The Great Physician

Matthew 9:20-22

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.  She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Starting next week, you will notice that Erin will be writing Friday’s devotion for a while.  The reason for this is I will be out on medical leave.  During Lent I have been writing about how Jesus has done extraordinary things while he was an ordinary man here on earth.  Today’s devotion is no different really. 

You see, throughout Christ’s time here on earth, we read of numerous times where he performed miracles and healed the sick.  We now call him the great physician for a reason.  Of all of these miracles, today I chose the story of this woman as it really aligns with what I am going through.  When people hear that I am going to be having surgery, I hear a lot of people respond with, “I’m sorry”.  What they don’t know is that I have been dealing with issues for almost 17 years.  So really, I’m not sorry, I am ecstatic.  Just like this woman, I feel like I have been just trying to get close enough to touch the edge of Christ’s cloak. 

As I go through the next month or so of healing, I know that through it all, I have the great physician taking care of me.  So, while I covet your prayers, I do not fear as my faith will heal me.

What miracle in the Bible do you most relate with? 

Open Space

Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water.  But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”).  Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”).  Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”  Genesis 26:19-22

How many times in your life have you dealt with a seemingly ‘no win’ situation only to find out there was an option not previously considered?  Not too long ago, I had a conflict where a colleague and I seemingly could not see eye to eye on a situation.  We both had the right objective but differing motives.  We were so caught up in our own views that neither of us could see past it.  After taking a step back and getting some good guidance, we sat down again, and still seemed to be at warring sides of the equation.  Then, an open space for compromise occurred to me.  I asked what is it that they needed, which was the right to manage the situation within their team.  My goal was to ensure the situation fit within the framework of the bigger group’s standards.  Once I was able to get assurances their management of the goal fit within those parameters, we were able to agree.  Without patience and persistence to meet the objectives of both sides, we never would have been able to achieve success.

Sometimes, God wants to test your patience and persistence to help you realize there is something better.  In this story of Isaac, he can never seem to find a place for his group to settle.  One place created an argument, and in another, hostility was found.  How often do we face situations where we encounter arguments and hostility?  Perhaps Esek and Sitnah could be names of a conference room at your location in the near future  J  Back to the point.  Isaac could have very well fought for the land, and in fact because the land was promised to his father Abraham, he was entitled to it.  Yet, Isaac showed restraint and patience having faith God would deliver as He had numerous times before.  Of course, Isaac persistence was rewarded as they not only found space to prosper but later another space where God would appear and bless him to build a great nation.  In reading these verses, you do not hear God promising anything to Isaac that would have guided him to move as many times as they did.  But what we can pull from this is through patience and persistence, God will show up and provide as He did for Isaac.

God always delivers without fail.  It may not be at a time we either expect or want, but we should have faith it will always be on time and usually better than what we can see.  So if you are dealing with a situation where things are not quite working out or there is outright hostility, step back, and look for the open space where God lies.  Then, watch as He allows for you and those connected to you to prosper.   What conflict is troubling you that may require more patience and persistence from you?  How can you trust God to be your provider at all times?  My prayer is that we apply a practice of patience and persistence knowing that God will always find us ‘open space.’  Amen.

Thursday Devotional - Born Good or Bad?

Are people born good, but become bad? Or are all people born bad and some become good?

Romans 5:17-21 ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, ²¹ so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adam’s sin brought death while Jesus’ obedience brought life. Sin and death entered the world through Adam. Everyone is born a sinner. We aren’t born good and don’t become good. Only God is Good. However, as we’ve been talking about being credited with Christ’s righteousness, we can receive God’s gracious gift of righteousness (vs. 17) because of Jesus’ one “good” act (vs. 18).

Watching children, it doesn’t take long to realize they enter the world sinful and selfish. As caring as James can be, he and Sarah both wanted to go first when we played Candy Land last night (and since they argued about it, I went first!).

Have you accepted the fact that everyone is born a sinner? How does that change the way you and I view others or situations around us?

Have you accepted God’s gift of righteousness? If so, how are you and I enjoying His gift and experiencing life now?

We’re born sinners, but we can accept God’s gift of righteousness!

Alice

Tues Devo: Return on investment

Matthew 25: 24-28 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seek. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who  has the ten talents.’” (NASB)

Hello,

All of us have been given skills and abilities, in addition to varying amounts of material resources. Similar to the challenge from last week about being engaged – I think a challenge for all of us about investing ourselves is warranted. Are we multiplying our abilities through generosity? Are we building into others, so they can do the same?

When Christ returns, and we stand before God – what account will we give for His investments to us of skills/abilities/resources?

I hope this challenges all of us!

Have a blessed day,       

Will Hill