to share in the good news of Jesus.

Like the Gentiles in the time of Paul, the people who are not part of our faith body are still welcome into the grace of Christ.  We must see our faith in a new way.  We must understand that God’s love extends beyond the walls of our church and is open to all who will accept he Lord.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you look at your faith differently?

Results 5

1 John 3:24

I have shared in the past that my family was not and still is not a very demonstrative family. We seldom say “I love you” to one another. And yet for my entire life I have known that my parents loved me, as did my sister and brother.

How could I possibly know that if we rarely said it? I knew it in the way we dealt with one another. I knew my parents loved me because of the way they sacrificed for my benefit and how they provided me with good things. They lived out their love for me.

John has a few things to say about the results of our faith. What does he say about those who obey the commands of Jesus? How do we know the Spirit of Jesus is in us?

This concluding statement in Chapter 3 can seem a little vague, but it is a powerful summation of what John is saying in the chapter. If we believe in Jesus, then we have faith in Jesus. If we have faith in Jesus, then we live in Jesus.

And what does that mean? It means that we act as Jesus acted. Our behavior is like the behavior of Jesus – we care for others, we actively try to do good for other people, we are compassionate and giving.

But to live in Jesus means that such an attitude and such behavior is not something we force ourselves to do. It may be something that does not come easily at first and so may require some force in the beginning. But when we truly begin to live in Jesus and make him a part of who we are this loving nature of ours comes naturally and flows freely.

When we have achieved that result of our faith then we will know that what John says here is true. We are living in Jesus and he is living in us. We will know that by the Spirit God has given us. We will be living out this Spirit of godliness, of tremendous and genuine love for others. It will be a natural part of who we are.

The result of faith is living faith. If we will really believe in Jesus, if we will really have faith in God, then we will live out that faith in the way we think and feel and act in all we do. Our faith will go beyond words and become the act of living.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you live out your faith?

Grow 5

James 1:4

When my brother and his wife bought their first house my sister-in-law was discouraged because the place was not what she wanted it to be. There was a great deal of work that would need to be done to get the place where they wanted.

Her father explained that getting the house of your dreams takes time and work. It doesn’t all come at once. Eventually, however, the vision of the perfect place could become a reality if they applied themselves.

James has some advice for those who have faith. What is required for maturity? What will we have when we reach spiritual maturity?

Just as our plans and desires for our home, our job, even our families may not come in an instant, our faith requires some work. We will all face trials and troubles. Many will challenge our beliefs and our ability to stand firm in our faith.

This is to be expected. It is also something that, in some ways, we should welcome. The ability to withstand the challenges of faith and the perseverance to carry through will help us grow stronger. In time we will reach the maturity, the completeness we desire in our faith.

And with that wholeness, that perfection we seek, we will not lack what we need. As we become more complete in our faith, as we grow, the act of being a Christian, of being a true believer will become easier for us. We will have more abilities to fight the fears that inhibit us, the doubts that hinder us.

With a strong faith, a faith that has persevered through the challenges, we will be more ready to accept the responsibilities of being a child of God. With a more complete faith we can more easily resist the temptations of life and our own fears and selfish desires, and live a much more holy existence.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can help you persevere in your faith?

Grow 4

Romans 12:2

We’ve all heard the saying, “If I knew then what I know now.” Looking back at my childhood, teen years, years in college – even the first years of married life – I can sometimes cringe with the foolish decisions I made. I get angry with the “me” of the past and how timid I was, how easily manipulated and intimidated by others.

With maturity and growth – physical, mental and emotional – comes more abilities and a stronger faith. As I grow physically older and more experienced I am more able to deal with the situations of life and I am better at standing firm in the face of adversity.

In his letter to the Romans Paul offers encouragement on spiritual maturity. What should believers NOT do? What should we do? What will we be able to do when we are transformed?

Our faith and our relationship with God is a journey, a growth process. Just like our bodies and minds, our beliefs and spiritual abilities take time to grow and develop.

When we are immature in our faith we can be easily manipulated and led astray. But with time, through experiences and Biblical study, our faith can grow into a deeper maturity. We gain strength and ability in our souls as we move forward in faith, as we stand the trials and challenges in life.

