Thou Canst Make Me Clean

Matthew 8:1-4 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshiped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. The people saw something different in the Lord Jesus Christ. They saw him as a man, which taught with great authority. They willingly followed this teacher that had come down from the father. Jesus had taught them a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. Jesus had healed in their midst and done many great and wonderful miracles. The people knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that this man was unique from anyone that they had ever encountered. A leper made his way to Jesus Christ and sought his help. This leper was no doubt a lonely man, an outcast, because of the disease of leprosy and what the Law demanded of one with leprosy. It took boldness on this man's part to come to Christ. He had heard of this man Jesus and the incredible miracles that he had performed. He came with belief in Christ, asking Christ to heal him from his terrible disease. "Jesus put forth his hand and touched him." No doubt, when he touched the leper the multitudes probably recoiled in horror. Everyone knew that the disease of leprosy was highly contagious and dangerous. Jesus had no fear of a disease. Jesus had previously spoke to the winds and the storm on the Sea of Galilee and the storm had obeyed him. Jesus response to the lepers request, "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean," was to declare, "I will" and Jesus instantly and completely healed the man of his disease. Dear friend, you may not have this loathsome disease of leprosy, but you do have a deadly disease called sin. Sin will spread through your life and destroy you if left unchecked. Jesus Christ stands willing to help you today. He alone can give you victory over the sin in your life. You don't have the power to proclaim victory over your sin. God can help you today. Repent, turn from your sin and turn to Christ, allowing him to give you complete victory over sin in your life. You don't have to live in bondage any longer, Christ offers you freedom. John 8:32 "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Jesus Christ is that truth. Jesus declared of himself in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." This is the plain and simply truth. Freedom and victory awaits you in your life, do as the leper in our Bible story, ask Jesus to make you clean and he will gladly do it.

Psalm 118:8-9 " It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." Over the space of five decades of life there have been disappointments. Many of those disappointments came by the way of friends. Have you ever noticed that one thing you can count on is that people will often let you down or disappoint you. There is one friend that will never let you down, Jesus Christ. When we put our confidence in Christ, it is a well placed confidence. Jesus is always the same, "Yesterday, today and forever," according to the Book of Hebrews. Jesus is altogether trustworthy. He will never break our confidence. We can talk to Jesus about the deepest desires and pains of our heart and He will never betray our confidence. There are many in our society that have put their trust in the leadership of government. We need to remember that the government is comprised of men. Men fail, in spite of their best efforts. The sole place of absolute confidence is to rest our confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God he has never failed us, betrayed us or misdirected us. Blessed be the Lord God!

The Joy of the Lord is your Strength

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. What a wonderful day in the nation of Israel. The people stood in reverence at the reading of the law of God. The Scriptures were read and taught to the people. Nehemiah and Ezra declared the day to be holy unto the Lord. The people loved the reading of the law so much that their hearts filled to bursting and tears flowed from their eyes. Nehemiah told the people it wasn't a day for weeping, but a day for rejoicing in Israel. Nehemiah declared the day to be holy unto the Lord. Nehemiah declared that the joy of the Lord is your strength. When our hearts fill to over flowing at the reading of God's Word we find strength. The strength for our daily life comes from the Word of God. Jesus reminded his disciple that He had meat to eat that they knew not of. Job declared that he desired the words of God's mouth more than his necessary food. In the Word of God we find the strength to face life as victors and not as those that are vanquished. We receive strength through the precious Word of God. We, along with the nation of Israel can declare this day holy unto the Lord, if we spend time in God's Word.

