In
my many years as a woman of Shunem I have served my people with the
talents and wisdom such as God has given to me. For that reason I have
some standing and reputation for greatness among them, but it is of God
and not of me. Even still, I never conceived. Therefore, my husband and
I were without child, and were great in years.
Now there came a
day when a man would regularly pass by my home, and I perceived that he
was a great man of God. I invited him to come into my home and let me
feed him. This he did every time he passed my way. So I compelled my
husband to build a small room onto our home, and furnished it with a
bed, a stool, and a candlestick. Then when the man of God next passed
by I invited him to stay the night with us. This he did, and whenever
he came to Shunem.
One day when this man of God was staying in
my home, he sent his man servant to summon me to him. When I stood in
the door to his room, he said that since I had been nice to him, he
wanted to know if I wanted something of the King or the Captain of the
guard. I told him that the people I live among take care of me just
fine. His man servant then spoke with him in their tongue. So I
returned to my chores.
A short time later the man servant
compelled me again to go to the man of God. As I stood in the door to
his room, he told me that a year later I would be with child, and have
a son. I scolded him for saying such a thing to an old woman with an
old husband, for he was a man of God and should not lie. He insisted
that as a man of God he did not lie.
A year later I did conceive
and bring forth a son, just as the man of God had said. I was very
happy, and my husband also. We raised up the boy and taught him all
that a boy should know, including how to work in the field with his
father. It was on one such day when he was with his father in the field
that he complained of a head ache. A servant brought him to the house,
and I held him on my lap. There he died.
I took the body of my
son and placed it on the bed of the man of God in the room my husband
had made for him. By way of a messenger I compelled my husband to send
a young man and a donkey to me. When my husband asked where I was
going, I simply told him not to worry, all would be well. So I set off
and traveled to see the man of God as he was on Mount Carmel. There I
feel at his feet and reminded him that he said he did not lie when he
said I should have a son. Perceiving what I meant, he and his servant
went back to my home with me.
Upon arriving at my house the man
of God first laid his staff on the face of my son, and then laid his
body upon the boy. Placing his mouth on the boy's mouth, and his eyes
on the boy's eyes, and pressing his body to that of the boy, the man of
God lay there with my son. Then the boy's body became warm with life,
and he sneezed seven times.
I knelt down at the man of God's
feet, bowed my face to the ground, and thanked him and his God. I then
took my son in my arms and left the room with great joy. And the man of
God and his servant went their way, for they serve God.
May the God who gives life to the dead be praised and glorified forever. Amen.
One
of the greatest problems the Modern Church has created for mankind is
making Christianity far more complicated and complex than God made it.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is really quite simple and straight forward.
But man's ego and need to feel important has added requirements and
restrictions to Christ Gospel, just as the ancient Jewish priests added
to the laws God gave to the people through Moses. And Jesus seemed to
know this would happen. So he showed open disdain for the Pharisees
with their complicated and burdensome additions to God's law. And he
made it clear that anyone who does not accept the offer of salvation
with the simplicity of a child cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
You
can conduct your own instructive demonstration of what Jesus means when
he implores us to "receive the kingdom of God as a little child."
Gather together a small group of children between the ages of four and
six. Then present a platter of cupcakes or donuts, and offer one to
each child. What will most likely happen is that each child will accept
the offer of the treat with a smile, and perhaps a thank you. That is
all. They will not question your motive for offering the treat. They
will not agree to accept the offer only if they can pay for it. They
will not refuse the offer on the grounds that they do not feel worthy
of it. They will not refuse the offer because they do not want to feel
obligated to do something for you in return. They will not state that
having accepted the offer makes them special. They will simple be happy
that the offer was make, accept the offer with joy, and go off to enjoy
what they have been freely given. They might even freely offer to share
some of their treat with a parent, sibling, or friend.
This is
precisely how Jesus expects us to receive the unconditional,
unqualified offer of salvation. He paid the price of the entry fee into
the kingdom of God, and offers it to us freely. All we have to do is
accept it as freely and unconditionally as it is offered. We do not
have to pay for it; for in truth we cannot. As it is a gift it is not
our worthiness which is at issue, but the generosity of the giver. And
because it is not a loan there is no debt to repay. It is simply a gift
offered in love by the Father through the Son.
