Psalm 30:2-3
I prayed to you, Lord God,
and you healed me,
saving me from death
and the grave.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my mother got a virus on her computer. She phoned in something of a panic…hoping that I would know how to fix this. I determined that it might be easier to go to her house and assess the problem than to try to help her over the phone. I really thought she had gotten “malware” – malicious software that can somewhat “freeze” the computer and deny access to certain files and programs. Mother was really upset…the messages she received indicated that her files were “dead and gone” and that retrieval was impossible.
I wish it had been as simple as “malware”. My mom, her husband Lee and I determined that she had somehow gotten something called “CryptoWall Ransomware”…a really bad virus that arrives when the user clicks (sometimes inadvertently) on a file like a PDF or a “Word” document or a .zip file…and this malicious program begins a scan of the user’s hard drive and all of its files – plus any files that might be on a “peripheral” apparatus, like a flash drive or DVD. All of these files are also encrypted, so that they no longer can be opened conventionally. The “fix” the hacker proposes is for the user to pay a “ransom” that begins at $500 and increases to $1000 or more each day that the person who has been violated waits. In return for this ransom, a “key” is provided to decrypt the files.
This is hopefully not the only repair option for this virus. We are in the process if trying some suggestions from YouTube videos and information we Googled about “CryptoWall Ransomware” that will hopefully enable my mom to remove the virus and retrieve at least SOME of her files…or a previously stored version of them. Most certainly, this will not be a 100% solution. There will be collateral damage, probably in the form of lost files and photos that Mom worked on in the last week or so. But the goal is to repair the hard drive and contain the destruction.
What does this have to do with the healing power of God? For starters, I spent more than a few minutes in prayer for help as I sat at my mother’s computer and searched for a solution. I have prayed that these “remedies” will indeed work. But more importantly, I have been reminded of another “ransom”…one that was paid for my sins – and for yours!
The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus covered all of our sins…and restored us COMPLETELY in the eyes of God. We don’t have to worry about the loss of “important data”. We are “fixed”, complete, whole, even better than new in the eyes of God. And it’s all because of the “blood” of Jesus Christ. He paid the price in full, so that we could be totally well. We were on the brink of death, but Jesus rescued us. The only thing we “lost" was the burden of our sins and the potential to spend eternity in hell. And I don’t think any of us minds one little bit to give up either of these!
There are “take-aways” from these situations for all of us.
- We must tighten our security measures on our computers.
- We must be painfully careful about every click we make…every document we open.
- We must disconnect from the Internet when we are not using it…and disconnect “peripheral” devices when we are not using them.
- We must recognize the tremendous sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us…the “ransom” that He paid for our sins.
- We must thank God for sending Jesus…and for providing us with a “fix” that ensures us of Salvation through the ransomed blood of Jesus – and the promise of spending time in His presence in Heaven - forever and ever.
- We must guard our hearts and the privilege of a ransomed life in Christ with as much fervor and attention as we give to caring for the files on our computer…maybe even more!
- We must recognize that at the end of the day, computers and files are just stuff…important though they may seem…but our salvation through Jesus is the most important “file” that we will ever have.
I’m hoping that a week from now, my mother is “back in business” and well on her way to creating new files, and recreating those that could not be retrieved - or learning to live without them. My hope for each of us is that we have the ultimate “protection” in place in the form of salvation through Jesus…that He has rescued us from near death…that we trust Him completely to heal us and keep us free of the “virus” of sin.
My “ransom” from sin has been paid, praise God! The “hard drive” of my heart is fully protected…my Eternity with Jesus Christ is secured. He paid for the “decryption key”…and I have accepted His offer of healing and deliverance. Can you say the same thing? Will this be the day that you do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Nahum 1:3, 9
The Lord is powerful,
yet patient;
he makes sure that the guilty
are always punished.
He can be seen in storms
and in whirlwinds;
clouds are the dust from his feet.
So don’t plot against the Lord!
He wipes out his enemies,
and they never revive.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
While waiting for a local parade, Timothy "hid" behind the bushes that were planted near an office building. He thought he was being clever...he even said, "You'll never find me!" (He also said, "Please don't leave me!") In truth, I always knew where he was...even when I counted to ten and pretended to "search" for him. And when we would discover each other, Timothy would squeal with delight and laugh like it was the funniest thing ever. This was simply a fun childhood game that we have all played hundreds of times...but it has bigger ramifications for us as Christians!
