healing

Now when Jesus had come down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with a skin disease came, kneeled before him, and said, “Lord, if you want, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do want to. Become clean.”Instantly his skin disease was cleansed. 4 Jesus said to him, “Don’t say anything to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded. This will be a testimony to them.” 5 When Jesus went to Capernaum, a centurion approached, 6 pleading with him, “Lord, my servant is flat on his back at home, paralyzed, and his suffering is awful.” 7 Jesus responded, “I’ll come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 I’m a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was impressed and said to the people following him, “I say to you with all seriousness that even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this. 11 I say to you that there are many who will come from east and west and sit down to eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.” 13 Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it will be done for you just as you have believed.” And his servant was healed that very moment. (Matthew 8:1-13, CEB)

What is faith? Faith is the belief in the unseen. The centurion knew when the order was given it would be done. That is faith in the one receiving the order. The centurion also knew that when Jesus said something it was like him giving an order. It will be done.

Would you need Jesus to come with you, or would you believe it would be done because Jesus said it would?

And if you just said you would believe because Jesus said, do you?

who is saved?

13 I’m speaking to you Gentiles. Considering that I’m an apostle to the Gentiles, I publicize my own ministry 14 in the hope that somehow I might make my own people jealous and save some of them. 15 If their rejection has brought about a close relationship between God and the world, how can their acceptance mean anything less than life from the dead? 16 But if part of a batch of dough is offered to God as holy, the whole batch of dough is holy too. If a root is holy, the branches will be holy too. 17 If some of the branches were broken off, and you were a wild olive branch, and you were grafted in among the other branches and shared the root that produces the rich oil of the olive tree, 18 then don’t brag like you’re better than the other branches. If you do brag, be careful: it’s not you that sustains the root, but it’s the root that sustains you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Fine. They were broken off because they weren’t faithful, but you stand only by your faithfulness. So don’t think in a proud way; instead be afraid. 21 If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you either. 22 So look at God’s kindness and harshness. It’s harshness toward those who fell, but it’s God’s kindness for you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise, you could be cut off too. 23 And even those who were cut off will be grafted back in if they don’t continue to be unfaithful, because God is able to graft them in again. 24 If you were naturally part of a wild olive tree and you were cut off from it, and then, contrary to nature, you were grafted into the cultivated olive tree, won’t these natural branches stand an even better chance of being grafted back onto their own olive tree? 25 I don’t want you to be unaware of this secret, brothers and sisters. That way you won’t think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has become resistant until the full number of the Gentiles comes in. 26 In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion. He will remove ungodly behavior from Jacob. 27 This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins. 28 According to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but according to God’s choice, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors. 29 God’s gifts and calling can’t be taken back. (Romans 11:13-29, CEB)

God’s gifts and calling can’t be taken back!

You see it is not your choice to be cut out of or grafted into the tree, it is God’s. If you produce good fruit even if you weren’t a part, God will make you a part, and if you are a part and don’t produce good fruit, God will cut you out, but then can also put you back in if you start producing goos fruit again.

So salvation is all about what God wants, not you.

So still who can be saved?

 

create problems

15 The prophets’ words agree with this; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and I will rebuild David’s fallen tent; I will rebuild what has been torn down. I will restore it 17so that the rest of humanity will seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who belong to me. The Lord says this, the one who does these things 18known from earliest times. 19 “Therefore, I conclude that we shouldn’t create problems for Gentiles who turn to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter, telling them to avoid the pollution associated with idols, sexual immorality, eating meat from strangled animals, and consuming blood. 21 After all, Moses has been proclaimed in every city for a long time, and is read aloud every Sabbath in every synagogue.” (Acts 15:15-21, CEB)

We should make it as easy as possible for people to come to faith in God.

There shouldn’t be hoops to jump through or complicated things to do.

Just stay away from idols, sexual immorality, eating meat from strangled animals, and consuming blood.

That list should be easy, but it’s really not. We all have idols in our lives, some have money, or a house, or a spouse, or a phone, or something that takes the place of God.

And this post is not going to try and undertake what sexual immorality is. That could mean so many things and will be different depending on the person.

Eating meat from strangled animals, so shooting them is ok.

And don’t drink blood, Communion is ok though.

So make it east and open for all.