If we can apply ourselves to our spiritual growth, if we can nurture our souls and work to be stronger Christians we can be renewed in our spirit. We can have a stronger faith and greater abilities at living out our faith. We can grow to be more like Jesus in our attitudes and actions.

And with that growth we become more complete. We become more whole as believers. The more mature we grow as believers the closer we come to the perfection Jesus calls for in Matthew 5:48. We become more able to live according to the perfect will of God.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can your faith be transformed into a more complete faith?

Grow 3

Jonah 3:5-6

Ministering to the dying is one of the biggest challenges I face as a pastor. I don’t always know what words to offer someone faced with death. Several years ago I was trying to offer comfort to a person who was terminally ill. In our conversation about death he smiled at me and said, “I’m anxious to see what lies ahead.”

The conversation was much easier after that. This man facing death displayed more spiritual maturity than I had, more than I had even seen in almost anyone else. When we are spiritually mature, spiritually complete – perfect – then we are able to do more good.

We saw Jonah have his faith mature when he went through the ordeal of being swallowed by a big fish. Now that his faith was matured beyond what it was Jonah was able to serve God. How did the people of Nineveh respond to Jonah’s preaching? How did the king respond?

Just ahead of this passage we learn that the city of Nineveh was a very important city. It was so large that it required three days to pass through all of its streets. The task of preaching to this city was a frightening and daunting one for Jonah. He did not feel up to the work.

But because of his ordeal on the sea, the ordeal of being swallowed by a fish, but also the realization that God saved him, Jonah matured and moved closer to the perfection we are called to. His faith grew. His faith came closer to wholeness and completeness.

With this stronger faith Jonah was able to actually go to the huge city of Nineveh and preach a message of repentance. The result was that all the people of the city actually listened to this stranger. Even the king heard the message and responded by dressing in sackcloth and ashes as a sign of penance.

We too must mature in our faith. We should grow. Or faith needs to become stronger and more complete. With a stronger faith we can accomplish more for the kingdom of God. We can be more willing to step forward and dare to do good in God’s service. And that work can change lives.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What will it take for you to do more for God?

He Seeks Us 4

John 15:16

When I work with couples planning a wedding I explain some of the requirements of the wedding service. There needs to be a part in the service where those getting married declare that they have come of their own free will (you may know it as the father giving away the bride). Weddings are not legal if both persons are not willing to take part in it.

This can also be a very meaningful time in the ceremony, however. By making any type of declaration of this sort you are stating that you have chosen the one you are marrying. This is the person you have selected to receive your love.

As Jesus was preparing for the crucifixion, especially preparing the disciples for what was about to happen, he explained some things to them. Who chose whom? What does Jesus want the disciples to do?

I can imagine that hearing this statement could really build the esteem of the disciples. Jesus had selected them. They were chosen by the Lord to be in a relationship with him.

And what he expected of them was that they were to bear fruit – that is, they were to do the good works of God’s kingdom. They were to express the love and compassion of God to a world in need, and Jesus would be with them as they did this work.

Now we must be aware that we are like the disciples. We have been chosen by Jesus. He is the one who has selected us. Jesus has desired that we be in a relationship with him.

And he calls us to do the work of the kingdom. But we will not be alone. Jesus will be present with us in all that we do if we will open ourselves up and welcome the Lord who seeks us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be reminded that Jesus has chosen you for this relationship?

He Seeks Us 2

Mark 1:16-18

Comedian Bill Cosby has observed in his routine that children need to be bombarded with requests from their parents so that the message will eventually sink in. He claims that if you want your child to come to you, you must go beyond saying “come here” and instead say “come here come here come here come here come here come here come here.”

There seems to be some truth to this, and it also applies to most adults. There are few people who will respond immediately to any request you might have. But Jesus seemed to have the ability to get others to respond to him.

Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ call to his disciples. Who did Jesus see? What did he request? What did he promise? What was their response?

Whether or not Jesus addressed total strangers or people he had known for some time we cannot be certain. Were Simon and Andrew simply two men at the seashore or were they two people he had met with on previous occasions? And was their response as immediate as what is presented, or has this been edited for impact?