How rude would
you consider it if someone insisted on paying for a Christmas gift you
had given them? How hurt would you be if someone to whom you had given
a birthday gift wanted to know what you expected in return? How
insulted would you be if someone refused to believe you did not have
some secrete motive for giving them some cookies you made? Can you
imagine how God feels when the great gift he offers to us out of love
is not simply accepted with a smile and a thank you? What must he think
of those who insist that they must try to pay for the gift? How hurt
must he be by those who refuse to believe that he does not have some
hidden motive that will place us in debt and bondage to him? For all
God does is offer us the gift of his love. And all we have to do is
accept it the same way a little child would accept a treat from one of
us.
There is one more childlike action that is expected of us.
Just as a little child might freely offer to share his treat with
another, so we are to share the gift of God's love with others. And,
just as the offer was made to us without conditions and restrictions,
we are to give God's love to others in the same manner. Just as a child
would. For Jesus has instructed us, "Freely you have received, freely
give." (Matthew 10:8)
May the joy of God's love be in your heart. May those you share it with accept it as freely as a little child would. Amen.
Throughout
the Bible we see proof that those who end up in positions of authority
under God are chosen by him, they do not volunteer. God selects those
he wishes to serve Him and carry out his plans according to his
purpose. It is his wisdom which decides who will do what job for him,
and not the wisdom of man. God chose Noah and his family to be the
remnant of humanity to survive His disgust with mankind. He chose
Abraham and his seed to receive His promise of salvation for mankind.
God chose Joseph to save His chosen people from starvation. He then
chose Moses to lead His people to the promised land. God went on to
chose a variety of judges to guide His chosen people. And then when
they requested a King, God chose Saul. When Saul turned away from God,
He chose David to lead the people. And now in our reference scripture,
God chooses Solomon to be Israel's greatest King, and the builder of
His house. In every one of these lives, it is God who choose the man;
not the man who choose God.
In Romans 8:30 Paul tells us that
God decided before the foundation of the universe whom He would choose,
and them he also calls. Once called, God justifies them; and those He
justifies he also glorifies. This is born out in the lives of all of
those mentioned above. From Noah to Solomon these men were chosen,
called, justified and then glorified by God to serve Him according to
his plans and purpose. None of these men became great by making their
own plans for a purpose of their own determination.
Our
reference scripture also tells us that once God has chosen someone for
a job, He establishes that person in the position required to
accomplish the task. And He will maintain that person in the assigned
position as long as the chosen one continues to live by God's
commandments and judgments. This fact is made painful clear in the
lives of Moses and Saul. Both men lost favor with God by not continuing
in following His commandments and judgments. As a result, Moses was not
allowed to enter into the promised land. And Saul was given an evil
spirit to torment him, and then died in battle along with his son. His
kingship was taken from him by God and given to David. It was David, a
man after God's own heart, whose kingdom was continued to the last King
of the Jews, Jesus. That was David's reward for keeping God's
commandments and judgments.
Each Christian is first chosen and
then called by God according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Once the
Christian answers the call from God, he is justified by the blood of
Jesus, in whom the chosen has faith, which is a gift of the grace of
God. In each step, it is God who first choose His servant, and then
establishes him through Jesus Christ, for His glory. The advantage we
have over the chosen servants of the Old Testament is that we get help
in keeping God's commandments and judgments. We get a personal
counselor to strengthen and guide us in God's ways. Therefore as long
as we continue to live a life led by the Holy Spirit, and do not decide
to be driven by the ways of the world and the lusts of the flesh, which
are idolatry, we will be established forever in God's kingdom. This is
a promise all the lives mentioned above prove. God has made it quite
clear that He is always true to His word. And for those who keep God's
Word, they are established in His kingdom, sharing in His glory along
with Christ Jesus, for all eternity.