The Calling of Matthew

Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus was making his way down the street after healing the man with palsy and came upon a man sitting at the receipt of custom. During this time, the Roman government was in control of the Bible lands and demanded a custom or tax from its citizens. The Roman government would hire natural citizens of the country to collect the custom to make it less egregious for the citizens of Israel. Jesus commanded for Matthew to follow him. Matthew was immediately obedient to the command of Christ. He arose and followed him. Matthew invited Jesus to his home and they went to eat in the home of Matthew. As Jesus partook of the meal that had been provided by Matthew many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. No doubt, these were probably friends of Matthew from his work as a tax collector. The Pharisees, seeing the crowd with which Jesus was associating himself, found occasion to accuse Jesus. The accusation was plain and to the point. "Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?" The religious leaders were concerned that Jesus would surround himself with these sinners. The Pharisees felt that they were better than these sinners. Jesus answered the Pharisees and perfectly explained why he would associate with such as these. "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." Jesus was explaining that he was reaching out to exactly those that needed his help the most. Those that were carrying the burden of their sin around like a heavy weight on their shoulders. Those that were facing eternal damnation if they died in their sinful state. Jesus went to these, because they needed the message of repentance and forgiveness that he had to offer. Have you ever hesitated to take the Gospel message to someone because they seemed socially beneath you, maybe they were dirty or homeless, maybe just intimidating and you refused the nudging of the Holy Spirit to speak to them about their soul? We should never be hesitant to share the Good News of the Gospel with those that we come into contact with, regardless of social status. The message that Jesus offers is a merciful message. It is a message of forgiveness to those that need it most. Jesus explained that he didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus and his disciples were carrying out the mission given to them by God the Father. They were taking the message of salvation to sinners in need of repentance and salvation.

God or Man?

Matthew 9:1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. Matthew 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? Matthew 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. Matthew 9:7 And he arose, and departed to his house. Matthew 9:8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. Jesus entered a ship and made his way back to Capernaum. While there, a man sick of palsy, lying on a bed was brought unto Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus, "Seeing their faith," healed the man. Jesus responded to those that came to him by faith seeking healing for their friend. Jesus always responds to faith. The Bible declares that, "Without faith, it is impossible to please him." Jesus demands faith and is please when we exercise faith in him. Jesus offered encouragement to the man that had been sick of palsy by commanding him to be of good cheer. Jesus declared the man's sin forgiven. The man had an abundance of reasons to be of good cheer. He had been healed spiritually and was getting ready to healed physically! The Scribes standing by took great offense at Jesus' declaration to the man that his sins were forgiven. They accused Jesus of blasphemy! Jesus demonstrated his power and his identity by healing the man with palsy. We need to understand that the miracles that Christ performed during his earthly ministry were an authentication of Christ's identity and confirmation of his ministry. These supernatural miracles were God the Father's stamp of approval on Jesus, revealing him as the God-man. Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. The multitudes that saw this miracle reacted in a different fashion than the religious leaders. The multitudes marvelled and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. They understood that Jesus was more than just man. A simple man couldn't do this amazing miracle that they had just witnessed Jesus performing. They realized that Jesus was the Son of God, and God himself in human flesh. How about you, what do you think of Jesus? Do you agree with the Scribes, they thought Jesus was simply a man or do you agree with the multitudes that saw Jesus as the Son of Man, that had come to take away the sins of the whole world? Your eternal destiny rides on this question!

Jesus and the Devils

Matthew 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Matthew 8:30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. Matthew 8:31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. Matthew 8:32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. Matthew 8:33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. Matthew 8:34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. This passage of Scripture falls directly on the tail end of our previous blog post. Jesus had rescued his disciples on the Sea of Galilee by speaking to the storm and causing peace to ensue. As the ship reached the other side of the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were going to be astonished once again at the power of Jesus Christ. When the ship reached the land of the Gadarenes. Gadara was one of ten cities that made up the Decapolis. When Jesus and the disciples arrived at the land two men, possessed with devils, came out of the tombs to meet them. The Bible declares that these two men were inhabited with demonic spirits. The demonic spirits that inhabited these men made them exceedingly fierce. So much so, that people were afraid to pass by the tombs. It's interesting to notice that the demons in these men instantly recognized Jesus Christ as the Son of God. They recognized that they were face to face with God. The question the demons asked Jesus reveals to us that the demons knew that their ultimate end was punishment by God. They understood that Jesus would carry out that punishment one day. John 5:22 "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" The devils wanted to negotiate with Jesus revealing their desire to inhabit the bodies of the living. These demonic spirits didn't want to be disembodied, they wanted to dwell in living creatures. This should reveal something of their nature to us today. Jesus gave them their wish and caused them to leave the men and go into the herd of swine feeding on the hillside. The demonic spirits thought they had earned a victory, but the herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea and perished. The demonic spirits were ultimately disembodied as the pigs perished. The keepers of the swine fled into the city and told everything that had happened. The people of the city got scared and actually asked Jesus to depart out of their coasts. This passage of the Scripture teaches us that Jesus not only has command of the wind and waves, but also over demonic spirits, (devils). Jesus will ultimately judge them all as they are cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. Are you being oppressed by demonic forces in your life today? Jesus has the power to help. Call on his name in prayer and allow him to help. He stands willing and ready!