We can easily imagine any of these scenarios. Jesus has the ability to turn a person’s heart with a single word, and his presence is enough to make people change their lives completely.

What is important here is that Jesus was the one who sought out his disciples. He did not wait for them to come to him. He went out and gathered them, summoning them from their mundane lives and giving them the promise of an incredible ministry fishing for men.

As we consider the many ways in which we can encounter Jesus and enter into a relationship with our God, we must know that we are being sought by God. Jesus is not only waiting for us to come to him, but he is also seeking us with his love. He calls us into a relationship with him that he might change our lives and make all things new for us.

We can seek Jesus. We can realize we need him. And we can be attentive to his call in our hearts, a call into a bright and energizing relationship with the Lord.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be ready to hear the Master’s call in your life?

He Seeks Us 1

John 6:35

I remember very clearly the day I went with a friend, Ed, to his girlfriend’s house. Her grandmother happened to be visiting from Kentucky that weekend and she was busy in the kitchen cooking green beans, ham, and cornbread when we got there. When the food was ready Ed and I were invited to sit down and join them all for dinner. We did, and the food was so good I had three helpings.

While I was eating, and having trouble maintaining some decorum because of the delicious food, I was aware of what poor manners I was displaying by eating so much. But Ed told me that it probably pleased his girlfriend’s grandmother to know her food was appreciated. Others have pointed out the same thing. I need not worry about my manners at that meal. I was welcome at that table.

The same is true of our Savior. We are welcome at the Lord’s Table, even if we do not deserve to be there. In a discussion about food Jesus took an opportunity to make a point about himself. What does he say of himself? What does he offer to those who are hungry and thirsty?

In this very poignant moment, Jesus makes a very clear comparison about himself. Jesus is the bread of life. Jesus is the substance that sustains and feeds us. He is as basic to our existence as the staple of bread that keeps us alive.

And, being that bread of life, Jesus invites us to take part in him. We are encouraged to encounter Christ in a very personal way. We are invited to make Christ part of who we are.

But there is more involved than that. Not only are we invited into this encounter with Jesus, we are sought out by Jesus. He desires to have that encounter with us. He desires that we encounter him and make him a basic part of how we live and act.

Jesus brought the disciples together to share the bread and the wine, the body and blood of Christ. We too are invited and sought after to come to the Lord’s Table and make the sacrifice of Jesus that transforming moment in our own lives.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you welcome Christ’s invitation?

We Seek Him 5

Mark 3:31-35

During that stretch of years when the relatives in my generation were all getting married, my cousins and I would often joke around by declaring to one another, “Hey, after this wedding we’ll be related!” Well, of course we would be related after the wedding. We were related before the wedding.

The joking aside, people joining together in marriage not only create their own small family, they become a link between two larger families. In a sense these separate families are united and a new family emerges.

Jesus himself made reference to a new type of family relation during his ministry. Who has come to visit Jesus? What question did Jesus pose? What does he say of those who do God’s will?

We are looking forward to this coming Sunday when two adults will be joining the church as new members. Joining the church is a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ and a public commitment to becoming part of the church family. As members of a church family we have a shared claim on Jesus as our Savior, as well as a shared sense of caring for one another.

When we seek Jesus to have an encounter with him and enter into this relationship of faith, we are becoming part of a much larger group of people. We are becoming part of all those who have accepted Jesus. We are becoming part of all those who have believed and served the Lord in all the world.

As we seek Jesus and find him, we are changed. We are no longer alone, but united with the faithful across space and time. But there are some requirements that are expected of us. Just as joining the church is a declaration of the faithful behavior we will exhibit, declaring your belief in Christ is a commitment to doing the good work of God.

To be a brother or sister to Jesus we must not only seek him, we must do God’s will. And what is God’s will? In John 6:40 Jesus says, “my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life.” For us to do the will of God means that we will take part in helping others seek Jesus to have that relationship with him.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What do you do that makes you a brother or sister to Jesus?