The Christian today, having
been adopted as a true child of God and brother of Jesus Christ, is a
full heir to the kingdom begun long ago with David. As God chose and
called David, and then his son, Solomon, and established their kingdom
forever, we who are of the chosen and called of God, are established in
His kingdom. And, as David and Solomon lived in the glory of God, so
shall we share in the inheritance of Christ, which is the glory of God.
For the ultimate purpose of choosing and establishing the elect of God
is to proclaim to all the world His glory. In this we share with Christ
and all those other great servants of God. And with them we shall give
praise, honor and glory to God in His presence forever.
May the grace and glory of God be with you always. Amen.
Listening
to the radio and watching TV provides one with information on the great
variety of man's afflictions. And for every affliction there are
thousands and millions who seek relief. They go to doctors, buy pills
and tonics, and attend the seminars of gurus who claim to be able to
teach the discomforted their secretes for restoring health of mind,
body and spirit. Some of the cures offered can provide help in some
cases. Much of the advise offered is really quite practical and
generally useful. Whoever, the biggest problem most of the people who
seeks these cures face is themselves. For more than actually wanting to
be healthy, they want a wish to be granted. They want something given
to them without paying the terrible price of making a change in
themselves. It is not so much that they want to be freed of their
affliction; they want to be freed of any consequences of doing and
living exactly they way they want. The desire within many is to receive
the benefits of a disciplined and moral life, while enjoying all the
pleasures of the flesh. In truth, this is the real goal many in our
society seek.
If we look closely and honestly at the accounts of
those whom Jesus healed, we discover an important element common to
every case. The person seeking relief either for them self or for a
child, makes supplication to Jesus by kneeling or bowing before him.
This is accompanied by a deep desire that they or the one they
represent be healed. They seek nothing else. Being relieved of their
affliction is all they have in mind. And they are willing to do
whatever it takes to acquire a new life.
There are two important
lessons to be learned from our reference scripture. The first is the
question Jesus asks the man at the pool called Bethesda. Jesus wants to
know if the man really wants to be made whole. Why does Christ ask this
question? Because the one who knows the secretes of men's hearts knows
full well that some people seek not to be whole, but to get sympathy
and favors from others. Some want to live like the heathen while
receiving the benefits of the saint. Some wish to be told that no
matter what they think or how they live they will not be punished.
These are people who do not really want to be cured of their sickness,
whether of body or spirit. And Jesus said that he came to heal the
sick. (Mark 2:17) Jesus did not come that we might continue in our
carnal pleasures without receiving the due payment for sin. Therefore,
to be cured of an affliction, one must honestly want to be made whole,
spiritually as well as physically. For the two, as many of today's
doctors and psychiatrists affirm, cannot be separated.
The
second part of the lesson is the statement Jesus makes in verse 14,
"Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." Therein lies the
prescription for continued good health. We cannot, once we have
received relief from whatever afflicts us, continue in the old life and
old ways. Otherwise, we could end up worse off than we were before we
got the cure. And this fact is not only made clear by Jesus who tells
everyone he heals to "go and sin no more." It is made clear in the Old
Testament writings. God would get the Jews out of trouble and free them
from bondage, telling them to keep his ways if they wanted to continue
to have a good life. But the Jews would fall back into sinful ways,
worshiping idols and serving false gods. Then they would end up in a
situation just as bad or worse than the one God had freed them from.
(Judges 2:11-23, Psalms 106)
The message the Word of God gives
to us is quite simple and clear. If any is afflicted in any way, he
must first truly want to be made whole. There cannot be any other
desire or motive in his mind. For Jesus, who knows the hearts and minds
of all men, will know if there is a sincere desire to be whole, or to
simply be rid of the consequences of certain carnal pleasures. Then,
having been made whole, there must be a change in life. And that change
must be profound. It cannot simply be the exchanging of one pleasure
for another. It cannot be merely an outward change. There must be a
change of heart, mind and spirit. The healed person must become a new
creature. This can only be accomplished by first receiving Christ as
Lord and Savior, and then receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Only then can a Son of Adam be made truly a whole Child of God.
May the grace of God, the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you. Amen.
