Untouchable

I find interesting the story in Luke chapter 5 that tells of a man who was covered with leprosy. This man came to Jesus begging “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean”.

Jesus healed many. Sometimes He simply spoke and healing came, as in the case of the Centurion’s servant. Sometimes He gave the person instructions to be followed as in the case of a man blind from birth. Jesus spit in the dirt, placed the mud on the man’s eyes and told him “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam.” The man did as he was told and was healed. Healing came to a woman who simply touched the hem of His garment.

My point is this, Jesus did not have to touch the man with leprosy, but He did. How very much that touch must have contained. Beyond the healing it said, “You have value, you are acceptable, you are touchable.” It had probably been a while since that man had felt a human touch. Persons with leprosy were looked upon as “dead” and not allowed to be among the people. If they were somehow healed, they went through a ceremonial purification process that allowed them back into fellowship among the living.

Jesus told this man, “Don’t tell anyone, but go show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Jesus does not shy away from coming into the unpleasant putrid parts of our lives to bring cleansing and healing. He left the pure holiness of Heaven to have the filthy sin of all mankind placed upon His purity. He traded our sin for His righteousness.

When I read this account of His willingness to reach out and touch the leper, I know His touch is available to me. It is available to all.

What Was She Thinking?

Recently I read a portion of scripture giving the account of a horrible case of child abuse. It made me ask myself, “What was she thinking”?

We are told of a woman, a wife and a mother, who, while caught up in deep sin made a decision regarding her daughter that is unthinkable to me. We are not told how old the daughter is, maybe 6, maybe 12, maybe 16, but young enough to still be in her mother’s care.

This “mother of the year” was having an adulterous relationship with the powerful leader Herod. This man was her husband’s brother or her brother in law. In this recorded piece of history, John the Baptist confronted the sinfulness of their relationship and this woman was not happy about it. Instead of cleansing her heart of the sin, and aligning her life to God’s plan, she wanted to get rid of the convicting voice. She wanted to have him killed, but Herod knew that John was a just and holy man and he protected him.

This opportunistic mother was soon given her chance. Herod had a big birthday celebration and her lovely daughter danced for Herod. She must have been quite talented for it pleased Herod to the point that he offered her a gift of her choice for the performance. Prompted by good ole mom, this child requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod could not go back on his word in front of everyone, so it was done. I can’t help but wonder what the heart of that child would have asked for.

This child carried the bloody decapitated head of John the Baptist, an innocent man, to her mother. Her clothes and slippers and hands and arms probably were covered with the gore of the brutal execution. What nightmares did she suffer for the rest of her life? The request that had come from her mouth had killed a man, a good man, a man believed to be a prophet of God. What kind of guilt did that girl suffer from the mother’s direction?

It is not an uncommon thing for a person to want to quiet convicting voices instead of making changes. Mothers (and fathers) may shun church or godly voices to keep from hearing convicting messages. In doing so, sons and daughters are also kept away. They are given the example of shunning truth.

If God sends a message about something He declares out of bounds for us, it is out of His love that He sends it. There are places where He can send His blessings and there are places that He cannot send His blessings. Open our ears, Lord, help us to listen.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE PROVERBS: The Pleasant Way

The Pleasant Way

Proverbs Chapter Three:
Verse 17: Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

Wisdom is remarkable. We know Christ to be this wisdom and He is remarkable. Jesus tells us "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." He is the way. He is the path.

Psalms Chapter One: 1.Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2.But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3.He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4.Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5.Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6.For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

There are several contrasts given in this Psalm. A pleasant way, and a not so pleasant way. A way of the righteous which is compared to a tree planted by water, and a way of the wicked which is compared to chaff that is blown away. God is not talking about plants here he is talking about people.

There used to be a different way for people to come to God. It was a way of laws and priests and sacrifices and a place called the holy of holies. When Christ died on the cross, the curtain that blocked access to that most holy place where God met with man, was torn open inviting men to come commune with God. Jesus is the way.

The writer of Hebrews says in chapter 10 verse 19: Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,

Those who come to God by way of Christ are still like the picture in Psalms. Like trees planted by water, growing and prosperous. Those without Christ are like chaff blowing around in the wind. Relationship with God through Christ is pleasant above all thing.

Reflections From the Proverbs: A Pretty Good Offer

A pretty good offer

Proverbs Chapter Three:
16. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Speaking of wisdom, this verse says long life is in her right hand and riches and honor are in her left hand. Two very good reasons to find wisdom.
Eve went on a search for wisdom in Genesis 3:6 it says: When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. NIV

This wisdom she went after certainly didn’t bring long life. In fact it brought death. God did an interesting thing after Adam and Eve became diseased with sin. In verse 23 it tells us : So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

It would have been a disastrous thing to have bodies that would age and decay and become diseased and suffer and go on that way for all eternity. Something would have to happen before man could eat from the tree of life. The disease of sin would have to be cleansed away.

In the book of Revelation Chapter 22 verse 14 we find the words of Jesus: Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

It amazes me that something mentioned in the first words in Genesis are brought full circle in the last words in the book of Revelation.

Jesus Christ, the messiah, the redeemer, is the one who takes us from the deadness that our sin produces to the tree of life. We will be holy because all sin is gone. Eternal life will not be perpetual decay but perpetual worship.

The other promise given in our verse is that from the left hand of wisdom is riches and honor. Talk about riches and honor, it doesn’t get any better than this. Adoption by the King of kings. Even before Eve foolishly disobeyed , God had a plan to bring us back. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 4 says: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. It was always meant to be our destiny to be children of God. We have a very wealthy Daddy.

Eve had a choice, we have a choice. We have a choice to accept the gift offered to us. Jesus is wisdom. Jesus the Messiah, the redeemer,paid for our redemption when he died on the cross. Will you be included? He says: Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Jesus is the path to wisdom, the path to life, and the path to riches and honor.