We Seek Him 4

Luke 11:9-10

There was a time a few years back when our doorbell stopped working for some reason. We have since had it replaced, but when it wasn’t working it was not unusual for any one of us in the family to unexpectedly discover a person standing on our porch waiting patiently for someone to come to the door. If a person wanted our attention during that time they needed to knock.

Jesus gives some simple instruction and encouragement for anyone who would like to have an encounter with him. What three approaches are presented? What will happen if we do these things?

There are lots and lots of people who are either intimidated by the Bible because it is so complicated, or they are intrigued by the Bible because it is so mysterious. Many people view religion as a complex maze of secret words and mystifying rituals that somehow, if we do it right and we’re lucky, will connect us to God. But that is not true at all.

God is not hiding from us. Jesus is not a puzzle that must be figured out, and the Bible is not a code book.

Jesus wants us to have an encounter with him. God wants us to be in a relationship with Him. And to seek Jesus, to find God, we must do the simplest of tasks. We need to ask God to be in a relationship with us. We need to seek Jesus by trying to learn about who he is. We need to knock on the door of the Lord.

How do we do these things? To seek God you should be certain that you are attending worship as often as you can. You should read your Bible, even if it is just a verse or two a day (and since you are receiving the “10/2 Grow” you are doing that).

But simple prayer is the first step. If you truly want to be a Christian and you truly want Jesus in your life, all you need to do is pray to Jesus and invite him into your heart. Say, “Lord Jesus, I want you in my heart and my life.”

Pray it every morning for a few days and see if your attitude in life doesn’t change. I believe that Jesus will never turn away from us, so if you invite him in – really, honestly desire him to be with you – he will come into your life and that incredible, rewarding, fulfilling relationship will begin.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Are you ready to ask, seek and knock?

We Seek Him 3

Luke 18:18-22

I used to absolutely dread going to the Department of Motor Vehicles to have anything done. It seemed that every time I went I had to wait in line for nearly an hour only to get to the counter and learn that I did not have all the documents required. It can be frustrating to find out that you are not prepared for whatever it is you are planning to do.

Jesus encountered a rich man once. In the encounter Jesus had to let the man know that he wasn’t as ready as he thought he was. What question does the man ask? What “good things” does Jesus list as requirements? Where does the man stand as far as these commandments? What is he lacking?

If you continue reading this story you will find that the rich ruler, or rich young man, is unable to do all the things that Jesus has listed as requirements to inherit eternal life. When he first came we can imagine that he may have been feeling rather cocky. He already obeyed the Ten Commandments – no adultery, no murder, no stealing, and so on.

But Jesus adds one more thing as a requirement for eternal life. Give away everything.

This story is frequently used when talking about financial giving. I wonder, though, if Jesus’ response about selling everything was specific for that person. He was rich. What he lacked was the ability to give up his money.

I think the overall message of this encounter is not about money, but about commitment. If we will seek Jesus we must be committed to that encounter and that relationship. We can’t just go through the rituals of faith – I sit in a pew; I sing the hymns; I pray, therefore I am a good Christian. We must be completely committed.

The rich man claimed to be a good man and probably thought himself very devout. But really, how hard is not to steal, murder or commit adultery? His investment in his faith was minimal and superficial.

Jesus calls us to seek him, but we must seek him with conviction and with a whole-hearted attitude.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What must you “sell” so that you can seek after Jesus?

We Seek Him 2

John 3:1-3

When our children first expressed an interest in being involved in sports at our local school we wondered what was required to get on the team. The schools where my wife and I attended when we were younger required try-outs, demonstrations of skill and ability, to be chosen for the team. When we asked about our local school someone from church told us the way to get on the team. “Just show up,” he said.

The requirements were not as extreme as we anticipated. Likewise, having a relationship with Jesus is not something you can buy nor does it require a special code. In John 3 we have an encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus. Nicodemus was seeking a relationship with Christ and what was required was not exactly what he was expecting.

Who was Nicodemus? What would you assume about Nicodemus and his faith based on that information? What does Nicodemus know about Jesus? What requirement for seeing the kingdom of God does Jesus give?

As a high-ranking member of the Jewish faith we might assume that Nicodemus would know how to have a relationship with God. But when Jesus tells him what is required Nicodemus is taken off guard. If you continue with the story of this encounter (John 3:1-12) you will see that Nicodemus was perplexed by what was required.

