Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

“Ah, you came so close…” How many times have we heard that in our lives while in pursuit of getting the job we wanted most, of winning a game we love to play, of going the extra mile to win the race or achieve a goal we set for ourselves? 

In my youth, I remember hearing slick, carnival barkers shout, “ah, you came so close, try again” as they lured us to play their games of chance at the state fair.  The games were rigged in ways to allow you to come close to winning so that it kept you playing the game. (Mm, our enemy plays those games with our minds, too!)

As we work hard to achieve the life goals we set for ourselves, using all the resources we have at hand, leaning on others to help and encourage us, we do not want to hear, “ah, you came so close”.  Rather, we want to achieve our goal.  It’s what humans do, right?  But are missing the point of life?  Are we coming close but not quite getting it?

Luke 9, The Message

Your Business Is Life

^43-44 While they continued to stand around exclaiming over all the things he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Treasure and ponder each of these next words: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into human hands.”

⁴⁵ They didn’t get what he was saying. It was like he was speaking a foreign language and they couldn’t make heads or tails of it. But they were embarrassed to ask him what he meant.

^46-48 They started arguing over which of them would be most famous. When Jesus realized how much this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side. “Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me,” he said. “And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference.”

⁴⁹ John spoke up, “Master, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t of our group.”

⁵⁰ Jesus said, “Don’t stop him. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally.”

^51-54 When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality. But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality. When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?”

^55-56 Jesus turned on them: “Of course not!” And they traveled on to another village.

⁵⁷ On the road someone asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.

⁵⁸ Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.”

Jesus said to another, “Follow me.”

⁵⁹ He said, “Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father’s funeral.”

⁶⁰ Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!”

⁶¹ Then another said, “I’m ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.”

⁶² Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus presents a new perspective concerning the “business of life.”  Jesus teaches new ways of thinking and behaving in a race He sets before us, a race we will win if we follow what He says as our “life coach.”  “Follow Me,” Jesus simply says, “no turning back, just follow Me.”  No, “yeah, buts,” just follow.  Life eternal is the end goal. (Maybe “reverse engineering” might help.)

Jesus teaches The Twelve, and others who want to follow, a valuable lesson that is a matter of life or death.  “Treasure and ponder each of these next words:  The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into human hands,” says Jesus to his beloved.  But, how did they respond? –With a quarrel over who is the greatest!  Ah, guys, you came so close…

They didn’t get what Jesus was saying and didn’t ask questions.  Instead, they chose ignorance as a backup plan and argued like children over who would be the greatest in God’s Kingdom.  There is a distinct difference in being childish and childlike in our faith and Jesus makes that point clearly with a child He takes by the hand.  Ah, you came so close…  (Sigh.) 

Friends, do we do this?  Do we miss the point by not asking questions about what we do not understand?  Do we decide to fall back on our own ways of getting ahead in the world?  Are we too lazy to take time to ponder and treasure the very words of Jesus to us?  We must admit; we are “famous” for procrastinating Jesus’ message of being and doing with God first because it seems hard so we ignore it all together.  (Ouch)

Blame games with other childish behaviors easily surface when we come close to following Jesus but make excuses to not follow so that we can accomplish our own will as opposed to His will. 

“I’ve got to take care of business first.”

“That other guy is doing stuff but he is not one of us.”

“That town was rude to us, let’s incinerate it!”

“I’ll be right there…after the funeral business.”

Jesus responds, “Your ‘business’ is Life.” I am reminded a beautiful, comforting conversation between Jesus and His closest followers recorded in the gospel of John.  Thomas begins the conversation, not so much doubting, but with a compassionate cry of his heart to know more.  Jesus’ disciples have put aside self to seek truth and ask questions seeking understanding.  Listen in on the conversation…

“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 6:5-14, NIV

Our response?

Believe and be saved. 

Ask questions when we do not understand and receive answers from the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

“Ponder and treasure” what He says to us for His words give Life and set us free from the bondage of sin with discernment to avoid the slick traps of evil.  Peace comes, the kind only Jesus can give. 

Trust and obey for there’s no other way…

Ah, now we get it!  The closer we get to Jesus, the closer we come to thinking and responding to life like Him who is Life!  To God be the glory!

Lord,

Thank you for showing us the Way to Truth that give Life every single day. Thank you for saving our souls by cleansing our hearts.  Thank your for being the answer to all our Life questions.

In Jesus Name, Amen

As church leaders, we are highly encouraged to go to events that teach us methods of successful ministry in the work of God’s Kingdom.  We attend grand seminars, local workshops, along with denominational gatherings eager to learn the best ways to reach more people.  We hear from those who do the work well.  These men and women have accomplished attendance goals, created great programs of ministry, and have the latest and best ideas about how to do the work.  These professionals tell of the “must have” resources that will take us to the “next steps” of greater ministry.  After a few days of energetic presentations, we are convinced. 

Then we walk down the mountain, to the front lines of what God has given us to do at home.  It seems all that we learned we cannot mimic much less apply to where we are.  We are discouraged.  We think we will never be “good enough” to do what others have done.  Why?  The enemy loves it when we in this position of comparing ourselves to others in ministry but Jesus has the answer!  Jesus steps in and brings us back to who and what is Truth!

