Month: July 2024

“Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.”

Matthew 4:11 (RSV)

Jesus was tested and tempted in many ways while He was in the desert. He was tempted to change a stone into bread, in His extreme hunger.  He was also tempted with a quest for power, and to use His divine authority for earthly gain and to just take sovereignty over all. 

Scripture tells us that Jesus was tested in all the ways that we are, but He was also tested in some ways that we are not. We may not be tempted to turn stones into bread, because we are not able to. We can, however, be tempted by the hunger or thirst of our fleshly bodies, to over eat or over drink. 

We may not be in a position to conquer the world but we could still have a desire to control people and circumstances. Jesus was tempted to take sovereignty over the world as Satan showed Him all the kingdoms He could have by His divine power. 

I always wondered why that was even tempting to Jesus, since He was destined to have sovereignty over all kingdoms, in the end. 

Then I realized that the greatest  temptation for Jesus was to grab it all without completing His mission of salvation. Satan wanted to tempt Jesus to bypass the cross, forget the sacrifice and just use His power to take control of all the kingdoms of the world. The devil dreaded the sacrifice that Jesus was about to do, since His blood bought our redemption. 

I think there is a message in this for all believers. It is a great temptation to bypass the hard work and the sacrifice, to find the power for a quick and easy way to get what we want. The devil hates sacrifice, and he also hates that we follow Christ with our own free will. He wanted to tempt Jesus to skip those steps, and use His divine authority to just force control over all. Satan always wants us to seek power and control more than obedience and sacrifice. 

Even though Jesus had the power to do it that way, He emptied Himself of that potential, and chose to become obedient to His Father, by becoming the lamb of God and sacrifice for us. 

We can see in all human beings how this is still a great temptation among people. Every crime committed is a result of desiring to skip the steps of sacrifice and hard work, and grab something without earning it. It is apparent from the petty thief on the street to the corporate giants of our society. 

We were all meant to follow Jesus, to obey our Father, carry our cross and unite ourself with Jesus in His sacrifice. 

Of course Christians who are walking with Jesus every day, are not involved in crimes of any kind, but we may still desire to bypass some sacrifices, by praying for God to remove all of our hardships. I know I do. 

Paul tells us that our momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory. Our obedience to Christ during the present afflictions we suffer, brings an eternal reward one day. Peter also tells us to rejoice as we share in Christ’s sufferings, that we may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.

Therefore, we were meant to resist the temptation to skip the hardships and avoid all suffering in this life. We remind ourselves that this life is temporary and we are going to live forever with Jesus. Everything that happens now, prepares us for that eternal glory. 

C.S. Lewis said, “If there is nothing in this world that can completely satisfy us, then it must mean that we were meant for another world.”

Lord, help us to resist the temptation to avoid all trials and keep our perspective centered in knowing that everything in our lives is working for our eternal good. Comfort us with your presence and console us with your angels, as Jesus was comforted in the desert. Amen 

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.”

Hebrews 11:8 (RSV)

As I read this verse, the message stands out, that we are first called, then we obey, then we receive, but we still may not know exactly where God is leading us. We have to trust that our lives are in His hands. 

Abraham is probably the first person in scripture to be called out, to leave his comfort zone and go elsewhere, not knowing anything about where he was being sent. He left his friends, family and the false religion of his upbringing, to obey and follow God’s promise to make a new nation through him. 

Abraham was promised a son, which didn’t come to pass until he was a hundred years old. He left his comfort zone and journeyed through many years of his life by faith, in order to receive the inheritance God promised him. It was the journey of his lifetime, and Abraham is now the patriarch of faith for all people. 

Moses left a life of luxury as the prince of Egypt, and started a new life as a shepherd, working in the Mid-East heat to provide for his family. As if that wasn’t enough of leaving a comfort zone, God called him from a burning bush one day, to send him even further from what was familiar. He was chosen to deliver the Israelites out of slavery, which was a difficult task in managing a mass of people who doubted, grumbled, complained and criticized him every step of the way. In leaving his comfort zone, Moses patiently led the people to freedom as God parted the sea for them. 

Queen Esther had a comfortable life, being chosen by the King of Persia, and treated as one of his favorites. When a mass genocide plot against the Jewish people was discovered, she had to muster up the courage to go to the king and intercede for her people. In revealing that she was Jewish she risked the possibility that she too, might be killed along with her people. It was Esther’s moment of courage to leave her comfort zone, and speak up. She did it and succeeded in saving her people from genocide. 

