This entire passage hinges on one little word, and that word is “then”. If the first part of the scripture is accomplished, it will be followed by the final portion. God is very specific of what He requires of us first…we are to swallow our pride, pray fervently, seek His face, and turn from our evil ways…and then and only then will He act. We’ve got to do our part before He’ll do His…if we are serious about pursuing our task, He will be just as serious about fulfilling His.
Tag: jesus
Mark 9:41 ” I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”
The time was the early 80’s in Northern Idaho where I was working as a Charge Nurse at a large Nursing Home. We had just admitted a man who was dying, only to find out a day later that he was a hemophiliac…dying of Aids. Now back in the early 80’s there was not all the information out as there is today, let alone Universal Precautions in place to care for patients. We placed him in Isolation, which meant to go into his room you would have to gown, glove, and mask. Needless to say, you went into the room twice a shift to do vitals, and not much more. His family was intimidated and fearful of all the masks and gowns, and so stayed away, or stood in the doorway to talk to him. One particularly dark ,dreary day I was given report that he was slipping into a coma and would probably not live much longer. As I walked into his dark room to do my morning assessment, I felt overcome by saddness…sad because of his forced isolation through no fault of his own, since it was before blood for transfusions was checked for the HIV Virus…sad because of his uncomfortable, fearful family who couldn’t gather around him at this of need…and finally sad because I felt the entire staff had done a disservice to him by literally shunning him out of our own ignorance about the disease. He appeared to be in a coma, so I started to pray out loud softly, asking the Lord to grant him peace, and to tell him how much he was loved by his family. As I stood over his bed looking out the window at the dreariness suddenly bright sunshine completely filled the room..so suddenly that it startled me. I quickly looked at the man…his eyes were open, and he was smiling, this look of unspeakable peace on his face….He died a few hours later, with bright sunshine filling his bed… with that peaceful look still on his face.
Luke 19:5 ” When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ “
Zacchaeus had the very loathsome job title in Jericho of chief tax collector. His great wealth had come from extorting money from the citizens, thus he was not very well liked by them! When Jesus invited Himself to his house, the people were outraged that He would even consider going into a home of such a “sinner”. But meeting Jesus face to face profoundly changed Zacchaeus forever…he pledged to give half of his wealth to the poor , and to repay anyone who felt they had been cheated four times the amount back. Zacchaeus didn’t realize when he climbed up into that sycamore tree that he’d have a divine appointment with the Lord.
John 13:8 ” ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ “
The place is the Last Supper…Jesus is washing the disciples feet one by one when Peter refuses Him. In Jesus’s reply He did not say, “You have no part in Me.”…which would mean that Peter was unsaved, but rather Jesus said, “You have no part with Me.”…which means having no communion or fellowship with Jesus. The Lord was showing Peter the necessity of regular spiritual renewal or cleansing in order to remain in fellowship with Him…and that simple act of foot washing symbolized sanctification…
being set apart for God.
Romans 12:13 ” Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Because of our location, our home is a crossroads for many friends. Those traveling from the West Coast eastward stop, as does those in the Midwest headed West. And the many visiting Yellowstone National Park end up staying here to. It says that we need to practice hospitality… that means doing it over and over again until we get good at it. Yes, it takes practice to be friendly, generous, warm, and welcoming to all those who come into our homes. I Peter 4:9 states that we should “offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” By opening our homes up to others we show the love of Jesus in very basic and practical ways…food and shelter given with kindness and love.
Luke 5:12-13 ” 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, be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him.”
A man covered with leprosy saw Jesus from afar. According to the Law he was to isolate himself from the crowds, but instead, he rushed headlong towards Jesus,throwing himself down at His feet. Maybe this man had watched Jesus healing others, maybe a fellow leper he knew was healed, regardless, he now presented himself at Jesus’s feet proclaiming “I know you can do it…but will you?” When Jesus said “I am willing.” He used a Greek word that not only meant He desired to heal him, but that He had the ability to do it. Do you need a healing in some area of your life today?…Jesus is there, willing and able to do it for you.
Matthew 4:19 ” “Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Jesus had been walking along the Sea of Galilee when He came upon Peter and Andrew casting their fishing nets. When He extended the invitation to follow Him he used an interesting Greek word for “make”…I will make you fishers of men. The word means that Jesus would be doing the work, producing the desired outcome in their lives. In other words He was telling them that if they followed Him, He would enable them to gather in all mankind for the sake of the Gospel.
II Corinthians 6:2 ” For He says, ‘In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
In everyone’s life will come that decisive point in time when we make that decision to either say “Yes” to Jesus or not. It may come easily, or after much travail on our part…but regardless it will come. For those who may be yet searching, today is the day, the time is now, the place is here…the Lord is holding out His hand, and pleased to show His favor towards you…now is the day of Your salvation…now is the time to say…Yes.
John 1:12 ” Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
By accepting Jesus into your life, you are granted not only the right but the authority to be called a child of God. A dearly loved child with all the rights and privileges bestowed on you by your Heavenly Father. You are no longer a lonely orphan…you have been adopted…adopted into the family of God.
Romans 10: 9-10 ” That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Trust builds in our heart as we hear about Jesus…this new found faith grows and sets well with our soul. It’s at that point we need to take the next step which is to publicly acknowledge Jesus as our resurrected Savior. We take what’s within our heart, and make it real by speaking it forth.
Safetypinlove 