As we grow older, we often try to play "hide-and-seek" with God...or rather, there are times when we try to hide from Him. Once in a while, many of us would really like to take a "day off" from being a Christian, live in the world of "Burger King®", and "have it our way." Because we serve the God of free will, He allows this...to a point. But everyone has limits - even God. If we linger too long in the land of "You-Can't-Find-Me!", God will grow weary of these games - and He may allow us to suffer some consequences. We may even feel like God "counted to ten", then walked away and left us to fend for ourselves.
Understand this...God's desire for each of us is never to leave us - or that we suffer in any form. He does not send diseases, natural disasters, war, personal ridicule or mistreatment by others, and "bad things that happen to good people" in order to punish us. This might have happened in the Old Testament times, but the blood of Jesus changed everything - forever!
God does not "rain down" these things to "give us something to cry about"...but He does allow them some of the time. If God is so patient and loving...why would He do this? Think about it this way...if a child was playing hide-and-seek, and he/she wandered farther and farther away and would not come when called, you might let them feel "lost" for a little bit so that they realized that they needed to return. Sometimes children have to learn a hard lesson...and experience a burned finger or a scraped knee in the process.
As God's children, we have sometimes have to learn hard lessons, too. It's the price we pay for our "grown-up independence". I cannot promise that you will have a life free of any and every discomfort, illness, or unpleasant situation if you "toe the line" with God and "do everything right." For one thing, that will never happen, because we are human - and sinful! But more importantly, we will always need to lean on God to get us through tough times...to heal us from diseases and solve our problems. And that can only happen when there is the potential for troubles.
The GOOD NEWS is that with God, there will never be anything that we cannot handle together. Philippians 4:13 promises us that we can do all things through the power and strength of Christ Jesus (paraphrased). God's deepest desire is to heal us and restore us to new life, peace and joy in Him - and He is willing to do this over and again, every single day, if necessary. Our job is to "come out from behind the bush or tree" and follow Him...to say, "Here I am, LORD...where would you like me to go?"
God has counted to ten...and said, "Here I am!" Are you ready to be "found"? Have you decided to operate in His will and receive His healing power in every situation of your life? Isn't it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Matthew 8:14-17
Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal.
That evening many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus. And with only a word he forced out the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick. So God’s promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,
“He healed our diseases and made us well.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you remember when you were a kid and got a "boo-boo" or "owie", and a grown-up "kissed it and made it better"? We all know that this "kiss" really didn't physically change anything...it didn't heal a blister, scraped knee or bump on the head. But the healing power of the gesture was immeasurable. And remarkably, we really felt better!
By the same token, we all can remember a time when someone came to our side and soothed us with their presence and words...and we were better for it. We know the healing power of a card that arrives in the mail with thoughts of love and care. We understand the feeling of joy and acceptance that washes over us when someone shoots us a smile. We are blessed and comforted beyond description when we learn that someone has prayed for us.
All of these things are paradoxically obtuse and powerful - all at the same time. And yet, they change us. To some degree, they heal us and make us well.
The GOOD NEWS is that for every one of these gestures, Jesus offers us so much more. He truly does have the power to heal. He can cast out demons of all kinds - from the nasty habit of gossip to our deepest, darkest, most secret sins. Just the whisper of His name can result in tremendous changes in our lives. His "touch" is the "kiss that makes it all better"!
Don't miss this! Jesus is with us. His loving care and healing power are available to us every moment of the day, even though we don't physically "see" Him standing before us. The promise of Isaiah 53:5 ["He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well."] has been delivered. It is up to us to accept - and treasure - this gift.
Moreover, our job as Christians is to share the touch of Jesus with others. We do not offer this out of our own suffering...but because of His sacrifices and the grace and mercy that He has extended to each of us. Just as we receive the healing power of Jesus and feel His "touch" in our own lives, we are to extend this blessing to others.
Does this mean that we can "lay hands" on the sick and they will be instantly healed? Probably not literally...but consider the healing power of a simple handshake. Think of the grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and acceptance that you can convey by clasping another person's hands, patting someone on the back, or "kissing a child's boo-boo and making it better."
Look around and find ways to reach out to others in Jesus' name...to be the healing touch" or the soothing word that makes their lives a little easier and more joyful. Embrace the power of Jesus - in your own life, and as His Disciple. Look for opportunities to "kiss a boo-boo" - or even to cast out a demon! Believe that Jesus' power working in and through you can heal and restore at the mere whisper of His name!
The opportunities to serve - and heal - in the name of Jesus are more numerous than you can imagine. It's time for us to get busy doing exactly that. What are you waiting for? Whose "boo-boos" will you "kiss and make better" today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Matthew 8:5-13
When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can’t even move.” “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.