Captain of the Storm

Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. Matthew 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! Jesus had been ministering in Capernaum and had just healed the servant of the centurion. A scribe had came to Jesus and asked to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus explained the cost of being a follower. It wasn't fame and notoriety, it was a wanderer's existence. Jesus had explained to the scribe that he didn't even have a place to lay his head. Jesus' concern wasn't on material things, but on eternal things! The scribe apparently wasn't willing to pay the price to follow Jesus. After Jesus' encounter with the scribe, Jesus and his disciples entered into a ship on the Sea of Galilee. The boat started its journey across the sea, but it encountered a great tempest. The skies darkened and the winds began to increase as the storm soon engulfed the boat. The disciples became fearful as the boat filled with water. The bible reveals that Jesus was fast asleep in the ship. The disciples fearful for their lives came to the conclusion that they needed to wake Jesus. Jesus' response to the disciples was worth noting. "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Jesus' question to the disciples echoes through time to us today as we face storms in our lives. Why are we fearful? If God is our heavenly Father, what do we really have to be fearful about? Is he not the creator of the universe and everything we see around us? Jesus' second statement should chill our heart, "O ye of little faith." When God looks at our human frailty, does he see fear or faith? When we really get a handle on who our God is, we can conquer the fear that we face and allow our faith to grow and increase as we watch our powerful God work on our behalf. Jesus arose from his sleep and he rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. The disciples marvelled at his power! Sometimes we just need a reminder of who our God is, and the power that he has available to rescue us in time of need! Are you in trouble today? Jesus stands willing to rescue you if you call upon him!

A Centurion's Faith

Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Matthew 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus had made his way into Capernaum and his fame had gone throughout the region. A centurion came to meet Jesus with a request. He had heard that this Jesus was able to heal the sick. This centurion had a sick servant at home in need of healing. The centurion was a military captain commanding probably around 100 men. He understood how authority worked. He had a firm grasp on the chain of command. When the centurion issued orders to men under his command, he expected those orders to be carried out. When the centurion gave orders to his servants, he expected his servants to obey unquestioningly. The centurion called Jesus, "Lord." He understood that Jesus was his superior. He understood his position in comparison to Jesus. The centurion declared himself unworthy to have Jesus come under his roof. His request was what drew Jesus' attention. He asked Jesus to, "Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." Jesus marvelled at the faith of the centurion. We must remember that this centurion was a Gentile. He wasn't a Jew or a "Child of the Kingdom." The centurion simply believed that Jesus had the power to speak the word and heal his servant. Jesus used the centurion's faith to point out a scriptural truth in verse 11. The truth was the inclusion of the Gentiles in the reception of the Gospel message by faith. Verse 11 reveals to us that the Gentiles will one day sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. That should be wonderful news to us as Gentile believers today. Another sad truth is revealed to us in verse 12. Some of the children of the kingdom, the Jews to whom the Gospel message was first committed, will end up being cast out into outer darkness because of their unbelief. God the Father has given us all the Gospel message regardless of our race. All we have to do is repent and believe and we can sit down with Jewish and Gentile believers one day in Heaven.

The Joyful Sound

15

  Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance."

The word "Blessed" in the bible means happy.  Happy is the the people that know the joyful sound.  What is the joyful sound being referenced in this verse.  in the context of the rest of the passage, it is the praises and rejoicing of God's people.  It's wonderful to hear God's people sharing their testimonies of how God has worked in their lives.  It's wonderful to hear the sound of their voices sharing the mighty works of God.  It stirs our heart to hear the voices of God's people lifting their voice in song to praise the Lord.  These testimonies of God's people sharing what God has done cause us to desire to walk with the Lord.  We want to see the hand of God at work in our life, just as He is working in the lives of others.  When we are praising and worshipping God we are literally walking in the light of His countenance.  He looks upon our lives and continues to bless us as we lift our voices in thankful praise for all that He has done.  