Luke 9, The Message

^37-40 When they came down off the mountain the next day, a big crowd was there to meet them. A man called from out of the crowd, “Please, please, Teacher, take a look at my son. He’s my only child. Often a spirit seizes him. Suddenly he’s screaming, thrown into convulsions, his mouth foaming. And then it beats him black-and-blue before it leaves. I asked your disciples to deliver him but they couldn’t.”

⁴¹ Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring your son here.”

^42-43 While he was coming, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into convulsions. Jesus stepped in, ordered the foul spirit gone, healed the boy, and handed him back to his father. They all shook their heads in wonder, astonished at God’s greatness, God’s majestic greatness.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The disciples tried to heal by copying what Jesus did.  They probably said what Jesus said while making the same moves as He did, but they did not have the same results.  So, what went wrong?

Jesus tells them.  They somehow left God out of the equation!  Jesus exclaims, “No sense of God—no focus on God!”  Ouch. 

If they were paying attention more to the habits of Jesus than they did His results, they might have picked up on the God in Jesus.  Jesus never did and said anything without first going to God, His Father.  Jesus consistently got away by Himself to ask for God’s will concerning all things in His earthly ministry! 

Ah, the secret sauce…seek God first. Be still before Him.  Be still.  Be. While in the humbled posture of “being” before God, we ask what HE wants.  “May your Kingdom come; Your will be done” as the beginning conversation.  Then we listen.

Seek God first.  Believe what God says.  Trust and obey His direction and His timing. We become anxious, tired, discontented, and discouraged in the work when we do not.

What are those things that Jesus consistently told his disciples?  (“How many times do I have to go over these things?”)  How about this for starters? —

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:31-33

I know what you might be thinking… but to attract people who don’t know Jesus, we need…(the list is endless) great, powerful resources.  I agree—but first God!  We must go to God first and focus on what God says about when and how to do it!  God will decide and provide where He guides. 

Do we really think God doesn’t know what will attract people to His relentless love, unchanging compassions, and faithful promises?  He knows.  And get this, most times, God uses our lives (not our stuff) lived in front of people to draw them to Jesus who lives in us! 

When God is the details of our lives—it shows!  We are different and live differently when led by God.  THIS is what attracts people to God in us, who lives in us, because of the work Jesus did for us!  “SHINE, make ‘em wonder what you’ve got…”

“For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.” Colossians 1:27, NLT

After many years of workshops and seminars while called to be and do God’s Kingdom work, it has become crystal clear to me—God first. God in the middle of it all. God in every detail.  God leading us in the race “to the finish.”  (Even as I write this, I pray, “God lead me” with every word…)

Jesus also said that our greatest resource is our strong attachment to The Vine!

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 

Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. John 5:4-8, NLT

The Holy fruits, that please God, being produced in us are, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” – some of the traits of God’s character!  (Galatians 5:22-23)  Our “goodness” come from God who is Good.

People are more attracted to God’s character growing in us, after the gatherings in His Name, because of their daily need of a Savior and Lord.  They watch to see what we do who say we believe.  Living God’s way, by His Holy Spirit leading, while attached strongly to Him, is what makes us different and stand out to a dark world in need.  But, remember it is God who heals the broken hearted, mends troubled minds, and fills seeking souls—we merely point the Way to God through Jesus our Savior.

The disciples learn a hard but detrimental lesson in faith and following. And we have, too.  Seek, focus, listen and obey God. He knows what He is doing. 

Believe and be saved.

Lord,

Thank you for these thoughts that center our being once more.  We haven’t arrived and still need the work of your salvation in us.  Lead us, Lord.  All day long and into the night may your will be done.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Try to imagine the words of your new best friend, one you have been hanging with for a few years, a person you respect, love, and have given up everything and everyone else to follow as he explains to you that someday soon he will suffer greatly. 

In the same breath your beloved friend and teacher tells of how he will go through the ordeal of a trial, be found guilty, be tortured, and then be put to death—as ordered by religious leaders!  But not to worry—on the third day, after all this—I will come back alive! 

Wait, what now?

Luke 9, the Message

Don’t Run from Suffering

¹⁸ One time when Jesus was off praying by himself, his disciples nearby, he asked them, “What are the crowds saying about me, about who I am?”

¹⁹ They said, “John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back.”

^20-21 He then asked, “And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?”

Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” Jesus then warned them to keep it quiet. They were to tell no one what Peter had said.

²² He went on, “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the religious leaders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and on the third day be raised up alive.”

^23-27 Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I’m leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn’t, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God.”

Jesus in His Glory

^28-31 About eight days after saying this, he climbed the mountain to pray, taking Peter, John, and James along. While he was in prayer, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became blinding white. At once two men were there talking with him. They turned out to be Moses and Elijah—and what a glorious appearance they made! They talked over his exodus, the one Jesus was about to complete in Jerusalem.

^32-33 Meanwhile, Peter and those with him were slumped over in sleep. When they came to, rubbing their eyes, they saw Jesus in his glory and the two men standing with him. When Moses and Elijah had left, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking.

^34-35 While he was babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. Then there was a voice out of the cloud: “This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him.”

