I'm pretty good at finding things to occupy my time. lol. Usually there are too many things. However; summertime does free up just a bit of my days, what with no school to teach. I've enjoyed jotting down some of my thoughts that have come during my devotional times. It seems like when I have the time to journal with paper and pen, I remember things better and they mean more than when I must scurry off to do some task. Here, I am sharing just a few of my recent simple thoughts that have meant a lot to me.
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Mark 5:21-34
Like the crowd that thronged Jesus that day, many appear to be traveling the same path with him today--some even bearing his reproach. They know that he's up to something good and they sort of want to be a part of it--they want to witness the miracle at least. They are on the path, but they aren't really in his presence.
Path without presence.
They jostle along with him, even bumping into him once in a while--almost accidentally--but in spite of the jostling, they lack desire to make direct contact and fall short of justification.
Jostle without justification.
They revel in the crowd--sometimes even mistaking all the noise and clamor for his glory. Their conscience is eased by the revelry, while they ignore the redeemer in their midst.
Revelry without the Redeemer.
Then that one little insignificant woman--the one who doesn't even have a name--touched him and instantly they both knew it. Suddenly, there was no more question, she wasn't just walking the path, she was living in his presence. She hadn't just accidentally bumped into him by virtue of her association with the crowd, but virtue had gone out of him and she'd been justified by her direct deliberate contact.
She wasn't there for appearance sake, or just to get a little taste of what following him was like. She wasn't there to revel in the crowd, she was there to touch the redeemer.
And in that one single moment of simple faith she was made completely whole.
Jesus is still and always waiting for the hungry heart to make contact with him...to disregard the crowd, the circumstances, the traditions of men, and to push through in faith knowing that " If I can but touch him, I shall be made whole."
Like the crowd that thronged Jesus that day, many appear to be traveling the same path with him today--some even bearing his reproach. They know that he's up to something good and they sort of want to be a part of it--they want to witness the miracle at least. They are on the path, but they aren't really in his presence.
Path without presence.
They jostle along with him, even bumping into him once in a while--almost accidentally--but in spite of the jostling, they lack desire to make direct contact and fall short of justification.
Jostle without justification.
They revel in the crowd--sometimes even mistaking all the noise and clamor for his glory. Their conscience is eased by the revelry, while they ignore the redeemer in their midst.
Revelry without the Redeemer.
Then that one little insignificant woman--the one who doesn't even have a name--touched him and instantly they both knew it. Suddenly, there was no more question, she wasn't just walking the path, she was living in his presence. She hadn't just accidentally bumped into him by virtue of her association with the crowd, but virtue had gone out of him and she'd been justified by her direct deliberate contact.
She wasn't there for appearance sake, or just to get a little taste of what following him was like. She wasn't there to revel in the crowd, she was there to touch the redeemer.
And in that one single moment of simple faith she was made completely whole.
Jesus is still and always waiting for the hungry heart to make contact with him...to disregard the crowd, the circumstances, the traditions of men, and to push through in faith knowing that " If I can but touch him, I shall be made whole."
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In Sunday School this morning, we discussed patience. We think of "the patience of Job" but have you ever thought of the patience of Abraham? God promised him SO very much and yet it was all soooo slow in coming. What if he had gotten impatient and given up?
I've recently known of some pastors that want to give up because "nothing is happening." Please don't forget God's promises!
So the church isn't big and it seems God isn't blessing? Maybe we need to read our Bibles agai...n to be reminded of what blessings really are....begin with "Blessed are...." it's not the prettiest list.
KJV dictionary is a great website I've found that gives definitions of words from a Biblical viewpoint. Notice the root of patience stems from the word "suffer."
I also like how they point out that the source of a persons patience can vary widely.
1. Constitutional fortitude
Some people are just more patient than others by nature.
2. Heroic pride
Some people take pride in how patient they are--no glory there either. If one must suffer pridefully, he may as well be comfortable instead.
3. Christian submission to divine will.
The only kind of patience worth pursuing.
I've recently known of some pastors that want to give up because "nothing is happening." Please don't forget God's promises!
So the church isn't big and it seems God isn't blessing? Maybe we need to read our Bibles agai...n to be reminded of what blessings really are....begin with "Blessed are...." it's not the prettiest list.
KJV dictionary is a great website I've found that gives definitions of words from a Biblical viewpoint. Notice the root of patience stems from the word "suffer."
I also like how they point out that the source of a persons patience can vary widely.
1. Constitutional fortitude
Some people are just more patient than others by nature.
2. Heroic pride
Some people take pride in how patient they are--no glory there either. If one must suffer pridefully, he may as well be comfortable instead.
3. Christian submission to divine will.
The only kind of patience worth pursuing.
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Once the seeking heart finds God in personal experience, there will be no further problem about loving him. To know him is to love him and to know him better is to love him more.
-Tozer
-Tozer
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