Peter had to leave his comfort zone more than once. For years, he made a living by fishing and was totally comfortable around water, however, walking on water was not within his comfort zone, but he stepped out in faith, and did it. Later, he left his comfort zone again when he came to accept that Jesus came for the gentiles as well as for Jews. Peter always lived within a narrow subculture of Jewishness and had never even entered the home of a gentile. He left that comfort zone and began to welcome the gentiles into the newly founded church.

My son Jon, who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury for the past year, has been making slow, steady progress in the Nursing Facility where he is living. Recently, he has made several efforts to stand up on his own. He was observed, recently trying to stand up out of his chair and then sitting back down again. The staff knows he has the strength to do it, so physical therapy was finally ordered and yesterday he had his first session. 

I was happy to be there and watch, as they brought him to the physical therapy department. It’s a great big room, fully equipped with everything that is needed, including two kind and capable therapists. They put the gait belt around Jon in order to hold on to him, and rolled his chair up to the two hand rails. He was asked to get up, with a therapist on each side, but he gripped his chair, with his one good arm, and refused to move. 

He had all the right support and was in the right place, but he just refused to get up. So that ended his first therapy session, but they will try again tomorrow. One thing I could definitely see, as his mother, was a lot of fear on his face. He is not able to tell us what he is thinking and he murmured constantly during the whole ordeal, although no one could understand anything he said. Somehow, that new environment and first attempt at PT, was frightening to him and he was far outside of his comfort zone.

We are all used to our daily habits and familiar environments which we have grown to feel safe in. How much more would a patient with a brain injury, who has been in one place for nine months, feel frightened when brought into a totally different environment, and suddenly asked to do something new and different ?

Occasionally, circumstances will push all of us and test our limits outside of our comfort zone. Our first reaction might be similar to Jon’s, gripping the familiar chair, and refusing to move. When God leads us to leave our safety zone, we may make excuses, or give in to our fears. It’s natural to hold on with a firm grip to what we are so familiar with. 

As I wrote this, I paused to ask myself what comfort zone am I gripping, and what is God asking me to do, that might feel unfamiliar or even scary. As disciples of Christ, we all have to discern what God is calling us to do next, and then ask ourselves what we are doing about it. 

Lord, help us not to fear leaving what has been so familiar, and to step out in faith and go wherever you are calling us to go. Give us faith beyond our fears to leave our comfort zone and find the lasting joy and many rewards in following you. Amen

“Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.”

Revelation 12:7-8 (NAB)

God has a purpose for the legions of angels that He created. He assigned a specific job to each one. Besides being ministering spirits to people, like guardian angels, scripture tells us that angels are assigned to whole nations as well as to physical and spiritual geographical boundaries. 

The Archangel, Michael, is the one who constantly wages war against the dragon, and fights the strongest powers of darkness all around us, which we never see. Michael’s name, given by God, and revealed to us is mentioned in both the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation. His name is interesting because his name is actually a question in Hebrew, 

“Mi-cha-el?” translates to 

“Who is like God?”

All angels worship God every day, 24/7. Worship to God is offered in various forms, through our sacrifice, through songs of praise, and through questions. When we receive a huge answer to prayer, we can be overwhelmed with gratitude, and respond saying, “Who is like you, Lord?” Questions can be phrases of praise and glorify God.

David was so amazed that God, the Creator of all, wants to have a relationship with us, his creation, that he praised God with a question, asking, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, or human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4)

Besides praising God through questions, David wasn’t afraid to open up in honesty and share his frustrations, in the form of questions, as well, asking, 

“Why, Lord, do you stand far off?

 Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)

I think everyone feels like David at times, when our burden is too heavy to bear, and in desperation we ask as David asked,

“Who do I have in heaven, but you?”  (Psalm 73:25)

Our questions are merely prayers of lament from the heart. 

David, in his anguish, posed many questions to God, yet he was an anointed writer of numerous psalms, that are still read and sung today. With all his questions, he stayed close to the Lord, asking to be kept as the apple of His eye. (Psalm 17:8)

God welcomes all our questions. When Mary, as a virgin, was told that she would conceive our Savior, she first responded with a question, “How can this be?” 

