God touches me

“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him”
(Luke 5:12-13)

 

Reflection:
The next person we meet is a man ‘covered with leprosy.’ Unclean in terms of the Jewish Law he was forced to live away from other people. Dressed in rags he was required to call out “Unclean, Unclean” as a warning to anyone who came near to him. He was banished from his family and all society and would have come to see himself as disgusting to everyone, including the religious leaders and so too to God. He would have been disgusting even to himself.

He sees in Jesus his last hope and comes and falls down before Him crying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Two more things stand out for us,

• He does not ask for healing but for cleansing – for it is being unclean that has separated him from family, friends and other fellowship.
• He does not question Jesus ability – only whether He is willing.

Jesus response is beautiful.  He reaches out His hand and touches the man – touching the untouchable and recognising his humanity and loneliness. Then He follows it with the wonderful words, “I am willing.” And immediately the leprosy left the man. He was cleansed and healed in that moment.

Sin can be like a leprosy – making us unclean, and even disgusting, in the eyes of ourselves, others and even God. But the wonder of His love and grace revealed in Jesus Christ is that He has come to find us, reach out to us, and cleanse us from all sin, stain and guilt. And we, who were also the untouchable ones, find ourselves touched by the wonder of His cleansing and healing sacrifice – and bathed in the warm life-giving light of the risen Son.

Response:
Draw near to Him – He is not only able but very willing to restore you to true life.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I come to You with all the weakness and darkness and stains that have clouded my life and relationship with You, and with myself. Cleanse me too Lord that I may walk with You in the glorious light of  Your Life. Amen.

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Jesus of the Scars 1

“Look at my hands and my feet.
It is I myself! Touch me and see;
a ghost does not have flesh and bones,
 as you see I have.”
(Luke 24:39)

Reflection:
Hidden behind locked doors the disciples were startled when the Lord suddenly appeared amongst them. Jesus invited them to look at His scars and to touch them – proving for themselves that He was real and not an apparition.

There was more to it than that though. What He was showing them was that His resurrection body still had the scars from the wounds He had received whilst on the cross. This was to prove to them that this body – this person – was the same one that had hung upon the cross and been buried in the tomb. They had seen it all happen and would know the truth of it.

Because the resurrection was quite unexpected it took them some time to accept and receive this truth – notwithstanding the fact that Jesus had taught them about it. But they could not deny it and came to embrace it with great joy.

The Jesus who had died in this world and for this world was resurrected back into it. He had come back to them, the ones He had called. All was not lost – in fact all had just begun!

The resurrected Christ who met them where they were is the same Christ who meets us today where we are – and how we are. Out in the open as we go about our daily tasks, or behind the physical or emotional locked doors of our lives, Christ comes to us and invites us to reach out to Him. And as we shall see His scars have a message for us.

Response:
Jesus Christ is alive and is with me.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus by Your power You have overcome the power of sin and death. You are alive today in the fullness of Your glory. Lord I believe and trust in You. Amen.

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Seventh Word

“Jesus called out with a loud voice,
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
(Luke 23:46)

Lent 32

 

Death did not claim Jesus – it was His own voluntary act when all else had been accomplished.

• Mark says “he breathed His last”,
• Matthew “He gave up His spirit”,
• Luke “Father into Your hands I commit My spirit”
• John “He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit.”

Jesus who had said that He did only what the Father told Him to do remained faithful to that commission to the very end. No one could take His life from Him – He laid it down at the time, the place and in the manner decided by the Father, whose will He accepted and carried out perfectly.

Even now God was in complete control!

His enemies could rejoice. His disciples could stare at each other in numbed despair and desolation. But in heaven it is likely that the Father said quietly to His Son, ‘well done, good and faithful servant.’

All was done. All was achieved. Salvation was open to those who would believe. But we must never underestimate the agonised suffering in body, mind and spirit of Jesus. Nor must we overlook the anguished love of God as He watched and participated in the rejection, humiliation, abuse and crucifixion of Himself in His beloved Son. The cost was truly terrible.

Jesus – the Son of God – died for us

We are spectators in our own salvation. God give us the humility and grace to believe, accept and respond in faith. May we never take this unimaginable love, this awesome sacrifice, and the eternal consequences for us, lightly.

Contemplate Jesus on the cross for you – listen for His words.

Prayer:

Thank You Father for Your love. Thank You Jesus for Your sacrifice. Thank You Holy Spirit for showing me the Truth. Thank You God. Amen.

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What a Promise

“Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth,
today you will be with me in paradise”
(Luke 23:43)

Lent 27

Reflection:  
What a very strange thing for one dying man to say to another! It was strange enough that the criminal next to Him had asked Jesus to “remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Stranger still was the response from a man Himself not far from death! Within a few hours they were both dead – yet Jesus rose from that death in power and glory and suddenly His promise to the dying person next to Him takes on a new significance.