Have you heard the praises of God's people?  Don't neglect the house of God.  It's a wonderful place to find strength and renewal for our journey.  As we spend time around God's people, we will find that we are encouraged and energized to serve God.

God's Amazing Mercy

Psalm 118 "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

4 Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever."

We have reason to be thankful to the Lord.  He truly is good and He truly is merciful.  When we sin against Him, He stands ready to forgive us our sin.  When we go down the wrong path, He stands patiently waiting to guide us back onto the right path.  When we ignore His direction, He stands close by imploring us to open our ears and listen.  He is a God of mercy and goodness.  He came to Israel as Saviour and was rejected.  The wild branches, the Gentile nations were grafted into the olive tree, but God hasn't forgotten Israel.  His focus and attention will turn again to the nation of Israel.  Why?  His mercy endureth for ever.  His unconditional love for us causes Him to exercise everlasting mercy toward us.  Thank God for His mercy, goodness and especially His forgiveness.

Alienated

Colossians 1:21-22

21 "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled


22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:"


There was a time before salvation that we were literally alienated from God. Our life was filled with sin and wickedness, as we gave into the temptations that Satan set before us. Thank God that today we have been reconciled to God through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. God provided a sacrifice that permitted our reconcilliation through our belief in Him and His sacrifice on the cross. Jesus accomplished His mission in offering up His body in sacrifice for our sins. His desire was to present us holy, unblameable and reproveable in the sight of God the Father. Once we believe on Christ and accept Him as our Saviour, we put on the righteousness of Christ and fulfill Christ's desire for our life. When God looks at us He doesn't see the filthiness of our former sins, but He sees the righteousness of Christ. We have cause to rejoice this day!

Peace in the Storm

Psalm 3:3  "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."
Psalm 3:4  "I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah."
Psalm 3:5  "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me."

David's own son Absalom had turned against him.  Absalom wasn't content to simply attempt to take the kingdom, but he desired to take David's life.  David cries out to God in the midst of his trial with words that resonate to us today when trials come our way.

In Verse 3 David declares the Lord is a shield.  He is a protector and defender.  He stands between us and those that would seek to destroy us.  What an incredible confidence we can have when we fully put our trust in Him.  He is our glory.  We have nothing in ourselves that is worthy of glory.  We are simply sinful men saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Any thing in our life that is worthy of glory is because of God and His grace.  God is the lifter up of our head.  When we are so discouraged, so beaten down with life, the God of all comfort comes and lifts us our heads and He tells us to look upon Him.  Keep our eyes upon Him and we can be saved from the midst of trouble.  We are reminded of Peter when he stepped out of the boat to walk to Jesus upon the waves during a storm.  When Peter was focused on Jesus he was fine, but when his focus shifted to the storm he found himself in dire straits.  Peter started to sink and the waves were quickly starting to engulf him.

In Verse 4 David cried out to the Lord and God heard him from His holy hill.  We have a God that immediately hears us when we cry out to Him from the anguish of our souls.  When Peter started sinking into the sea, he cried out to Jesus.  Jesus heard his anguished plea and reached out his hand and rescued Peter from the deep.  When the storms of life come to us what should we do?  Cry out to the Lord and allow Him to step in and rescue us in our distress.

In Verse 5 David discovered the result of calling upon the Lord.  David found peace in the midst of danger, as Absalom sought to take his life.  David lay down and slept knowing that God would protect and keep him.  Peter cried out to Jesus and Jesus not only rescued him, but spoke, "Peace, be still" to the storm.

God has the power to help in your life today.  If everything seems turned upside down and you feel that you're teetering on the edge of a cliff, call out to the God of all comfort and allow Him to work in your life.  He stands ready to help.