Even Jesus asked a question as He was dying on the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” 

Not all our questions receive answers and some answers are given, but not fully understood in this lifetime, but in asking questions, they all had one thing in common. They submitted themselves to God in praise and worship.

David teaches us that it’s okay to be honest with God because all of our questions become our prayers, and prayer is communication with God. 

If I’ve learned anything through trials, it’s that God wants us to keep communicating with Him, especially when we are heavily burdened. 

Some of our questions are prayers of lament and some of our questions are praises with gratitude, but God welcomes both. Jesus told us that He stands at our door, knocking, which means He wants to be invited in, to have a more intimate part and involvement in every aspect of our lives. We can open the door and let Him in, with all of our honest questions, in gratitude and praise. 

As I think of all God’s angels who serve Jesus, and still fight battles for us today, and about His archangel, Michael, who He appointed to one day put an end to the evil one, who deceives the whole world, all I can say is, 

“Mi-cha-el”, or “Who is like God?” 

It’s become my personal phrase of praise and greatest question,

Who is like God? The answer is “No one!” 

Lord, we thank you for creating the angels and for the victory over all evil in the end. Help us to draw closer to you and submit our will to you, as we bring you our honest questions along with our gratitude and praise. Amen

“And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:42-43 (RSV)

The church is made up of imperfect human beings, but in spite of all our flaws and failures, the desire to keep seeking God, is in itself, pleasing to Him. When God sees our heart’s desire to seek Him or to please Him, or to receive His mercy, He always responds.

God is not looking for perfect people, but for people with desire for Him. If He was looking for flawless people, He wouldn’t have chosen the twelve disciples, King David, Mary Magdalene or the woman at the well, who all had a history of flaws and weaknesses. 

God looks for the desire in every heart and in seeing the desire for Him, He works in that life, as He overlooks and forgives their flaws. His nature is goodness and in His goodness, He opens the door of grace and mercy keeps flowing out on us as long as we live. 

The thief on the cross didn’t do one thing right or good throughout his entire lifetime. He caused a lot of pain to others, by stealing from them and probably much more, until he ended up nailed to a cross, in pain and regret.

The thief had nothing to offer at that point, except a repentant heart and a desire for mercy. Jesus looked at him, and said the words anyone would want to hear,

“Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” Repentance leads us to desire and desire reaps mercy. 

The thief on the cross teaches us something mysteriously profound. He didn’t have anyone’s intercession praying for him, no one led him to pray a special prayer of salvation, and he never did a single good deed. In fact, he probably never did one righteous act in his entire life, except in that final moment. His desire for God came to the surface, then he turned his head toward Jesus, and the rest is eternity.

God said if we search for Him with all our heart, we will find Him, because God reads hearts. The word of God  illustrates His mercy from Genesis to Revelation, but the most perfect expression of mercy is when God took on human flesh. Jesus showed us through the cross, that God’s mercy comes to those who desire it, because no one deserves it. He showed us through the thief on the cross, the prodigal son story, and by His interaction with tax collectors and prostitutes. He taught beyond words, showing us by giving Himself, that mercy is the greatest gift, and it’s totally free. 

It’s a mysterious truth, but mercy comes out of desire. Supernatural things happens when desire leads us to seek God and His mercy. Putting ourselves in the place of that thief, we turn to look at Jesus, and say, 

“Remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom.” 

Jesus still speaks those same words to anyone who asks that of Him, because heaven is timeless and grace always abounds.

Many of Jesus’ messages are about searching and seeking, which all begins in the heart. He told us to seek first His kingdom, and seeking His kingdom first, starts with a desire in the heart. Forgetting all of the failures, and all the successes, and forgetting what lies behind us, let us awaken ourselves from drowsiness, and renew our heart’s desire for God and His mercy.

Lord, we desire more of you, and we believe in your boundless grace and mercy. Help us to keep turning our heads toward you, with a desire to seek you above all else, every day of our lives. Amen

“And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”

Galatians 6:8 (RSV)

Since today would be my mother’s 110th birthday, I am sharing a story that I shared once before, since it is very special to me. 

In 1976, after I was the last child out of the house, my retired, widowed mother relocated to Huntington Beach, California. My brother was already living there with his family, working as an Aerospace engineer for Boeing, and she decided that sunny California would be a pleasant place for her retirement. 