³⁶ When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus there alone. They were speechless. And they continued speechless, said not one thing to anyone during those days of what they had seen.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus’ dear friends have followed Him closely for three years.  They have learned what real is love by watching Him relate to people in ways they have never see before He came into their lives.  They have marveled at His wisdom, awed by his power to heal, while observing firsthand the glory of God at work in miraculous ways.  Now, as Jesus is coming close to the conclusion of His ministry and mission on earth, He teaches the greatest and most challenging lesson of all to His beloved— “embrace suffering, don’t run from it.  Follow Me, I’ll show you how.”

Jesus circles back with this same teaching a few times.  John relates in His gospel—

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” –Jesus John 16:33

Jesus teaches that real life, eternal life, requires loving God back with undivided hearts, minds focused on God’s will while losing our own desired will that falls short of the glory of God, allowing a filling our souls with all that God wants to give.  In this world, who does not know God and does not care to know God, we will suffer for believing fully in Him.  We will be mocked and ridiculed and called a “fool” as scriptures tell us.  Why?  Because the prince of this world, the “father of lies” as Jesus calls him, will do everything in his limited power to pull us away from the splendor and majesty of Jesus who lives in us.   

When we know and expect suffering, however, it is easier to embrace it and work through it knowing that Jesus has already won!  When we believe, really believe, that we are on living on the side of victory, His confidence and assurance rise within us—even through the suffering! 

We embrace what Jesus endured for us so that we might share in the glorious splendor of God’s will and work in and through us.  Paul, a life dramatically changed by Jesus explains it best—

^“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11

Paul walked with Christ, prayed, obeyed His will, and sought to glorify His name. When he was living under law, all Paul had was a set of rules. But now he had a Friend, a Master, a constant Companion.  All we need is Jesus.  Embrace Jesus.  Embrace Life.

Jesus clearly defines how to embrace suffering that leads to the splendor of knowing Him:

• Anyone who intends to come with me must let me lead.
• You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am.
• We cannot do this by ourselves.  Self-help is no help.
• Self-sacrifice is the way—MY way of finding your true self.
• Lose all you tightly hold in your fists and let it fall away. 
• Open your hands to be filled with all I desire to give that is better—unspeakable joy, full of glory! 
• Be the answer of who Jesus is to the world! 
• Jesus removed all our shame at the cross.  Who are we to be ashamed of what He is doing in us? 
• Who we are will be known when Jesus comes back in splendor!  God knows our hearts.  And we just can’t hide it!

“And you, who do you say I am?” –Jesus asks today…

We must answer Jesus with our very lives.  Who is truly in the driver’s seat of our hearts and minds?  Who is filling our souls today?  Embrace suffering for a little while on earth as we look forward to all the splendor and glory of God later.  It will indeed be worth it all when we see Jesus! 

Believe and be saved for eternity.

Lord,

You are worth it all of life to me now!  You are life.  You are everything I hoped for and everything I need.  Trying circumstances in my life were used to teach me.  Suffering from time to time just brought me closer to realizing your compassionate care and protection for us.  I see your glory at work daily in my life in the lives around me who believe and trust you.  I see your glory at work even in those who do not yet believe!  So, I just want to say thank you even though those words never see to be enough. Help me to live a grateful life so others will be drawn to you in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Leftovers—again?  These are the words expressed as I invented ways to stretch our meal budget to feed a family of five.  I learned from my parents that Sunday’s roast beef meal could be a tasty beef stew for a few days.  I learned to creative all the ways to stretch a pound of hamburger meat into various, tasty meals, too.  Pasta, beans, and rice are excellent “fillers” and additions to any meal if you’re hungry enough and not too picky.  We often shared our Sunday roast with others around our table.  The kids were probably wondering what I was thinking when it was all eaten!  No leftovers for stew!

However, I do not hold a candle to Jesus’ invitation to feed thousands who gathered to hear Him speak in the wilderness—away from takeout or grocery stores!  The Twelve were asked to be a part of this miracle as they served the people.  They each had a basket of fish and bread, blessed by the Master Chef, to hand out to all who gathered in groups.  What a holy picnic it was!  All had their fill.  No one complained.  And there were leftovers!!  Twelve basketfuls to be exact! 

Luke 9, The Message

Bread and Fish for Five Thousand

¹² As the sun set, the Twelve said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the farms or villages around here and get a room for the night and a bite to eat. We’re out in the middle of nowhere.”

^13-14 “You feed them,” Jesus said.

They said, “We couldn’t scrape up more than five loaves of bread and a couple of fish—unless, of course, you want us to go to town ourselves and buy food for everybody.” (There were more than five thousand people in the crowd.)

^14-17 But he went ahead and directed his disciples, “Sit them down in groups of about fifty.” They did what he said, and soon had everyone seated. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread and fish to the disciples to hand out to the crowd. After the people had all eaten their fill, twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered up.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

It is Jesus’ way to use our hands and feet in His work to help people know Him.  Jesus told the disciples to think about how to solve the hunger problem in the wilderness.  When they came up with suggestions, no matter how “weak” they seemed, He then offered the way to solve the problem by using what food they had.  Jesus held up what they had to God for His blessing.  With God’s blessing on the resources, the people were miraculously fed—with food leftover!