The love and grace of God is revealed in a new and breathtaking way. After a life that appears to have been socially and morally unacceptable a crucified man’s dying acknowledgement of the Lord took him from eternal darkness into eternal life with the Lord who told him, “You will be with Me in paradise.”

No conditions were placed upon him, no formal act of repentance was required, no further discussion or teaching were necessary. A very simple appeal, containing within it an acknowledgement of Jesus, and a faith that was probably not much bigger than a mustard seed, brought about an immediate and heart-warming reply. It brings out so clearly the wonderful truth and simplicity of Jesus great teaching,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” 
(John 3:16)

Most of us do have longer to live than that man. And so we would need to look at the ways in which our lives should respond to the love and grace of God. Yet there is a simple truth that we need to accept. Our righteousness with God – that is being made right with God – depends not on us but on Jesus. This is what the Cross was and is all about. We accept it and then respond.

“Jesus remember me” – “I promise you.” Does it get clearer and simpler than that? As simple as sincerely saying “Jesus, please be my Saviour and my Lord” – and then following Him.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, please help me to always acknowledge You as my Saviour and Lord – and may my life reflect this relationship. Amen.

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Such Love

“In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, `I am the Son of God'”
(Matthew 27:41-43)

Lent 25

Reflection:
There are times in life when we feel totally cornered, humiliated and rejected. We would like to lash out at others in ways that will defeat and silence them, and show our rightness and worth.

Throughout Jesus ministry it seems that the religious leaders were intent on either proving Him wrong or destroying Him. They refused to see the truth in what He said and did, and hid behind the security of their positions and their interpretation of the law. Jesus had remained silent throughout His trial. Now, at this final moment of ridicule and dismissal – of Him as the Son of God and Saviour of the world – how tempting it must have been to stride from the cross in splendour and majesty and to humiliate them in one glorious display of His Divinity.

“If God wants Him” – how that barb must have hurt, at this moment in time when He was about to cry out in desolation, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” And yet, Jesus did none of these things. He trusted and remained true to God and to the mission and ministry that God had given Him. And so His response to them all was the response of a God who loved them even to the end.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
(Luke 23:34)

We all have to learn that however rejected, overlooked, inadequate or hurt we may feel the answer is not to strike back in pain or hurt –  even although we sympathise with the disciples who asked Jesus,

“Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
(Luke 9:54)

Our identity and security is in the One God Almighty, the God of power and love, who has called us into relationship with Him and has committed Himself to us throughout eternity. In the fullness of His love the barbed arrows and hurts that come from others take their proper place and do not become overwhelming and destructive of our life and peace. It takes prayer, and the practice of confirming our identity and value in God, holding on to His promises to us and the wonderful gifts of both Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Out of that security and perspective we can in turn be sad for those who live and act from the perspective of a fallen world. We, however, are the beloved and eternal sons and daughters of the Living God. And so Jesus can say to us,

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”
(Luke 6:27-28)

The truth is that God’s love for us is far more powerful and healing than the destructive hurt of the world.

Prayer:

Father, please continue to pour Your love into my heart and help me to live as Your beloved child. Amen.

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Tough Tempting

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly,
and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground”
(Luke 22:44)

Lent 24

Reflection:
Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying about the trial, suffering and death that lay ahead of Him. He had a very real appreciation of what it entailed and He prayed,

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me;
yet not my will, but yours be done.” 
(Luke 22:42)

The thought of this suffering and death was almost overwhelming and it must have taken a supreme act of will, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, to enable Him to go forward. In doing so He fulfilled God’s will and purpose in a manner that glorified God and showed Jesus complete trust in Him. Thank God that He did so!

Down through the ages His disciples have also had to face tremendous trials, and go through terrible suffering, for Him. The anguish involved in facing up to these times would also have been dreadful, and they would have needed help and strength from the Lord. Whilst not every Christian suffers in this way, each one will know what it is to experience fear and the temptation to step aside from some challenge to the Christian faith and lifestyle. Something that we have done, or failed to do, or might be called upon to do, can settle upon us like a nightmare. Very often the sickening thought of what might happen is the worst of the fear. Our imaginations run riot and conjure up all sorts of possibilities and then adds them all together!

I gave my testimony many years ago to a gathering of business men and women and, rather hesitantly, mentioned that I lived with quite a bit of fear in my job situation with its pressures and responsibilities. I was totally amazed afterwards at how many people came up and shared their every day workplace fears with me. I had thought that I was the only one to be like that!

Fear and its effects are real. Instead of hiding them from ourselves and from God it is far better to take them to Him, acknowledge them, and then ask for His strength, faith and help in carrying us through the situation. Ask Him for, or find, a Scripture to hold on to. Remind yourself very often that He is with you, and keep praying for His strength and help. Pray also for the situation and for everyone else involved. Soak it in prayer. 