Amazing and incredible do not begin
to describe the change in body and life I experienced crawling in the
dust on a road outside Capernaum. I had suffered pain, revilement,
sorrow, embarrassment and isolation for twelve years. The
flow of blood from my body, which would have been normal one week a
month, had become a curse which labeled me as "unclean." I could not go
to the synagogue to hear the Word of God read. I could not commune with
others in the market or at the well. Members of the community who were
strict about the purity laws would neither have anything to do with me,
nor allow others to visit me. During that time I had believed and trust, and been disappointed and
taken advantage of by many physicians and purported healers. In my
loneliness I cried and besought God to have mercy on me, a child of his
chosen people, the children of Israel.
I awoke that morning
believing I had heard a clear, calm voice say, "Daughter, wake up. For
today is the day of your deliverance. Your cries to the Father have
been heard, and today you shall be made whole. Get up, dress for
travel, and set out upon the road from the Sea of Galilee to the city
of Capernaum. On that road you will find a crowd following a man. It is
He who will set you free."
With a hope (confident expectancy) I
could neither explain nor justify, I got out of bed and dressed
quickly. With the Sun just peeking over the horizon, I set out to seek
a man I had never seen, but somehow knew I would recognize the moment I
came into his presence. I was not acting on impulse, but on guidance I
was certain came from God himself. I did not think I would be healed
that day; rather, I knew in my heart that what had been told to my
spirit by the Spirit of God was true. And my heart was filled with joy.
At
mid day I came upon a crowd traveling almost as one joined mass of
flesh. My body tingled and my soul rejoiced with the knowledge that the
man I sought was at the center of that crowd. But how would I get close
enough to touch him; for I knew, just as I knew in my heart that he
would heal me, that all I need do is touch his garment. And yet it
seemed there was not an inch of space between all those who pressed
around him. It was then that I decided to get down on my hands and
knees and crawl through the legs of the others toward my goal.
With
kicks and curses from those arrogantly unaware of the freedom to enjoy
the company of others, I painfully and slowly made my way through the
forest of legs. Sandals stepped on my old, wrinkled hands while the
spit of indignation sprinkled my head. But still I pressed forward with
the determination of one who knew beyond all doubt that the reward
would far out value the cost. And then I saw it. I have no idea how I
knew. Perhaps it was the same voice that had awoken me with tidings of
great joy that morning. And so I raised my right arm and stretched my
trembling hand out toward the shining white garment.
The moment
the tip of my right index finger touched that marvelous cloth I felt a
tingling of energy rush through my arm and spread throughout my body.
At once I felt strong rather than weak, and stood up unafraid of the
eyes of those around me. With a giddiness like that of having drunk too
much old wine, the sun dazzling my eyes as if I had just emerged from
years in a cave, and the smell of air as fresh as the first day of
creation in my nostrils, my heart and soul sang out with praise to God.
I was free of my affliction. More than that, I was a new creature. It
was like I had been re-born to begin life over as a fresh, happy child
of God, my Father, Abba. I stood in the road with tears filling my eyes
and streaming down my face as the crowd moved on around me.
Lost
in my private prayers and thanks to God, I did not realize that the
crowd has ceased it undulating movement along the road. The man at the
center was inquiring of his companions of whom had touched him. They
seemed quite bemused at the question due to the size of the crowd. But
he was quite certain that someone had purposefully touched him. He said
he had felt healing power flow from him. Someone, he said, had touched
his garment. And then he looked right at me. As our eyes met, I knew he
knew what I had done and what I was feeling; and I fell at his feet and
confessed to him all that I had experienced that day.
With a
kindness I had never know and a love I knew I would carry from that day
forth he said to me, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in
peace, and be whole of thy plague." And with a smile and a nod, he
turned his face back toward his destination; and he and the crowd moved
on. While I continued to marvel at what had happened. I remained at
that spot until the sound of the multitude faded away, and then
returned to my home.
Having known pain and sorrow, I am quick to
comfort. Having been alone for so long, I am quick to visit those who
are shunned. Knowing the unfathomable grace of God and the healing
power of prayer, I offer my hands to those who are afflicted in any
way. In this way I remember him who glorified his Father the day he
delivered me from living death as I knelt before him in the dust.
May the grace of God, the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you. Amen.