What surprised the disciples was the heavy basket that exploded with fish and bread for the people AFTER the blessing of God through Jesus.  What was amazing was the disciples never saw the bottom of an empty basket! 

AND, it is no coincidence that each disciple felt the weight of their basket full of leftovers after the meal!  Jesus made his point clear.  Give me with all you have. Obey my directions. Then trust Me.  See what happens! 

This is how we learn to live expectantly as we walk with God, ready to do His will as He works in and through us in ways that are beyond our wildest imaginations and dreams!  Trust Him.

Paul’s prayer is for all of us today,

Lord,

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  Ephesians 4:16-21

In Jesus Name, Amen

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV)

If God is constantly in our midst, singing over us, it stands to reason that the more we tune in and listen to His voice, the more we’ll naturally start moving to the rhythm of His words and His thoughts towards us of joy, love, and delight defined by God rather than the enemy’s lies. Who could use more of that in their lives? I know I sure could!

Jesus, who works tireless among the people in need who are seeking to see, hear, and touch Him as they learn from Him, teaches his new disciples how to keep it simple.  It is just like we humans to overcomplicate what God called us to be and do.  Even the warning is simple and straightforward and completely understandable.  Keep it simple.

Luke 9, The Message

Keep It Simple

^1-5 Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you’re not welcomed, leave town. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on.”

⁶ Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.

^7-9 Herod, the ruler, heard of these goings on and didn’t know what to think. There were people saying John had come back from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, still others that some prophet of long ago had shown up. Herod said, “But I killed John—took off his head. So who is this that I keep hearing about?” Curious, he looked for a chance to see him in action.

^10-11 The apostles returned and reported on what they had done. Jesus took them away, off by themselves, near the town called Bethsaida. But the crowds got wind of it and followed. Jesus graciously welcomed them and talked to them about the kingdom of God. Those who needed healing, he healed.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:28-30, MSG

The Called need rest.  Don’t miss the importance of what Jesus did when the sent-out disciples returned home to tell of their adventures!  “Jesus took them away, off by themselves, near the town called Bethsaida.”  Recovery and rest with Jesus, having a little talk with Jesus, learning from Jesus before doing the next mission or task is so important to staying in rhythm!  In my past experiences, I had to learn that the hard way and ended up exhausted because I overscheduled leaving no margin for rest and recovery.  This makes us weak and easy prey for the enemy.  Let God guide the agenda.  Keep it simple.

The Called are all who believe Jesus and follow God in His ways.  We are called to be His representatives of reconciliation between God and mankind through Jesus.  (See 2 Corinthians 5:11-21) We show and tell the way to a relationship with God through Jesus, but we lose the beat when we try to be saviors.  We are called to point people to the Savior who died for our sins.  We are called to show He is Lord of our lives by how we live.  Yes, Jesus saves, we do not.  Keep it simple. 

The Called can easily get caught up in the glory of seeing lives changed and lose the rhythm of God’s grace flowing generously through us.  Pride can easily seep in when we think we “fix” lost souls and begin to take credit for it.  It’s a trap by the Liar—don’t fall for it.  To God be the glory always and forever!  Keep it simple.

The Called can sometimes think that bigger is better and lose focus on the simple truth—Jesus saves us.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 8:23) I’m not saying to stay small in our thinking!  I’m not saying to build more space as people come to learn and grow either!  But don’t lose the beat of God’s heart in the process.  It is easy for talented humans, even those who love Jesus, to fall into the trap that more lights and sound on a bigger stage will draw all people to God but Jesus warns us to keep it simple.  I love great worship music but if it overcomes the mission and message of God, then the beat of God in our hearts can be lost in the production.  What counts is our hearts. God sees our hearts.  Keep it simple with pure hearts made holy by God.

The Called must not judge each other—this overthinking complicates the mission and throws us off beat, as well!  Small church versus large church is not the song to be sung!  Rather we ask God daily what He wants with humbled hearts ready to do His will, His way in full concert of unity of Spirit!  Keep it simple.

The Called are participants not spectators.  Where God calls, we go and tell.  It doesn’t matter whether we are introducing and teaching Jesus’ saving grace under a tree in Haiti, by the river in Ethiopia, to a small group gathered in our home, in the breakroom at lunch in the workplace, or to hundreds gathered in an auditorium.  Stay with the beat of God’s heart and flow with the rhythm of His grace.  Keep it simple.

The Called, who are in rhythm with God’s Spirit and dance to the beat of God’s heart, attract others to wonder what you’ve got that they do not have.  “So who is this that I keep hearing about?” Curious, he looked for a chance to see him in action.”  These are Herod’s words—the one who ordered John the Baptist to be killed for his own pleasure!

I am reminded of my favorite songs by the Newsboys—SHINE!

Shine.
Make ’em wonder whatcha got.
Make ’em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored.
Shine.
Let it shine before all men.
Let em see good works and then
Let em glorify the Lord.

Believe and be saved. 

Live Jesus out loud as He draws people to Himself through us.

To God be the Glory!