She lived there for 29 years, made many friends, and we had many enjoyable visits over the years. She came back to visit Illinois often, and we also went to California frequently. 

When she turned ninety we threw a big party for her in her California home. She was happy, healthy and living independently.

Then one day she tripped and fell, while walking to her nearby grocery store. She broke her wrist and since then, she became very fearful to go outside. It wasn’t long after that injury, that my brother and I noticed a change in her mental status. She was becoming increasingly confused. 

At the time, she had been receiving her meals from “Meals on wheels”, and one time, on a minor holiday, she couldn’t understand why no one delivered her meal, but on holidays, they don’t deliver meals. She dialed 911, telling the dispatcher that her emergency was that no one brought her a meal that day. 

The Huntington Beach police department sent two officers to her home. The officers asked her what she would like to eat. My mother gave her order to the police and they returned minutes later with an order of a cheeseburger and french fries.

She declined a beverage, because she had enough beer in her refrigerator. 

Those police officers made my mother so happy, even though, in her dementia, she was totally unaware that she received a service far outside the norm of a 911 call. 

I was so touched by their kindness, I wrote a letter to the police department, thanking them for the thoughtfulness of those officers. 

Not long after that, I moved my mother into my home to live with Stephen and I, in Glenview, Illinois. We celebrated her 92nd birthday with a party, and four months later, she passed away peacefully in her sleep. 

I’ll never forget how those kind police officers went the extra mile just to serve an elderly, confused woman that day. They went far beyond their job description for a total stranger. 

My mother’s legacy is that she never missed a day of serving and caring for others. She not only raised her own family, but took care of her husband, her mother, her aunt and eventually her two grandchildren in California. For someone who sowed lovingkindness during her lifetime, it was good to see her reap it in the end of life. She received it in a special way that day, from her own police department.

It makes me think of ways that I can go the extra mile to do good for someone else. God has established a natural law for all people, and if we do not grow weary in doing good, and do not lose heart in going the extra mile, we will reap rewards in due season. (Galatians 6:9)

Happy birthday to my mom and all our loved ones in heaven ❤️

Lord, show us how you want us to go the extra mile today. May we never grow weary in doing good, and bless each reader to reap their blessings for all the good they have already sown. Amen

(My mom at 91 in 2005)

“Every animal of the forest is mine,

and the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird in the mountains,

and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.” Psalm 50:10-12 (NIV)

The world is His, and all that is in it. Just think of what God is saying in this scripture. He is our Heavenly Father, and He owns everything. He is saying that He is the Lord of the world and our chief provider. If we know who God is, then we can better understand who we are. We need to live with the confidence and self esteem of being a child of the Father, who owns it all. In other words, the whole world is His and we are His kids. 

I love the topic of the fatherhood of God. It’s a theme that excites me, and although I believe He is my Father, I don’t always live like I know it. I have moments and situations where I fall short of living like His child. Sometimes I lack the trust God wants me to have in Him, so I pray “Help me in my unbelief.”

Yesterday, I was scheduled to have my first root canal on the tooth which has been causing me pain and facial swelling. My dentist handled the scheduling, and tried to immediately get me in to be treated the next day by an endodontist. With only one day’s notice, they finally found one office that had an opening. 

I have always dreaded the thought of a root canal procedure, wishing I could just wake up from the whole nightmare. I asked my son and some friends to pray for me. I asked God for perfect timing, so that I would have the Endodontist of His choice out of the three in the group where I was going. I also asked Him to give me a sign that Jesus would be in the room with me. 

I realize I am one of God’s very needy children, asking for a lot. Anyway, I arrived at the address and my first impression was that the office was absolutely gorgeous, and top of the line in interior design. I have never been in a more beautiful doctor’s office. Maybe it was just to remind me that it is one of many, that my Father in heaven owns.

I kept looking around for my special sign that Jesus was there with me. I believe Jesus is always with us, but I still asked for a special sign, just as a child might ask their Father to bring home a gift for them. So far, though, I could see no sign. 

I was finally called into the exam room, had my x-rays and waited for the doctor to come in. I had no idea which of the three doctors in the group I would have. 

Then a friendly middle eastern man in his mid-thirties walked into the room. He was obviously American born, without an accent, and he introduced himself with an Arabic name. He was confident and charming, and began my root canal.

In my mind I asked God, “Remember my special request for a sign from you that Jesus is in the room with me? Where is my sign, Lord?”