How to Live Longer

Exodus 20:12  "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

     Have you ever stopped and considered the parents that God has given to you.  You could have been born anywhere upon the face of the earth, with any of eight billion other people as your parents.  God specifically allowed you to be born with the parents that you have.  Science teaches us that you are a composite of both of your parents.  You've inherited traits and characteristics from both of them.  That could be pleasing or scary depending on how you look at it.  We understand the science behind birth, but don't leave God out of the equation.  God gave the life that you received at conception.  God created you and you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
     The Bible teaches that we are to honour our father and mother.  They are due honour from us.  Our parents took care of us and provided for us when we were unable to care for ourselves.  Our parents have loved, encourage and supported us through our life.  They've been there to pick us up and pat us on the back.  They've held us in their arms when the pain of life became too great.  They nursed us back to health when we were sick.  They taught us to ride our first bicycle and taught us another million lessons in life.  Our parents are due great honour for all that they have done for us.
     God teaches us that there is a reward for honouring our parents.  God will bless us with many days upon the earth.  When we give honour to whom honour is due, it brings joy and happiness into our life.  Take time to honour the parent or parents that God has blessed you with.

Handling Hurt

Proverbs 24:17  "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:"
Proverbs 24:18  "Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him."

The natural reaction when we see an enemy fall or stumble is to laugh.  We enjoy seeing them taken in their own traps and snares.  The spiritual reaction that Jesus taught in the New Testament was that we should pray for our enemies.  When we are wronged, it is easy to get on a spiritual high horse and feel that we are vindicated when evil befalls the person that hurt us.  God would remind us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  He suffered agony, humiliation and separation from the Father to pay the wage for our sin, which was death on the cross at Calvary.  When we consider what God has done for us, how He loved us when we were all together unlovely, the least we can do is pray for those that have wronged us.  Ultimately we must remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord, its not in our authority to punish those that have treated us wrongly.  Leave it in the Lords hands and handle the hurt and pain in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Confident or Ashamed?

1John 2:28  "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

Christ has promised His return in the Bible.  It is as sure as the promise of God.  Jesus is indeed, returning to this earth.  How should we live our life in light of this promise in the Scriptures?  We are to be active in reaching others with the Gospel message.  We should live day by day allowing God to conform us to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We should live in such a manner that when He comes, we won't have to be ashamed before Him at His coming.  When we allow our life to become polluted with sin, we don't live expectantly, we live with dread at the thought of Christ's return.  We don't want our Saviour to return and find us in the midst of sin.  We must abide in Him.  The bible likens it to the fruit abiding in the branches.  We are to find our sustenance and security in Him.  He is the life-giving source in our life.  How are you living today?  Are you living a life that is eager to see the return of the Lord or would you be ashamed at His coming?  If you would be ashamed, take time to make some things right with God.  He stands ready to forgive, if you simply ask for forgiveness.

ASK

Matthew 7:8 "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

     How many blessings have we failed to receive simply because we didn't bother to ask.  A preacher once said that one of these days we are going to get to heaven and God is going to show us a huge warehouse that contains all of the blessings we could have received, if we had prayed and asked God.  God wants to bless us far more than we even realize.  Just like we enjoy blessing our children, God the Father enjoys blessing His children.
     Another principle contained in this verse is, "He that seeketh findeth."  Have you ever lost something valuable?  If you have, then you can understand the value of this verse.  You search and search, not resting or relaxing till you find the valuable object you were searching for.  What a relief when you find the lost object.  God is teaching us the value of importunity, persistence in praying for the desires of our heart.  We must never forget that we can't command God to do anything, but we can approach our heavenly Father by faith to petition Him for our requests.
     "To him that knocketh it shall be opened."  We are to put action to our prayers.  There are times that God expects us to take the first step and then He responds to our prayer.  God wants to see our willingness to step forward in obedience.  Sometimes the simple action of putting feet to our prayer is the action that shows God we're serious about our request.  It shows that we are willing to act and respond to God's answer to prayer in our life.
     How about you today?  Have you taken time to pray and ask God for an answer to the situation in your life?  Are you diligently seeking an answer from God?  Have you put feet to your prayer, believing that God is going to do a work?

The Great Physician's Mission

Matthew 9:12-13
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.


In today's passage of Scripture Jesus explains the underlying motive for His earthly ministry. Jesus uses an illustration that could be easily understood. If you're not sick you don't need a physician. If you are sick, you desperately need one. Jesus understood fully the condition of man. Man is born into this world a sinner, under the condemnation of a holy God. Man is sick to the very core of his being. He stands in need of the Great Physician to do a work in his heart. A work of regeneration, a work of reconcilliation with God the Father. Jesus further explains His mission in verse thirteen. He had not come to earth to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. For a person to repent he needs to see himself as God sees him. When he realizes fully that he is a sinner separated from God, he will come to a place of repentance and a place where he is willing to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. How is it with you today? Have you allowed the Great Physician to do a great work in your life? He came to heal them that are sick and tired of sin! Let Christ work in your life today!