Lord,

Thank you for the thoughts you have given to us this morning with teaching us about how you simply work through us so others will know you, too.  Thank you for providing all we need to do what you daily call us to be—your messengers of Truth!  Continue to be our strength and our song in the night!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word,
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard…

(Song written by Fannie Crosby, 1880)

And the beat goes on…

Can you imagine being twelve years old?  So much life lies ahead of you but at the age of twelve, you don’t think about the future as much as you think about the waking hours of the current day.  Life is thinking about other twelve year olds who do life with you. Who will I see and what will we do together is the uppermost goal.

When we arrive at the ripe old age of twelve, some of us think we know it all.  We merely tolerate our parents at this point in life and wonder sometimes about their advice and direction for us.  We begin to question their rules while trying to be as independent as we possible while still living under their roof of protection, provision, support, and control. 

Being twelve is a mixed bag of emotions as we transition from kid to adult.  But what if something happens to us unexpectedly that is completely out the our control or out of the realm of the expected plan of our parents?  What if a sickness suddenly takes you down, isolates you from all your friends, stops daily routines, and causes you to lose all sense of knowing and becoming who you thought you would be? But, above all that, what if you died and Someone came and brought you back to life by simply gripping your hand while praying with the words of direction to you that you heard in your soul— “My dear child, get up”—and you did?  With just His touch, Jesus changes everything.

Now, consider this…what would it be like to suffer for twelve years as an adult woman with bleeding that would not cease.  (We women really relate to this one!)  For twelve years, constantly dealing with a problem deemed unclean to the cultural laws and traditions.  You are alone and fearful.  You stay in the shadows, away from people, until you hear of Someone who heals all kinds of diseases and ailments.  But He is so needed and wanted, that it is hard to get close to Him.

Suddenly you see Him.  He is getting closer.  You risk it all, and lunged forward out of the shadows.  You think if you can just touch the hem of His robe without anyone knowing, you will be healed.  You do it, you feel His robe!  Imagine it!  Then suddenly after twelve long years of weakness due to the hemorrhaging of your life-giving blood, you feel His touch that ends your suffering.  Imagine Jesus stopping on His mission through the crowd to heal a twelve year old, to bend down to you with affirmation of your faith while healing your twelve year old suffering!  Jesus gave new life to her.  Jesus changes everything. 

Luke 8, The Message

His Touch

^40-42 On his return, Jesus was welcomed by a crowd. They were all there expecting him. A man came up, Jairus by name. He was president of the meeting place. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his home because his twelve-year-old daughter, his only child, was dying. Jesus went with him, making his way through the pushing, jostling crowd.

^43-45 In the crowd that day there was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with hemorrhages. She had spent every penny she had on doctors but not one had been able to help her. She slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. At that very moment her hemorrhaging stopped. Jesus said, “Who touched me?”

When no one stepped forward, Peter said, “But Master, we’ve got crowds of people on our hands. Dozens have touched you.”

⁴⁶ Jesus insisted, “Someone touched me. I felt power discharging from me.”

⁴⁷ When the woman realized that she couldn’t remain hidden, she knelt trembling before him. In front of all the people, she blurted out her story—why she touched him and how at that same moment she was healed.

⁴⁸ Jesus said, “Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!”

⁴⁹ While he was still talking, someone from the leader’s house came up and told him, “Your daughter died. No need now to bother the Teacher.”

^50-51 Jesus overheard and said, “Don’t be upset. Just trust me and everything will be all right.” Going into the house, he wouldn’t let anyone enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s parents.

^52-53 Everyone was crying and carrying on over her. Jesus said, “Don’t cry. She didn’t die; she’s sleeping.” They laughed at him. They knew she was dead.

^54-56 Then Jesus, gripping her hand, called, “My dear child, get up.” She was up in an instant, up and breathing again! He told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were ecstatic, but Jesus warned them to keep quiet. “Don’t tell a soul what happened in this room.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus.  Jesus changes everything for us, too.  Jesus, who shed his life-giving blood as a sacrifice for our sins, brings new life to all who seek His redeeming salvation and wholeness.  As we reach out, He grips our hand with a call to rise up with Him with new life!  Yes, Jesus calls us to a forever life with Him!

The touch of Jesus on our lives brings healing from all the effects that our sins and the sins of others had upon us.  Jesus removes our shame and replaces shame with victorious joy that is indescribable and full of glory!  Jesus heals broken hearts, brings peace to troubled minds, while defeating the enemy who seeks to devour our souls.

Yes, Jesus changes everything—no matter what age we are or how long we have suffered in silence.  Jesus is the Way to Truth with Eternal Life.  Believe and be saved.

Lord,

The story of healing and being made whole to two very different young women brings tears to my eyes every time I read and meditate on it.  You give life.  You are Life.  You provide all we need when we need it most.  You applaud and affirm our faith.  You love us beyond our wildest imaginations.  Thank you for your love, mercy, and grace.  Help us to love like you love.  May our lives be lived to bring you glory!  Thank you for changing my life!