Then the thought came into my mind, God sent me a middle eastern doctor, about the same age as Jesus, which was probably my sign.  After it was over, I searched online for the meaning of the doctor’s name, and it means “Noble soul.” I am trusting that in God’s timing, He sent me to the right office for the right doctor, who just happened to be a charming middle eastern man in his mid thirties. I took it as a sign that Jesus was with me in the room. 

If every animal in the forest, and the cattle on a thousand hills are His, and every bird in the mountains and every insect in the fields are all His, then so is every doctor’s office and every doctor too. God is our good Father and the whole world is His and all that is in it. If one of His children asks Him for bread, He will not give him a stone. If they ask for fish, He will not give him a snake. Our Father in heaven gives good gifts to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:11)

Lord, help us to live as children of our good Father since the whole world is yours and all that is in it. Hear and answer all our prayers to help, heal and hold our hand through every trial today and always. Amen

“So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20 (NAB)

Some of us were once prodigals, while others might have been the steadfast, faithful older brothers. All prodigals who come home, become older brothers later. I’ve learned that the kind of older brother we become, depends on our ability to recognize who those prodigals are in our lives.

The father in this parable was full of love and  compassion, as he ran to meet his son. He sought only to embrace him, not to judge him or even put him to work. Jesus reveals His Father’s heart of love and mercy in this story. 

The older son, who has been loyal to his father for years, arrived home after a day’s work, and hears music, dancing and celebration. When he learned that it’s a party for his younger brother, he quickly formed his own judgement about who does or doesn’t deserve a celebration.

I felt a little like that older brother, one time, by choosing who I would or wouldn’t invite to a function at my church. I had my own list of reasons, why I shouldn’t invite certain people. I chose not to invite one person who had a contentious personality and another person who I thought would come for the wrong motives. 

I suddenly realized I was no different than the older brother in the story. I was called to invite, not to judge. 

I felt the Lord saying to me,

“Just bring them to Me as they are, and I will take it from there.” 

Then the truth really hit me that I was once a prodigal daughter myself, so why am I choosing who should or shouldn’t be invited to my Father’s house? 

I was ignorant in recognizing who the prodigals were. 

I used to think the definition of a prodigal is the homeless addict, sleeping on a park bench, but God showed me that the prodigals are anyone who is running away from God. 

They are in all economic sectors, have all types of temperaments and may come with all kinds of motives. They may not have magnetic personalities to attract us to them, and some even repel and push people away. 

The Lord is simply asking us to invite them, not to judge them or try to fix them. The great commission is really about doing our part in reuniting the Father with all of His children.

Lord, help us to recognize and show compassion to all the prodigals in our lives, by inviting them home, as we trust you to restore them. Amen

“And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”

Luke 12:19-20 (RSV)

In this parable, Jesus gave us an example of someone who spoke to his own soul with a false confidence, crediting himself for all the material goods he accumulated, while assuming he had a lifetime to enjoy them. In other words, he mishandled his blessings. Jesus seems to be telling us that there is a right and a wrong way to speak to our soul.

Happiness in life is not about achieving the best ratio of gains over losses. It’s about how we respond to every gain and every loss that we encounter.

Everyone’s lifetime is filled with a series of gains and losses, but God intended for us to remain in close fellowship with Him through it all. 

In all of our blessings and successes, we can speak to our soul, reminding ourselves that every good gift is from God. We remind our soul that He is the source of all that is good, and we offer Him thanks and praise. 

He is also closest to us during times of grief and loss. We know this from what David wrote in the psalms, that God is near to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm34:18)

During times of distress, we speak to our soul, and are consoled, knowing that God’s Presence is mysteriously nearer to us when we are broken or  or crushed.

We all have the same invisible enemy, and he has been using the same strategy since the beginning of time. Satan wants us to take all the credit for our successes, and blame God for all of our losses. He wants to destroy faith and the relationship between God and His people, but God tells us if we resist the devil, he will flee from us.  (James 4:7)

By speaking to our soul, we will resist the devil, being wise to his schemes. There is a language of faith that sows the seeds of hope, and it needs to be spoken to our soul regularly. We were created to stay in regular fellowship with God through Jesus. The Holy Spirit wants to help us thrive, not just survive each trial. When we speak the right way to our soul, we edify and strengthen our faith. 