If we seek a relationship with Jesus there is little that is required of us. We need to be merciful and acknowledge God as Lord of all (see Hosea 6:6). But if we will be in a relationship with Jesus things will need to change. We will need to be different than what we are now.

To see the kingdom of God, that is to be part of this incredible experience of being a child of God and companion to Christ, we must be born again. We must have our spirit changed.

We need to let go of our former, earthly and selfish attitudes and take on a heavenly attitude. We must allow the Holy Spirit to give us a new spirit within, a new attitude and desire to live a good and holy life of compassion, love and care.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Are you willing to be born again?

We Seek Him 1

Hosea 6:6

We have just recently celebrated Mother’s Day and soon we will be honoring fathers as well. As we think about holidays where we give gifts we may be struggling with exactly what we are supposed to give to that person who will receive the gift. It is always nice to get a gift that is exactly what you wanted, something that fits your needs or desires perfectly. However, I believe what is most essential is not the specific gift, but rather the idea that you took time to think about that gift and remember the recipient.

We encounter Jesus in several different ways in our faith. We are invited into communion with God. Sometimes we need the help of God. And other times we realize that we need to have that relationship so we seek Jesus.

As we look at how we enter into a relationship with our Lord we can ask ourselves what it is that we are supposed to bring to this encounter. Are we supposed to give expensive gifts? Are we supposed to act like someone we are not? Are there certain words we need to speak?

In truth, although God can use the gifts we bring and there are certain words we may use as we worship the Lord and pray to God, the most essential part of encountering Christ is our attitude. Hosea offers a message from God. What does God want? What does God not want?

If we truly want to encounter Jesus there aren’t any special tricks or rituals we need to perform to have that relationship. Instead, we need to come to the Lord with a willing heart and a soul that desires to be in unity with Christ. To achieve that, we must begin with a heart of mercy. We must come to Jesus with a humble attitude acknowledging that God is the Almighty One who is to be honored and praised.

We can’t buy a place in God’s love. We can’t sacrifice enough things in our life to make God reserve a place for us. God wants us to be loving and caring, humble and merciful. God desires that we should desire the relationship that He wants to have with us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be certain to have the right attitude when you come to God?

We Need Him 5

Revelation 1:17-18

In an episode of the television show M*A*S*H many years ago, the character of Doctor “Hawkeye” Pierce performed a risky procedure on an injured soldier. After the operation Hawkeye made a comment to the patient that one reason the surgery had been successful was because the patient had looked at the doctor with confidence. The doctor knew the patient trusted him, and with that trust the doctor had his own confidence.

In Revelation we have an account of the visions God gave to a man named John. The book ultimately is a message of hope for humanity, although some images may be disturbing. John’s first encounter with the Lord, in fact, is somewhat overwhelming.

How did John react? What encouragement does Jesus give? What qualities does Jesus profess about himself?

As we examine our own situations, looking at our physical health needs and our emotional needs, we must first determine if we trust Jesus enough to turn to him for the healing we might need. Who is this Jesus? Is he just a smart teacher or wise philosopher? Was he a trickster or a clever magician?

No, absolutely not. Jesus was and still is the very Son of God. He is the Beginning and the End. He holds the keys of death and Hades. Jesus is the one who is in control of all things.

With that knowledge, with that confidence and assurance, we can turn to Jesus with complete trust and faith. He is able to heal us of our physical infirmities. He is able to ease our troubled hearts and minds. He is able to cleanse a sin-sick soul.

As we consider how Jesus encounters us, as we see Jesus as the Great Physician whom we need, let us bear in mind always the power and authority that Jesus has.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be confident as you turn to Jesus?

We Need Him 3

Matthew 20:30-34

Today’s passage is a little longer than most days, but it presents a story which flows rather quickly. Who does Jesus encounter? What do they want? What do the people in the crowd do? How does Jesus respond?

This is a simple story of healing from the Book of Matthew. As Jesus is traveling he passes two blind men who call out to him for healing. There is nothing wrong with that, but for some reason the crowd wants them to be quiet and leave Jesus alone.