In Jesus Name, Amen

If you are of a certain age, you will remember a fictional hero based on the real life of Elliot Ness.  Ness was a law follower and enforcer during the times of prohibition.  He was a driven agent of a team of men determined to rid the city of Al Capone and his Mob, one gangster at a time or in groups. The highly organized Mob terrorized law-abiding citizens and inflicted their power over small business leaders by making them pay for protection from the Mob.  Anyone who got in their way or became a snitch against the Mob were made to walk off a short pier in cement shoes.  You get the picture.  It was a war between good and evil played out with intense drama.

The Mob, if left unattended and unbridled, wreaks havoc among those who are weaker.  The Mob is organized with an arsenal of lies, manipulations, harassment, greed, pride, and selfishness as they persecute, torment, and kill for the sake of power and control.  The Mob is led by evil.

But this is not a new story.  Jesus deals with a Mob with greater power and efficiency than Elliot Ness and his agents all put together!  Jesus sends a Mob of demons, who wreaked daily torment of a man, willingly, (the demon’s idea) into herd of pigs.  In the Mob’s final act, they possess the pigs who go crazy and jump to their death.  When pigs fly… (Too soon?)

Luke 8, The Message

The Madman and the Pigs

^26-29 They sailed on to the country of the Gerasenes, directly opposite Galilee. As he stepped out onto land, a madman from town met him; he was a victim of demons. He hadn’t worn clothes for a long time, nor lived at home; he lived in the cemetery. When he saw Jesus he screamed, fell before him, and howled, “What business do you have messing with me? You’re Jesus, Son of the High God, but don’t give me a hard time!” (The man said this because Jesus had started to order the unclean spirit out of him.) Time after time the demon threw the man into convulsions. He had been placed under constant guard and tied with chains and shackles, but crazed and driven wild by the demon, he would shatter the bonds.

^30-31 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Mob. My name is Mob,” he said, because many demons afflicted him. And they begged Jesus desperately not to order them to the bottomless pit.

^32-33 A large herd of pigs was grazing and rooting on a nearby hill. The demons begged Jesus to order them into the pigs. He gave the order. It was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the lake and drowned.

^34-36 Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had been sent, sitting there at Jesus’ feet, wearing decent clothes and making sense. It was a holy moment, and for a short time they were more reverent than curious. Then those who had seen it happen told how the demoniac had been saved.

^37-39 Later, a great many people from the Gerasene countryside got together and asked Jesus to leave—too much change, too fast, and they were scared. So Jesus got back in the boat and set off. The man whom he had delivered from the demons asked to go with him, but he sent him back, saying, “Go home and tell everything God did in you.” So he went back and preached all over town everything Jesus had done in him.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The demons knew Jesus.  They knew who He was and what He could do.  They believed but did not bow down to Him.  They hate Jesus.  The Mob of demons was repulsed by and feared Jesus.  Their leader, Satan, was kicked out of heaven for developing traits not of God and for wanting to take God’s place.  Sounds unlikely, doesn’t it, but evil thought he could overcome.  Since that time, the devil’s intent is to pull our attention from God who sent him to the lowest places of darkness. 

Satan cannot make us do anything we do not want to do.  What he can do is present us with all the desires of the human hearts before us as if he had those things to give us for the purpose of turning us from God.  God/Jesus/Holy Spirit is the enemy of Satan.  Satan has power with a strong pull—but it is limited.

We have power given to us as believers to overcome the lusts for evil.  Satan is a liar.  In fact, as believers in Jesus, we have greater chance of survival from the lies because of Jesus who lives in us.  (Remember, the “secret” from yesterday’s writing?)  John, Jesus’ beloved disciple, reminds believers of Jesus, who is Truth.  John teaches and explains this power to followers.  He tells us how to know Truth when lies of Satan are presented in an attempt to overcome Truth.  Satan’s power is limited by God who holds all power.  Read and fill your soul with this Truth:

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:1-6

We all have attacks from the demons who want to control our minds so our behaviors reflect the character of the “prince of this world” such as pride, envy, selfishness, greed, stinginess, arrogance, hate, with other deviant behaviors not of God that breed fear and anxieties of all kinds.  However, we can overcome!  Jesus made us “more than conquerors” as we hold to what is Truth.  (Roman 8) 

When we do what the enemy hates most, falling to our knees, crying out for help to combat the demons in Jesus Name, we are given more power than Satan the Tempter and Tormentor to overcome!  I know!  Read that again or better still read what God’s Word tells us…

“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:34-39

Live redeemed, restored, and grateful for nothing can separate us from the love of God!

One last warning…Gone unchecked, demons can form a Mob within us that penetrates our thinking and ultimate behaviors.  The Mob’s desire is to distract us from God, deceive what we know about God, with intentions to destroy our walk with God. 

Distract, deceive, and destroy—The Mob’s mission. 

Jesus came not to condemn but to seek and to save us.

Remember, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  Read and pray this truth as many times as needed! The One greater is Jesus!  Always has, always is, and always will be…greater.

Don’t wait ‘til pigs fly to believe!  Believe and be saved.  Believe and be greater then evil with power to rise above evil’s schemes.  Trust Jesus.  Then go tell others what Jesus has done in you!

