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Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Mark 1:41-42 (NLT)
His body was racked with pain. His disease had progressed to the point where his fingers were nothing but nubs. The stench of rotting flesh hovered around him like a cloud. He was repulsive to look at and even those who loved him the most could no longer stand to be near him. Leprosy, at this time, was considered a sure sign of sin and, as a result, even the religious community rejected him. He was alone, rejected and without hope.
Then Jesus came. We aren’t told what made him stop at the man’s voice. We only know that when Jesus looked on him He was moved with compassion, not disgust. The man had nothing to offer Jesus. There was no chance of him ‘cleaning up his act’ for God. Yet in his misery Jesus was moved with compassion.
Nothing has changed. Today Jesus still looks at those of us who are hopeless, sinful and rebellious human beings. We have nothing to offer Him. No matter how much we try to be good, we end up being bad. No matter how hard we try to live a good life, things still seem to fall apart.
Our leprosy may not be physical. It may be financial or relational or emotional. We may suffer from the consequences of our own actions, or the results of other people who mean to do us harm.
How you got where you are isn’t important and getting yourself out isn’t possible. There are no membership requirements. Like the leper, Jesus looks at you with compassion. He doesn’t just see your plight, He is moved to compassion. That’s active, not passive. All you have to do is ask.
Jesus loves you. He isn’t interested in what you can bring to the table. He’s only interested in seeing you healed and restored.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I look at my life and confess to you that I am not worthy of the healing you have offered me. There are so many times I still try to do things on my own. So many times I do what I want when I know it’s wrong. So many times I make stupid mistakes. Please forgive me and give me your healing touch. I claim the promise that in You, no matter what I’ve done in the past, I can be clean. Amen
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18
“I love you.” These three words can bring a whole variety of emotions to us. It can bring all-out fear is the person saying that is someone we don’t know! It can bring reassurance, peace, comfort and excitement when those words are uttered by someone who we love as well.
Psychologists say that we need to hear those words several times a day for secure emotional and even physical health. We need to hear, to be assured that we are loved because love is what keeps us sane in an insane world. The Bible says the three greatest things in our lives are faith, hope and love. People can take your wealth. Relationships fail. Finances and health vanish. But no one can take your faith. No one can destroy a hope that is fixed solidly on Jesus Christ. No one can take away Godly, Christ-like love.
The sad thing is, these three words can also be the emptiest words around. Being told we are loved by someone who hurts us makes love an empty, meaningless feeling. Being told we are loved by someone who only says that when they want something from us makes love demanding and controlling.
The best love is the love that shows itself in the daily grind. The best love is the soft touch, the gentle answer, the unexpected gift of help with no strings attached. The reason many of us are afraid to love is because we don’t want to be taken advantage of.
Christ’s love looks for nothing in return. Christ’s love seeks the good of the other person. Christ’s love gives everything it can possibly give to meet the needs of those who are troubled physically, spiritually or emotionally.
What would it be like if we as a body of believers looked at our community, sought out those who were in need, and gave without restriction? How would our community be different? How would we look to those who were the recipients of our generosity? If you want the answer to that look at Acts 2:42-47. The early church sold possessions, gave generously without concern of being taken advantage of, and grew by the thousands every day.
Jesus taught us to honor our government leaders regardless of how evil they were, but He always taught us that it was the responsibility of His followers to meet the needs of the widows, orphans and those who had fallen on hard times.
Seek God’s wisdom on how you can reach out in a material way to someone in your world, on your street, in your town, that needs to see (not hear) the love of Jesus.
PRAYER: Father God. Even though I wish I had more, I confess that you have blessed me beyond measure. I ask that you would show me how I can show Christ’s love in a tangible way to someone today. Remove the fear I have of being taken advantage of. Keep me from thinking my gift is too small or insignificant. May others be able to see by my actions that you are a God of love. I love you. Amen
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
I love rock and roll even though many people from my generation are somewhat skeptical or even antagonistic towards it. I enjoy the ‘new’ music styles that have infiltrated our churches as well. Our music tells us a lot about our life philosophy and we do ourselves an injustice if we get so closed in that we only like one type of music.
It’s much like deciding that we will only like carrots. So all of our lives we only eat carrots; breakfast, lunch & dinner—carrots! Pretty dull life and not even healthy.
Imagine if all the flowers were green, the grass was green, the sky was green, even the milk you pour on your breakfast cereal was green. Even if you like green you’d have to admit that we’d be tired of green and long for a few other colors.
Life lived to its fullest means that it’s full of a variety of experiences, feelings, gifts, talents abilities, likes and dislikes. Just as there are no two snowflakes that are alike, there are no two people alike. Yet when the snowflakes join together they paint the landscape with beauty and purity.