“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble”
(Psalm 46:1)

It is particularly important that we recognise and face up to any fears relating to our Christian calling, way of life and the ‘good works’ that God has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). We should not be allowing such fears to stand in our way.

Prayer:

Father, please help me to bring my fears to You, and to be aware that others will also have their own fears. Amen.

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Don’t Test God

“The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “`He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'” Jesus answered, “It says: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”
(Luke 4:9-12)

Lent 22

Reflection:
Nowhere in Scripture does God tell us that we can be either careless or seek to be sensational. To assume that, no matter what we do or how we do it, God will see that we come to no harm, or make everything work out, is to treat Him as some sort of a genie. To try and do flamboyant things in His name in order to attract attention is to make ourselves the primary focus. To seek to demonstrate our faith, and prove our relationship with Him, by getting God to put on a show is to abuse Him.

Jesus was quite clear in His teaching that He acted and spoke in response to God’s guidance and not His own wishes. He served God and did not try and get God to act as He, Jesus, wished. How very clearly this is brought out in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus submitted Himself to the will and purpose of His Father.

If this is how Jesus, the perfect Man, acted then we as His younger brothers and sisters need to take a leaf from His book. We have the promises of God, as well as the guiding, gifting and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit within us. He is not there to do what we want but to help us to do what God wishes. One of His primary purposes is to take the expressed will of God and to see that it happens. He will do that in and through us as well.

God does not invite us to come up with a purpose for Him, instead He has a purpose for us. This is something for which He has prepared us, gifted us and will empower us. Following His will is a part of our finding and becoming our true selves. We trust Him to make us who we were always intended to be.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  (Ephesians 2:10)

Prayer:

Father, You could not do more than You have done to show Your love for me. Please help me to accept it, believe it, trust it and respond to it. Amen.

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Priority

“The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: `Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'”
(Luke 4:5-8)

Lent 21

Reflection:
It seems as if the devil was offering Jesus the very things that He had come to recover as part of His kingdom – but without the hardship and effort involved in the way of the Cross. Here was a short cut that made it easy. 

The problem of course was that all this was not the devil’s to give. In addition the cost involved was to turn from God and worship Satan. It would be easy to try and say that the end justifies the means, but the truth is that you cannot have a good result if the process is flawed. And you cannot honour God by dishonouring Him!

We live in a world which appears to offer us everything we want on the easiest of terms. Too often people have found that in accepting that offer they have lost something which is very precious – their integrity and self-esteem. And through putting their own desires first, and listening to the seductive promises of the world, they have missed out on who they could have been as a son or daughter of God.

Jesus knew that the only way to choose was the one that placed God first. We cannot truly worship God with our lips if our lives tell a different story. In our pursuit of happiness, wealth and significance it is easy to try and cut corners, looking for the quick and easy options. However, personal integrity and the honouring of God our Father are not things that we can buy or lightly lay claim to. Integrity and reputation are easily lost and are sometimes never regained.

Yesterday can never be re-written, it must be lived properly today.

Prayer:

Father, please help me to discern the lies of the world and to live to Your honour and glory each and every day. Amen.

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A Child is Born

 

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(Art by Dewey)

Two blessed women

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
(Luke 1:39-41)

 

Reflection:
God was moving powerfully! He had begun this new part of His salvation plan with two mighty acts – both of which involved women in a special way.

Elizabeth, who had mourned the fact that she could not have a child, and had suffered the social indignity as a result, was delighted to be pregnant – even in her old age. And her son would be the great and promised forerunner of the Lord – one of whom Jesus would say,

“This is the one about whom it is written: “`I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John;” (Luke 7:27-28)

Elizabeth also had the privilege of meeting the Saviour’s mother, and knowing it at the time. It must have been a very special time that they enjoyed together, after Elizabeth had greeted her,

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Mary was obviously conscious of the great honour that had been bestowed upon her, even although she could not at the time have realised what would be involved, or the pain that she would have to bear when Jesus was into His ministry. The Holy Spirit was clearly inspiring her when she exclaimed,

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me– holy is his name”
(Luke 1:46-49)

Our lives can seem very ordinary to us at times, and we may feel that we are stuck in a physical or social backwater, where some of the blessings that others appear to enjoy have passed us by. We never know when God may come to us, or use us to fulfil a special purpose of His. Our names may, or may not, go down in history as did those of Elizabeth and Mary – but even the smallest stone in a Temple is of great importance, both  to the whole and to the other stones around it. Each is hand-picked by God! – and with a specific purpose in mind.

Response:
Allow God to choose how to use you, and thank Him that He does.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that You do know the hearts and longings of Your people, and that You do, indeed, have a special purpose and plan for each one of us. May Your will be done in me also. Amen.

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