Lord,

Thank you for reminding us of the power you provide to avoid the attempts of evil and evil’s schemes to distract, deceive and destroy the Truth in us.We are overcomers in you!  Daily cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies, and restore the joy of your salvation at work with us.  We’re still under construction to be all you created us to be!  Thank you for loving us the way you do. Thank you for the power to overcome the demons.  Victory is ours all because of You.

In Jesus Name, Amen

As kids, we loved secrets!  We loved spilling secrets, too!  It didn’t matter so much if it was true or not as long as we had enough juicy tidbits good enough to pass along to others willing to hear it. We loved forming our posse so we could taunt other kids with, “You don’t know what we know.”  And that’s when the fights on the playground would begin.  “Well, you don’t know what I know and what I know is really real.”  “So, there!” The juicy morsels of information would slowly disintegrate into mere bites of gossip based on the assumptions and presumptions of kids with nothing else to do.  The best comeback of all?  “Don’t tell me what I don’t know.”  (Sigh)

But we are no longer kids on the playground—are we? 

Luke 8, The Message

Misers of What You Hear

^16-18 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don’t become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.”

^19-20 His mother and brothers showed up but couldn’t get through to him because of the crowd. He was given the message, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.”

²¹ He replied, “My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God’s Word. Obedience is thicker than blood.”

^22-24 One day he and his disciples got in a boat. “Let’s cross the lake,” he said. And off they went. It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize. They woke Jesus: “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

Getting to his feet, he told the wind, “Silence!” and the waves, “Quiet down!” They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.

²⁵ Then he said to his disciples, “Why can’t you trust me?”

They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, “Who is this, anyway? He calls out to the winds and sea, and they do what he tells them!”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God, through Jesus, is spilling the best secrets of Truth to all eager to hear.  And what do we do? Many of us keep it to ourselves.  (And can you imagine putting a lit candle under a bed made of straw?  Dangerous, to say the least!)  Jesus says to shine His  Light to the world around us so they can see, hear and know Him, too! 

The apostle Paul lives the secret out loud to all withing hearing—until the imprison him.  But does that stop him?  Absolutely not!  He writes letters so the secret is not lost to those he told earlier!  Messengers of Paul relay the letters containing the knowledge of Jesus and his teachings to the dark world in need of a Savior, the Light of the World for all!  Here is an excerpt of one of Paul’s many letters; spilling the secret of Jesus—

“God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” Colossians 1:25-29, NLT

“Hide it under a bushel? NO!  I’m gonna let it shine!”

Jesus reminds all of us that it is time to bring everything out into the open about the love of God who designed the perfect plan to save us!  Jesus also solidifies this truth with a lesson on family.  All who hear and respond to God’s Word are family!

The Lake episode at the end of this passage defines His authority and power.  It is no longer a secret who He is to His disciples.  He comes from the Father who sent Jesus.  His Father is God.  Jesus is God.  God who created the wind and the sea has complete control over both.  Trust Him.

Our response?  Truth God—no matter what—trust God.  He knows what He is doing.  We know His secret—so tell others!  Spill what you know!

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…”

Lord,

We are no longer kids.  Thank you for revealing the secret of your love, mercy, and grace that created the Plan to save us.  Thank you for living in us to help us grow up and mature in your love and in our behaviors.  Cleanse our hearts, remove all that offends you, renew our minds, transform our thinking to Kingdom thinking that holds nothing back about you.  Refresh and fill our souls with your new mercies for today that your Holy Spirit delivers.  Restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us no matter what is going on around us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine…”

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
  that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.  Psalm 119:9-16, NIV

It’s clear that the psalmist had deep love and reverence for God’s Word. This entire passage (Read all of Psalm 119), elevates the Word of God over all other documents and statutes. No other book transforms, teaches, and guides like God’s Word.

God’s Word lights our path, enlightens our mind with truth, and deepens both our love for God and our understanding of his ways.  The more we read, the more likely our thinking and behaving will transform in God’s ways.  The more we understand the character of God, the more those characteristics embody our being!

The key to spiritual growth is not increased church attendance or involvement in spiritual activities. People don’t grow in Christ because they are busy at church. They grow in Christ when they read and trust God’s Word—His message of love, mercy, and grace. 

Jesus makes it clear to “those who have ears to hear and eyes to see” that seeds of faith, deeply planted in God’s Word, who trust and obey what He says, not only thrive in their daily walk but lead others to Jesus, too! 

How deeply planted are we?  What soil?

Luke 8, The Message

8 ^1-3 He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching God’s kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s manager; and Susanna—along with many others who used their considerable means to provide for the company.

The Story of the Seeds

^4-8 As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn’t have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop.

“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”

⁹ His disciples asked, “Why did you tell this story?”

¹⁰ He said, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it:

Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing,
Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing.

^11-12 “This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won’t believe and be saved.

¹³ “The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go very deep. It’s only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone.

¹⁴ “And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.

¹⁵ “But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Seeds of faith, planted firmly in God’s Word, will thrive this good soil and bear a harvest once lost but now found people as they tell about Jesus’ saving grace!