What rules do you have for people to join the church?

in or out…

10 Jesus called the crowd near and said to them, “Listen and understand. 11 It’s not what goes into the mouth that contaminates a person in God’s sight. It’s what comes out of the mouth that contaminates the person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended by what you just said?” 13 Jesus replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be pulled up.14 Leave the Pharisees alone. They are blind people who are guides to blind people. But if a blind person leads another blind person, they will both fall into a ditch.” 15 Then Peter spoke up, “Explain this riddle to us.” 16 Jesus said, “Don’t you understand yet? 17 Don’t you know that everything that goes into the mouth enters the stomach and goes out into the sewer? 18 But what goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight. 19 Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adultery, sexual sins, thefts, false testimonies, and insults. 20 These contaminate a person in God’s sight. But eating without washing hands doesn’t contaminate in God’s sight.” 21 From there, Jesus went to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from those territories came out and shouted, “Show me mercy, Son of David. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” 23 But he didn’t respond to her at all. His disciples came and urged him, “Send her away; she keeps shouting out after us.” 24 Jesus replied, “I’ve been sent only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.” 25 But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.” 26 He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.” 28 Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. It will be just as you wish.” And right then her daughter was healed. (Matthew 15:10-28, CEB)

I have always had an issue with this text because Jesus calls this woman a dog.

It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.

Now is this because she is a Canaanite? Even so, why does Jesus call her a dog? Yes, He has come for the house of Israel, but we see later that the mission of the church is to all people. So why?

I assume like many things it is to prove a point to the disciples. To teach them and us something. Yes, Israelites thought very little of Canaanites and many would call them names. But there was no need for this, but Jesus was teaching on following the law and eating with unclean hands and about what goes in a body verses what comes out of the body.

And this woman got faith. She knew that Jesus could heal her daughter. So she went to Him and asked, and Jesus said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.” To which the woman replied, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.” Even the dogs, the lowly, eat the crumbs, the small mustard seed size pieces which fall off the table, and that is enough. She knew if even the smallest amount of Jesus was present with her that her daughter would be healed. And Jesus saw that come out of her at that moment. 

It isn’t what goes in us, but what we give out.

What do you give out?

Healing the sick

34 When they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 When the people who lived in that place recognized him, they sent word throughout that whole region, and they brought to him everyone who was sick. 36 Then they begged him that they might just touch the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched him was cured. (Matthew 14:34-36, CEB)

They knew Jesus by sight and what He could do. And they had faith that touching Him would cure them.

Was it false faith? Meaning did they hear about the healings He had done and only wanted to see Him because they knew what He had done? They wanted to use Jesus for the healing of themselves or their loved ones? But either way, they believed what had happened and knew if He touched their loved one or they touched the fringe of His cloak they would be healed.

They had faith.

Do we have this faith?

Returning

19 Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won the crowds over. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead. 20 When the disciples surrounded him, he got up and entered the city again. The following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. 21 Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the good news to the people in Derbe and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where 22 they strengthened the disciples and urged them to remain firm in the faith. They told them, “If we are to enter God’s kingdom, we must pass through many troubles.” 23 They appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting, they committed these elders to the Lord, in whom they had placed their trust. 24 After Paul and Barnabas traveled through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 They proclaimed the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been entrusted by God’s grace to the work they had now completed. 27 On their arrival, they gathered the church together and reported everything that God had accomplished through their activity, and how God had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. 28 They stayed with the disciples a long time. (Acts 14:19-28, CEB)

Have you ever faced a group that didn’t like what you were selling, or talking about? They just said you were wrong and didn’t want to hear your story or information?

I am sure none of us were ever stoned to almost death and dragged out of a city and left for dead. I have felt that way.

We have all probably felt that way. And Paul tells the disciples and us that we need to have faith and preach the message we have been given. In the face of those who do not agree, in the face of those that would stone us. God will be with us and wants us to share the love we have received, even to those who see it as hate.

We will pass through many troubles but God is always with us.

 

Song of Moses and the Lamb

Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign in heaven. There were seven angels with seven plagues—and these are the last, for with them God’s anger is brought to an end. 2 Then I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who gained victory over the beast, its image, and the number of its name were standing by the glass sea, holding harps from God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, God’s servant, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and awe-inspiring are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, king of the nations. 4 Who won’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? You alone are holy. All nations will come and fall down in worship before you, for your acts of justice have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:1-4, CEB)

The imagery in Revelation is filled with awe-inspiring beauty and some of the scariest stuff I’ve read. Ok maybe Hollywood has gotten scarier, but the beuaty of the imagery of the Bible is moving. A sea of glass mixed with fire, can’t you see it? And you image will be different than mine, but that is the beauty of written descriptions. We told our oldest daughter that her imagination was way better than Hollywood when she wanted to watch the Harry Potter movies, and she said while watching one, that isn’t how that looks. We get an image in our minds of what it is and how it should appear, and John paints a picture for us that can not be more beautiful. The only thing more beautiful is creation itself.

And even in the wrath that is to come from the 7 plaques, there is beauty in the sea and the surroundings and the songs!. God is always with us through the wrath and gives us a glimpse of beauty.