Remember the woman in the gospel story who had a hemorrhage for twelve years? She spoke to her soul saying, “If I just touch the edge of His garment I will be healed.”  She initiated her miraculous healing by speaking faith to her own soul, and afterward, Jesus praised her for it.

Scripture tells us that faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

If faith comes from hearing, then we can increase our faith, by hearing ourselves speak those truths of Christ to our soul. His truths are found in scripture, though His truths are often counter cultural. We walk the narrow path that leads to life, not the broad deceptive path of this present culture.

We also speak to our soul when we are distracted with worry and anxiety, as we recall the invitation of Jesus, saying “Come to me, all of you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Jesus told us His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We remind our soul to let Jesus lighten our burden as we wait for His rest. 

Praising and thanking God in hard times, is a sacrifice. It doesn’t feel natural, but if it came naturally, it wouldn’t be a sacrifice. The sacrifice of praise is really at the heart of worship. In fact, sacrifice is at the heart of everything Jesus ever did or taught. Since He was both divine and human in nature, He didn’t feel like sacrificing, but we can thank Him and remind our soul that He did it for us.

These are many things that we can speak to our soul about, and we need to do it through the good and the bad times, in our gains and in our losses, through our blessings and our trials. We speak to our souls in this life, because this is our training ground to offer God a sacrifice of praise. 

We speak to our soul with the hope that we may one day meet Jesus, see His face and hear Him speak to our soul, and say,

“Well done, my friend, and thank you for honoring me with the fruit of your lips.”

Lord, we praise you for our blessings and for being a comforter and giving us rest from distress. Draw us closer to you as we speak to our souls, believing your truth and receiving your love, wisdom and strength. Amen

“Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”

John 5:3-8 (NIV)

The pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, was known for its healing properties during the time of Jesus. It’s hard to imagine that for thirty eight years, one man could never once get into that pool. Multitudes of other sick, blind and lame people managed to get into those waters, for decades, except one man.

I think sometimes we all have moments when we feel like that one person who didn’t get an answer to a prayer or the help from others that we need. Situations in our lives can leave us feeling alone, or that we missed out in receiving some type of support that others around us all seem to have. 

Whether we need physical healing or a relationship restored, a loved one to return to the faith, or a financial miracle, Satan, the enemy of all souls, is trying to erode our faith and destroy our spiritual self image, and get us to feel forsaken by God.

The paralytic in the gospel story clearly had many issues with what people didn’t do for him. He hung out at that site for 38 years, probably longer than anyone else there. There was a large number of desperate people lying around that pool, but Jesus approached only one man. God sees and knows what we are feeling deep within, and He draws particularly close to those who feel forsaken in this world.

It’s interesting to me that when Jesus asked the man if he wants to get well, instead of answering Him with a resounding “Yes!”, he proceeded to tell Jesus about all the people who didn’t help him over those thirty eight years.

The strategy of the enemy was to make the paralytic dwell on all the reasons for failure, and the people who hurt him or let him down. By not letting go of the disappointments of his past, he also didn’t make any progress. After thirty eight years, the man’s spiritual identity and self image was more paralyzed than his body. 

Maybe that’s why Jesus asked him if he wants to be healed. He brought the man’s attention from his past to the present moment. There is a time for everyone to finally let go of whatever happened in the past and hear what Jesus is saying here and now.

Jesus said to the paralytic, “Get up and walk!” At the words of Jesus, the man was instantly healed as blood re-circulated in his legs, nerves were rejuvenated and muscles were strengthened after decades of not moving. Strength once again flowed through his body, and he stood up after thirty eight years and walked. That’s the power of the love of God and the words of Jesus. 

We all need reminding of who we are in Christ and to Christ. He loves us and sees us as individuals among the crowd. He knows when we are crippled with doubts, guilt or anxiety. He is telling us that He has loved us throughout our past and that we were worth dying for. Today, we are reminded of who we are in Christ and to rise up. 

Jesus also tells us who we are not. We are not the sum of our past failures and mistakes, or the names and titles that others have called us. We are not defined by any missed opportunities or the medical diagnosis we were given. We have never been forsaken or forgotten by God. Jesus walks over to us where we are and says, “Get up and walk!”

We were meant to walk in the power of being a child of God. We are His beloved children, redeemed with precious blood, living by faith and His Spirit dwells in us. He told us that we will do even greater works through Him. Jesus conquered hell, death and all the power that sin could ever have over us.