ALL people had a desire to travel with Jesus as they walked from town to town.  Men, women, The Twelve who were chosen to work alongside Jesus as apprentices in His Kingdom work, and now after leaving one town to go to another, townspeople follow the band of believers!  Can you imagine it?  Jesus’ words of life are changing lives significantly.  “I came to seek and to save the lost” mission from God is being accomplished.  But the harvest is great, the laborers are few.  So, Jesus trains The Twelve to train others to lead the lost to salvation which results in exponential growth of seeds planted in God’s Word—the Good Soil.

I like to plant!  I love watching over the seeds planted in the soil that I have prepared. I work hard to keep the soil fertilized with nutrients that will aid growth, as the seeds develop into plants that bear vegetables for the table or bear the beauty of flowers in the yard.  Randy loves to plant, too.  Daily, we look over our seeds which turn to tiny sprouts.  We guard the little plants from animals and insects.  We provide water when they are thirsty, and plant food when they seem to need nourishment. We even pray over our plants for it is God who created them and knows exactly what is needed most to grow.s is exactly how it is with believers of Jesus in God’s Kingdom.  God delights in us and watches over us daily.  He celebrates our growth.  He protects us when we are threatened by those things in life that might destroy us.  He provides exactly what we need when we need it most.  He even sings over us!  (See Zephaniah 3.)

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  (Zephaniah 3:17)

Stay in the Good Soil of God’s Word.  Cling to His Words of help and hope that provide the nourishment we need to thrive in His love.  There is wisdom that surpasses all understanding in His Word as God teaches us how to live the abundant life—all because of Jesus.

Ready, get set, plant your feet on solid ground in the good soil! 

Believe and be saved.

Lord,

Thank you for another lesson of encouragement for our walk with you.  You do not hide your words of wisdom, compassion, love, mercy, and grace from us.  It is us who need to read what you say and cling to what you tell us so we can grow in your character. Thank you for “checking on us” daily as we transform from seeds to thriving plants that blossom and bear the fruits of your Holy Spirit.  Keep me in the Good Soil, Lord! I believe!

In Jesus Name, Amen

I searched the world
But it couldn’t fill me
Man’s empty praise
And treasures that fade
Are never enough

Then You came along
And put me back together
And every desire
Is now satisfied
Here in Your love

Oh, there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord, there’s nothing
Nothing is better than You

I’m not afraid
To show You my weakness
My failures and flaws
Lord, You’ve seen ’em all
And You still call me friend

‘Cause the God of the mountain
Is the God of the valley
There’s not a place
Your mercy and grace
Won’t find me again

“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

(Graves into Gardens)

Luke 7, The Message

Anointing His Feet

^36-39 One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume.When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.”

⁴⁰ Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Oh? Tell me.”

^41-42 “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”

^43-47 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”

“That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.”

⁴⁸ Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.”

⁴⁹ That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!”

⁵⁰ He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The harlot was a woman “of the village” known by her reputation.  She was an outcast, unworthy of greeting, and certainly not welcomed in the home of this pious Pharisee, a religious leader. This caused quite a stir in the household when she entered Simon’s home seeking a rescue.  With mournful tears, she headed straight for Jesus and dramatically fell to his feet, ready to anoint Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume.  She was determined to honor Jesus with all she had to give, including her shame. 

The woman provided a welcome that the Pharisee did not.  She welcomed Jesus into her heart that had been used and abused most of her life.  She asked for nothing but He gave her everything she needed and more—forgiveness instead of judgement, with grace to replace the shame she and others had heaped upon her.  This is Kingdom come.  This is how God works in our lives!  Jesus forgives.  Jesus was her advocate to unbelievers still in judgement of her and to God, the Father who loved her dearly!  Oh, Jesus, there is no one better than You!

Oh, there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord, there’s nothing
Nothing is better than You

You turn mourning to dancing
You give beauty for ashes
You turn shame into glory
You’re the only one who can

You turn graves into garden
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You’re the only one who can
You’re the only one who can

The Pharisee was schooled in hospitality by Jesus!  “You didn’t welcome or greet me, you didn’t wash my feet” as was the custom in that day for sandalled feet walking on dusty roads to be rinse off by a servant before entering a home.  “You provided nothing…the woman seeking forgiveness provided all she had.” –Jesus   Wow.  Let that sink in—take all the time you need.

Because Jesus is relentless in love, mercy, and grace, He tells a story to explain what forgiveness means to those seeking it.  But did the story soften the heart of Simon, the Pharisee?  No, Simon was more focused on legitimacy of this man who forgave the woman, affirmed her faith, and set her free while removing her shame.  “Who is He to forgive sins?”  He is Jesus, that’s who.   

Oh, there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord, there’s nothing
Nothing is better than You

You turn graves into gardens
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You’re the only one who can …

(Graves into Gardens by Christopher Joel Brown / Steven Furtick / Tiffany Hudson / Brandon Lake)

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your pursuit of us. Thank you for complete forgiveness that removes sin as far as the east is from the west. Thank you for taking away the shame of our past sins, setting us free to love others like you love us!  Yes, there is no one like you!  There is nothing better than you and your ways of doing life!

Cleanse our hearts, transform our minds to Kingdom thinking, refresh our souls with your new mercies for today and restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us with power!  I believe.  I trust you with everything because you are everything to me!

In Jesus Name, Amen