Glory in Tribulations

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Romans 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Romans 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

What an incredibly rich passage of Scripture!  Verse 1 reveals that peace with God comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The clear teaching of Scripture is that before we are saved, we are at enmity with God.  We are literally an enemy of God.  When we believe on Christ by faith, God declares that we are justified in His sight.  Not only does Christ give us peace with God, but Christ gives us access by faith to God the Father.  All of this is wonderful, but there is even better news in verses 3-5.  We see a seeming paradox mentioned in verse 3.  Paul reveals that as Christians, we can can glory in tribulation, understanding that God the Father is accomplishing something in our life.  The concept of being able to glory in tribulation seems crazy to those apart from Christ.  We can rest confidently in tribulation with the understanding that God is accomplishing His perfect work in our life.  He is conforming us through tribulation to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Tribulation works patience in our life.  It teaches us to wait patiently upon God the Father to deliver us through the tribulation.  It teaches experience, because it demonstrates the faithfulness of God to see us through each and every trial that we confront.  It teaches hope, as we wait for God's glorious deliverance.  In verse 5 it is revealed that hope maketh not ashamed.  If there was ever a time in history that God's people need hope, this is that day.  The Holy Spirit of God renews that hope in our hearts as we spend time in sweet fellowship with God the Father.  Remember when God allows tribulation to come to pass in your life, its not that He doesn't care, it's not that He is unconcerned, but He is accomplishing His perfect purpose in your life!

Returned to the Shepherd of our Souls

1 Peter 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1 Peter 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

     In verse 23 we see that Christ was fully committed to the mission that had been given to Him by the Father.  He did always those things that pleased the Father.  When Christ left glory to come to earth, He understood what lay before Him.  A life of thirty-three years that would end with pain, agony and separation from the Father on the cross of Calvary.  Christ fulfilled His mission on the cross, as He hung there suspended between heaven and earth.  He bare our sins in His body on the tree.  He paid the wages for our sin, which were death.  He enabled us as believers to no longer be in bondage to sin.  We have a choice to follow sin or to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us.  We are to live unto righteousness understanding the price that was paid for us by our Lord.  We were as sheep wandering lost in the wilderness, sheep in need of a saviour.  We returned unto the Christ, the Shepherd and Bishop of our soul.
     Christ sets a wonderful example for us in this passage of Scripture.  How much better would it be if we were totally committed unto Him that judgeth righteously?  If we made the decision to allow everything we did to be pleasing to the Father.  Let's be grateful for what Christ has done in our life.  Let's live our lives as lives of gratitude to the Father for what He has done in our life through Christ.

The Light of the World

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

     In our passage today Jesus is addressing the Jews.  Jesus declares to the Jews exactly whom He is!  He declares that he is the light of the world.  He came to shine a bright light into the darkness of a sinful world.  A world that was trying to work its way to heaven.  The glorious light that Christ was about to shine, was the Gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  Christ would die on the cross and pay the sin debt for all of mankind.  If we choose to follow Christ, we don't have to walk in darkness.  We don't have to be in bondage to sin.  We can have the light of life living within us.  We can allow that light to shine into the lives of others.
     Jesus laid down the litmus test for the Jews.  If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.  It was a matter of living a life that reflected the new light that shone within through their belief on Christ.  Their obedience demonstrated the reality of their conversion.  Our obedience demonstrates our relationship with Christ.
     In verse 32 Jesus tells the Jewish believers that they would see the truth of their decision become a reality in their lives.  The power of the truth at work in their life would set them free.  They no longer would be bound to the impossible task of perfectly keeping the Mosaic Law.  They would know the freedom of God's grace as they grew into the new life that God had for them.
     How about you?  Have you put your trust in the Light of the World?  If your world is becoming dark Jesus Christ stands waiting to shed light abroad in your life.  He wants you to know the truth that shall make you free.