We will have moments where we doubt our identity in Christ and struggle to keep our hope, but then we will resist the devil, and rise up, because of what Jesus says to us, 

“Get up, take up your mat and walk!”

We are chosen, crucified with Christ, forgiven, resurrected with Him and living in victory through Him who loves us, and intercedes for us daily. Nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ. (Romans 8:35)

Lord, let us all get up and walk in our true identity as one of your beloved children, because of the power of your love, forgiveness and eternal sacrifice for us. Amen

“My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not a man, the Holy One present among you; I will not come in wrath.”

Hosea 11:8-9 (NAB)

The Lord describes His character in this scripture, and He has a heart of pity. Scriptures teach us that God feels anger, but His mercy is greater. He is Holy, and yet He desires to be present among us. We could never earn His mercy, but He delights in showing it to us. Some day, He will return to render justice, but for now, we live in the age of grace and mercy, and God wants us to keep seeking His merciful Presence.

Many years ago, while I was reading each of the prophets’ writings, I discovered a pattern, common to all of them, which opened my eyes to the love and mercy of God. 

The writing of every prophet began with a reprimand for sin and a warning of impending punishment. Whether it was Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Hosea or the others, if someone read only the beginning of each prophet’s writing, they would think that God is all about wrath, but I would say, read on. 

By the end of each prophet’s book, the words of wrath are gone, and God offers forgiveness, love and mercy. God is grieved by sin, but His heart is stirred with pity and love for us. 

Isaiah starts out by saying he lives among a people of unclean lips, but ends his book with the promise of a Savior, who would come to suffer and die for us. 

Ezekiel begins his book by describing visions of creatures in heaven, telling him to warn the people that sin leads to death. Toward the end of the book, God is promising to bring dry bones back to life, restoring people through spiritual regeneration and rebirth. 

Zechariah begins by strictly warning people to turn from their evil ways, but ends with the prophecy that “God Himself” will one day set His feet upon the Mount of Olives. This was fulfilled by Jesus, whose feet stood on that mountain preaching the sermon on the Mount. 

In the book of Hosea, God used the harsh example of having a wife who is a prostitute, to stress that the infidelity of His people deeply grieves Him, but by the end of the book, His heart is filled with pity, and He says, “I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from them.” 

(Hosea 14:5)

There is abundant mercy in the heart of God. I once heard a true story of how His mercy transformed a young woman’s life. She was never raised in any particular faith, and found a lucrative career as a professional escort or call girl. For years, she earned an incredible amount of money working as a high priced prostitute. 

While she was driving, she would occasionally notice a bumper sticker on a car driving ahead of her. It was for a radio station called Relevant radio 95 AM. Her curiosity led her to turn on that station, and as she started listening, she became increasingly interested. It was a talk radio station, including various personal testimonies, scripture studies, with questions and answers about the Catholic Christian faith. 

She listened until the Holy Spirit awakened a hunger within her, to change her life. She completely surrendered to Christ and left her old life of prostitution behind. The Holy Spirit called her to Jesus, through bumper stickers. 

God’s mercy reaches people wherever they are, and He can change hearts through any means, even if He chooses to use bumper stickers. The heart of God is stirred with love and mercy for all people, and He invites all of us to be renewed in Christ. 

In whatever way God has called us, we should be able to truthfully say with Paul,

”I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”(Galatians 2:20)

We are crucified with Christ, and we now live with the awareness that Christ lives in us. God had a plan since creation, to show His love and mercy to us. His prophets wrote all about it in those final chapters. 

Isaiah foretold how He would be mocked and spurned by men. He describes the Lamb of God, who was pierced for our sins, and died for all mankind. (Isaiah 53:3-8)

 Zechariah foretold that God’s feet would stand on the Mount of Olives, which will happen once more, when Jesus returns to stand on that same mountain, at His second coming. (Zechariah 14:4)

Ezekiel’s later chapters promise us that dry bones will come to life,  both metaphorically and as God raises all believers after death. (Ezekiel 37:14)

It only requires reading to the end, to learn that the heart of God is filled with pity, love and mercy for all of us, embodied through the cross and resurrection of Jesus. 

Lord, we love you and seek more of your presence in our lives, and thank you for having a heart filled with mercy and love for all of us. Amen