Dear Father, I am amazed that your desire was so strong to make me your child, I recognize that it cost you a lot for my redemption. I am grateful that you have made this offer. I want to be your child.

Refections From The Proverbs: More Precious

More Precious

Proverbs chapter 3:
13. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
14. For she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
15. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
There is a beautiful praise song written by Lynn DeShazo that undoubedly is taken from these verses. The song identifies Jesus Christ as the wisdom that is
more precious than silver, more costly than gold, and more beautiful than diamonds. It identifies Jesus Christ as being of such high value that nothing can compare.

It is evident that the author understands the truth that when someone finds Christ they find wisdom. When someone finds Christ, they find understanding. Lynn DeShazo understands clearly that the wisdom of the old Testament is the Christ of the New Testament.

Wisdom is given a mysterious personality in this book of scripture. It infers that if you find her you will find great treasure more valuable than gold, silver or rubies. Nothing can be compared to the value. It is a treasure hunt that God wants you to be successful at.

Nearly all the world has heard stories about the life of Jesus the Christ. Does that mean they have found wisdom? Does knowing about Jesus mean that you have found wisdom? No. This treasure hunt is not an intellectual search, it is a heart search. Deuteronomy 4:29 says: But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. NIV
One of my favorite passages says:" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13.NIV

This wisdom hunt isn’t about figuring something out. This is about loving the God who created you, and loving the Christ who redeemed you.

The God of the Old Testament is the same God today. He is still found by searching with your heart. When God sent his son, Jesus, he was sending hope and a future to mankind. Through Christ we can call upon the God of Heaven, we can pray, He will listen. This treasure hunt of the heart takes us to a cross, then to our knees, then to the very heart of God where we find a great treasure of wisdom and understanding.

Dear Lord, you are more precious than silver or gold. Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds, pearls or rubies, and nothing I could ever desire compares with you. You are wisdom. You are the wisdom I want.

Refections From The Proverbs: Whatever It Takes

Whatever It Takes

Proverbs Chapter Three:
11. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
12. Because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

God has a way of making things uncomfortable when we begin to go in a wrong direction. The farther we stray away from him, the more uncomfortable He will make things. God wants us to come toward him. He wants us to follow his guidelines because they are good for us.

Ezekiel chapter 5 tells of a time that God got so fed up with his "children" in Jerusalem going in the wrong direction that he told Ezekiel, Verse 8 "Tell them this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations. Because of all your detestable idols, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again." NIV

It makes God angry when men run to other sources instead of running to him. In this instance God’s discipline was severe. He told Jerusalem, "I myself will withdraw my favor; I will not look on you with pity or spare you. A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the winds and pursue with drawn sword. Then my anger will cease and my wrath against them will subside and I will be avenged."

Why does it take hard circumstances to drive us to a loving God who wants to lead us to good places? It is no wonder that our straying makes God angry. The sources that we run to, the idols in our lives have no power. They are empty and worthless.

When God enacts discipline toward us it is a very real indication that he loves us very much. There is no better place to be than in the center of God’s will. There you will find the peace that passes understanding, you will find joy in the midst of pain and you will find a strength that nothing else can give.

When God looks at what he has to offer you and he sees you run away from it, it only makes sense that he will act to woo you back gently or forcefully, whatever it takes.

I think we have come to view God as something of a pushover who will understand and excuse our meanderings. But, do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the spirit will reap eternal life. Gal6:7-8

How important do you think eternal life is to God? Important enough that he would dole out some discipline to bring his children into the spiritual place they need to be.

It is later in the book of Ezekiel that we find these words: I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak......I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.

In the midst of discipline he does not leave us hopeless. He beckons us to himself. In all things he is beckoning us to himself.

Father, help us to be children that require only gentle nudging to bring us back to your leading.

Reflections From The Proverbs: The First, The Best

The First, The Best

Proverbs Chapter Three:

9. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops;
10. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

King Solomon is passing on a wise teaching that began way back when God spoke to Moses in the wilderness. God said "Tell the Israelites this:"—then he goes on to say many things about many topics. He covered everything from personal injury cases to holidays. Included in this message from God to the Israelites was this directive: "Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. This is found in Exodus 22:29. In Exodus 23:19 it says: Bring the best of the first-fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.

God gave us his best. His first and his best. He gave us his first born son, his only son. He wants us to give back our best. 1Corinthians 15:20 says: But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

When you plant a seed into the ground, it dies. Then by the miracle contained within it, resurrection happens and life bursts forth up out of the ground. Every crop that grows can be a picture of the resurrection. God made a big issue of the first-fruits. He even promised rewards for being mindful of his request to honor him with the first-fruits. God’s directives regarding first-fruits is a picture of what he planned to do by sending his son.

Life in the 21st century is vastly different from life in the days of Solomon or Moses. I don’t have any fields with crops growing, or vats of wine. I don’t have any cattle or sheep to give the firstborn from. Now that I have the full picture of what God has done for mankind in sending us His first-fruits, how do I give back what will honor Him?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–This is your spiritual act of worship. Rom.12:1 NIV

I can honor him by giving him me. I can honor him by giving him my time. Starting my day communing with him is giving him the first, the best part of my day. I can give a tithe back to Him from the increase of my labors. The words I write can honor him.

If God promises reward for honoring him with our first-fruits what do 21st century rewards look like?

Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. Luke 6:38

Give time, someone will find time for you. Give understanding, someone will have an understanding ear at your time of need. Give kindness, kindness will be shown to you. My barns will be filled with what I am willing to give.

Father God, help us to have generous hearts willing to give back to you the first-fruits of our lives. Help us to give to others with good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.