But they persist until they get the attention of the Lord. Now Jesus addresses them directly – what do you want? Obviously, they want the ability to see. And so, with great compassion, Jesus touches the men and they are healed.

It’s a wonderful story but, of course, we can’t just leave it at that. There must be something deeper going on.

The first thing that I notice is that these two men who are in need of healing sought out Jesus by way of calling to him. They knew they had a need and they were willing to do something about it. When they were aware of his presence they tried to get his attention. Now, for some reason, others wanted them to be silent.

Could this be a message to us that we need to be willing to be honest about our need for Jesus in spite of what others think? If we need the healing power of Jesus – whether physically, emotionally or spiritually – we should be willing to call out to our Savior without fear of what others may think of what we are doing.

The two men were self-aware enough to know what they needed. They needed the ability to see.

What about us? Although we may have the physical capacity to see, we may need the self-awareness to know that we need to have the eyes of our spirit opened so that we are more sensitive to how we can live in the Kingdom of God. We may need to have Jesus touch us so that our vision is the vision that God gives us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you get new “sight” from God?

We Need Him 2

Isaiah 53:5

As the summer nears we are planning our vacation. But I can’t simply walk away from my responsibilities in the churches. Whenever I am going to be out of town for any reason I must arrange to have someone take my place in the pulpit. Someone has to do the work for me while I am away, but it will only be for a week.

This is nothing new to most people. Whenever we deal with a replacement for ourselves – someone to cover our job, someone to hold our place in line – it is usually a temporary situation.

But we can see in Isaiah that Jesus has been a replacement for us for a much more important reason and for a much longer time. What has Jesus suffered? Why did he do this? How do we benefit?

We know we need Jesus to give us comfort and healing. We know that we need the presence of Christ to help guide us, to show us how to live a better life. It is simple to turn to Jesus in times of stress and fear. It is simple to turn to Jesus when we are sick.

What we too often overlook is how much we need Jesus for our salvation. Because we are human – mortal – we are easily tempted into the earthly way of thinking and acting. We sin. We commit selfish acts. We do the wrong things.

Because of this we deserve punishment. We deserve to suffer. But God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to be our replacement in the punishment. Instead of suffering for our own wrongs, Jesus has stepped in and suffers in our place.

So, we need him. We need Jesus because he is the one who was able to be pierced and crushed for the wrongs we have committed. He is the one who is able to endure the punishment we have earned. We need Jesus to be spared what we deserve.

And through Jesus we are brought into that place of total healing, of complete grace and love – of forgiveness – with God. We need Jesus for our soul-healing.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can remind you of the soul-healing Jesus offers?

We Need Him 1

Matthew 4:23-24

For the past two weeks a family in our church has had to cope with the sudden illness of a loved one. The medical problem came on unexpectedly and was very serious. In those days and hours in the hospital there were many times of prayer, many times of fear and worry, and many times when we all relied on the strength of God to make it through.

Sickness and injury are nothing new. People of all times and places have had struggles with health. In Matthew we have a brief summarization of the work Jesus did. What does this passage tell us of Jesus? What was the response of the people?

Most everyone has had to deal with themselves or a loved one in the hospital. Whenever our health fails or we are injured, when we are stricken with illness and need the medical attention we can only find in the hospital, it is a simple step to turn to Jesus for that assurance. We can see that Jesus was a healer. He restored the physically ill.

Calling on the Lord can be a wonderful source of spiritual strength as well as being a time of physical healing. We need God to help us in difficult times, and Jesus encounters us when we call upon him for help.

But if we look at what he did when he went throughout Galilee we can see that an encounter with Christ should be more than simply a help when we are ill. As Jesus healed he also preached. He preached the good news – the message that we can be forgiven and saved from our sin if we will accept him as our Savior. The healings he performed were a part of the whole healing process – he healed the soul as well as the body. He restored people completely.

We can call on Jesus to help us in times of illness or injury, but we need to be certain that our encounter with Christ is a relationship of total healing, not just a temporary help in desperate moments. Jesus heals not just the body, but the soul and the mind and the heart also.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you turn to Jesus to be healed in your soul as well as your body?