 

Calming a storm

23 When Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. 24 A huge storm arose on the lake so that waves were sloshing over the boat. But Jesus was asleep. 25 They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, rescue us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you people of weak faith?” Then he got up and gave orders to the winds and the lake, and there was a great calm. 27 The people were amazed and said, “What kind of person is this? Even the winds and the lake obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27, CEB)

Every time I read one of these passages about Jesus calming the storm, I am reminded of a song from Camp Luther that was called With Jesus in my Boat. It was a song where you removed a word and replaced it with a sound. I have forgotten most of the words and what replaced them, but I remember the first time I heard it, because one of the words removed is Jesus. So we are singing it and the counselor says, “Take out Jesus!” And I just thought, that is wrong, why are we taking out Jesus, there are so many theological issues with removing Jesus, plus can we really remove Jesus. Now I know that isn’t what they meant, because With Jesus in our Boat we can make it through the storm.

Most of us would be worried about the storm and how Jesus could be sleeping through it. Because we need to plan and know the outcome, where Jesus has faith in the one who created the plan. And if we would have faith in the one who created the plan, we could nap through the storm too.

So remember Jesus is in the boat, and it is all under control.

Unfair God

14 So what are we going to say? Isn’t this unfair on God’s part? Absolutely not! 15 He says to Moses, I’ll have mercy on whomever I choose to have mercy, and I’ll show compassion to whomever I choose to show compassion. 16 So then, it doesn’t depend on a person’s desire or effort. It depends entirely on God, who shows mercy.17 Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have put you in this position for this very thing: so I can show my power in you and so that my name can be spread through the entire earth. 18 So then, God has mercy on whomever he wants to, but he makes resistant whomever he wants to. 19 So you are going to say to me, “Then why does he still blame people? Who has ever resisted his will?” 20 You are only a human being. Who do you think you are to talk back to God? Does the clay say to the potter, “Why did you make me like this?” 21 Doesn’t the potter have the power over the clay to make one pot for special purposes and another for garbage from the same lump of clay? 22 What if God very patiently puts up with pots made for wrath that were designed for destruction, because he wanted to show his wrath and to make his power known? 23 What if he did this to make the wealth of his glory known toward pots made for mercy, which he prepared in advance for glory? 24 We are the ones God has called. We don’t come only from the Jews but we also come from the Gentiles. 25 As it says also in Hosea, I will call “my people” those who aren’t my people, and the one who isn’t well loved, I will call “loved one.”  26 And in the place where it was said to them, “You aren’t my people,” there they will be called “the living God’s children.” 27 But Isaiah cries out for Israel, Though the number of Israel’s children will be like the sand of the sea, only a remaining part will be saved, 28 because the Lord does what he says completely and quickly. 29 As Isaiah prophesied, If the Lord of the heavenly forces had not left descendants for us, we would have been like Sodom, and we would have become like Gomorrah. (Romans 9:14-29, CEB)

Since God created the universe, God gets to decide how things work and what is fair.

It is kind of like a child saying to a parent it isn’t fair that they don’t get a swimming pool when they really want one. The parent knows that the home they live in is not theirs and to ask the landlord would cause issues, or it is in the lease that they can not have one. So it isn’t possible, after looking for small moveable ones and seeing nothing in the budget is available, the decision is made that there can not be a pool. So it is unfair.

We as children have no idea what the master plan of God is, and we really don’t need to understand it. We need to know that God is working for the best interests of all and sometimes we may not get what we want.

But that doesn’t make God unfair. It just means we don;y know everything, and that is something we need to deal with.

How do you deal with yourself when you think God is unfair?

Active judgment of God

4 God didn’t spare the angels when they sinned but cast them into the lowest level of the underworld and committed them to chains of darkness, keeping them there until the judgment. 5 And he didn’t spare the ancient world when he brought a flood on the world of ungodly people, even though he protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, along with seven others. 6 God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to total destruction, reducing them to ashes as a warning to ungodly people. 7 And he rescued righteous Lot, who was made miserable by the unrestrained immorality of unruly people. (8 While that righteous man lived among them he felt deep distress every day on account of the immoral actions he saw and heard.) 9 These things show that the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and how to keep the unrighteous for punishment on the Judgment Day. 10 This is especially true for those who follow after the corrupt cravings of the sinful nature and defy the Lord’s authority. These reckless, brash people aren’t afraid to insult the glorious ones, (2 Peter 2:4-10, CEB)

God is judging our hearts and actions. We say that God gives us grace and saves us, and that is true. But God also knows the heart of a person.

If they are grieved by the pain and suffering around them or are they causing it?

Are you moved to pitty those who harm others for their own gain?

Do you grieve for the world and those who hurt. God sees this and knows. God will not spare those who do not love as God has called us to love.

So love as you were loved.