Peter calls each of us as Christ-followers to be like minded. When I think of what like-minded means I think of harmony in music, especially in a quartet. We don’t hear much harmony in our music these days but if were to listen to a really good quartet or small group in perfect harmony you’d hear some great lessons for life.
Perfect harmony means that it’s hard to distinguish who is singing which part. Each person has their own notes to sing, their own personalities, and their own tone. But the differences blend so well that it sounds like one voice. If one person is off key by only a little, the harmony is completely destroyed.
Perfect harmony means relationship. In music we call it practice or rehearsal but it’s really the same thing. The performers must build a team spirit among themselves to know when to change key or speed or even how and when to sing the words. If one person sings a word wrong, or the wrong word, or comes in too early or two late, the harmony is ruined. Practice, learning about each other, accepting each others own unique gifts and working within the framework of the music builds perfect harmony in both music and life.
Perfect harmony allows for solos and variations, or side trips. When done in harmony a solo, even though it focuses on one individual, is accentuated by the rest of the group. The soloist is much more effective in a small group when the group is supporting him/her.
Perfect harmony means that each performer is happy with their own part and not jealous of the other voices in the group. They know who they are and are content with that.
Perfect harmony is dependent on the realization that variety is a requirement and not an option. Just as in life, you may not fit into a particular group. That doesn’t mean you are less important or that the group you do find is better or worse than the other. It just means you fit in better there so that you can make beautiful harmony.
Perfect harmony allows for differences without judgment. Sing your life-notes in praise to the one who created the notes! God’s gift to you is music. Your gift to others is to sing!
PRAYER: Father, I praise you for the awesome variety of colors, smells, personalities and around me. My senses proclaim the wonder of your creation and I’m in awe of you. I ask that you would empower me by your spirit to ‘sing my notes’ the best I can. Keep me from feeling inadequate or desiring other people’s notes. May I, with your help, live in harmony with those around me. In Jesus name, Amen.
And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13
In Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica, he reminds his readers that they should never tire of doing good. His words are a good message for each of us in ministry. WAIT! Before you stop reading let me remind you that each of us is a minister. Over the years we’ve somehow gotten the idea that ‘ministry’ means you are a pastor or some other leader of an organization that proselytizes and/or makes disciples for Jesus.
That simply is NOT true. Because of Jesus we are all believer-priests. In God’s eyes it doesn’t matter if we are a sandwich artist at a local sub shop, a tool and dye maker or the greeter at the local discount center. If you have a pulse and are directly or indirectly involved with other living beings you are a minister!
Since you are now convinced of your status as a minister, let me give you the other news. Ministry is tough business. People can expect more of you that you feel you are able to give. There never seems to be enough time to do all the things you want to do. You can feel unappreciated, unqualified, unenenergetic and unable to go on.
But Paul tells us we are never, ever to grow tired of ministry (doing good for others). So, how can you stay fresh for ministry to those in your family, community, workplace or church? Here are five ideas that may help transform you into a ministry giant..
F – Focus on who you are and what you are doing. Do the things you do for God, not people. People take advantage of you. People drain you. People critique all you do in order to determine your worth. When you focus your activities as being for God, not people you can rise above the feelings of being taken advantage of or unappreciated. God’s approval is really all we should strive for.
R – Rest. Read through the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry on earth. Notice the number of times he ‘went away’ to the mountains to pray. Jesus knew the value of taking time for himself. Too often, those of us in ministry feel that the success of our ministry rests on our own hard work. Fact of the matter is, God doesn’t need us. He can take care of the world just fine. We are the tools, not the operator. Take time to re-energize your spiritual, emotional and physical batteries.
E – Educate. Times change. Attitudes Change. Methods change, Technology changes. Even though Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, that doesn’t mean we are to keep doing things the way we have always done them. Branch out. Try new stuff. Challenge yourself. The mental exercise will do you good and you’ll be more effective in meeting the needs of other people.
S – STOP! It’s okay to say ‘NO’. The famous 80/20 rule says that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. Usually those people are the ones burning out, and getting extremely tired. It’s easy to get into the mindset of, “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.” For your spiritual and physical health, and the physical and spiritual health of those around you, it may be best to leave things undone. If God needs a job done He’ll raise up those to do it. Don’t let yourself get ‘guilted’ into burnout!
H – Help. Don’t be afraid to ask for it. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It’s a sign of strength. Strong people are not the ones who do it themselves. Strong people are the ones who gather others around them to help with the ministry.
If you want to avoid being too tired to serve, try these five steps to insure your spiritual and physical health. Tired trees with weak limbs may bear fruit, but their branches break in the process.
PRAYER: Father God. I thank you today for the gifts you have given me. I praise you for the opportunities I have to use those gifts to lift others up and show them your love. I pray that you would give me the strength to take care of myself so I can take care of those you have given me. Empower me with your spirit to be FRESH for ministry. In Jesus name, Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 