But the officer said, “Lord, I’m not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith! Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”
Then Jesus said to the officer, “You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen.” Right then his servant was healed.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
According to information found at http://usps.com - the website of the U.S. Postal Service - the "motto" we all can quote in some form is not actually the Postal Service's official slogan.
"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."
While the Postal Service has no official motto, the popular belief that it does is a tribute to America's postal workers. The words above, thought to be the motto, are chiseled in gray granite over the entrance to the New York City Post Office on 8th Avenue and come from Book 8, Paragraph 98, of The Persian Wars by Herodotus. During the wars between the Greeks and Persians (500-449 B.C.), the Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers who served with great fidelity.
"Official" or not, many of us depend on this sentiment - and the regularity of our mail delivery. We count on bills and payments being delivered promptly. We expect many of the products we order or send to be shipped expeditiously and with some semblance of care. For some of us, accurate and efficient postal delivery is the heart of our business and livelihood! And we have confidence that we can stick a letter or parcel in a mailbox and trust that it will arrive at the appointed destination within a predetermined amount of time.
The postal system is not infallible. When we mail a letter or a package, we must accept that it may not be delivered as expected. This doesn't happen often...but it only takes one undelivered parcel - or a piece of mail that arrives so mangled you can't possibly restore it - to disappoint us and cause us to doubt the "system". When the Postal Service operations work as designed, they are wonderful. But like most "systems" in life, this one isn't perfect.
Here's the thing...Jesus IS perfect! He will never fail to deliver. We can depend on Him to do what He has promised - every single time. When Jesus tells us in Scripture that He will heal us, we can believe it. This may not happen in exactly the manner we desire or expect...or on our timetable...but it will happen! When Jesus tells us that all who call on His name and make Him the LORD of their lives will be with Him in Paradise for all of Eternity, we can rest assured that this will be the case. When Jesus tells us that He is always with us, we can believe Him - and call on Him 24/7 for anything and everything.
My question for today is this...How can we put so much faith and trust in a system like the US Postal Service - and not trust in the words and promises of Jesus Christ? How can we so readily believe that an envelope or package placed in a metal box at the end of our driveway will be sent to someone halfway around the world, yet doubt the power of Jesus Christ to heal us and meet our every need? How can we so blindly accept the assurances of mere mortals that "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"...yet question whether Jesus will truly love us unconditionally, forgive our sins, and offer us unending grace, mercy, restoration - and Eternity in His presence?
The time has come for us to assess our faith...to get into such a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ that He is at the top of the list when it comes to trust issues. We may not have confidence in much - especially the "human" things of this world - but we must know who Jesus truly is and what He is capable of doing in our lives. Do you know this today? Are you like the soldier who believed that just asking Jesus to heal His child could make it so? Do you know Who REALLY delivers in your life? Isn't it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Mark 16:17-18
“And those who believe shall use my
authority to cast out demons, and they shall speak new languages. They
will be able even to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink
anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them; and they will be able to place
their hands on the sick and heal them.”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
It
seems that much of the world is presently in a tizzy over the Ebola
virus. And yes, those who are directly involved with people who have
come in contact with this potentially deadly illness – or who have been
to countries where the sickness is prevalent – should be cautious and
concerned. But those of us who live hours and days away from this
contagion truly have little to nothing to fear. Moreover, we should be
thankful that there are medical personnel who are specifically trained
to treat those with this virus, which will help to contain it and
prevent further spread, while aiding those who are infected.
Here’s
how I see this...Jesus told us over and again in Scripture that He came
to earth, suffered, bled and died, so that we might live!
Through His sacrifices, God has granted us not only the assurance of
safety and security, but also the wisdom to know how to survive! So
when this passage talks of “handling snakes” and “drinking
poison”...don’t take this so literally. The “snakes and poisons” of
life are all around us – physical dangers, relationship difficulties,
temptations, challenges, sins of all kinds – and yes, deadly viruses.
But we have the ultimate “Hazmat Suit” of all...the healing power Jesus
Christ!
Because of Jesus’s healing power, we don’t have to
operate in fear...about anything. And honestly, when you boil this all
down...that’s what is happening. “Fearmongering” is at an all-time high
these days...in current events, politics, and even the latest “health
news”. Just watch The Dr. Oz Show, and you will feel like you have failed your own body in more than a dozen ways with each episode!
We need to pull out our Bibles, find a quiet place to read and reflect, and CALM DOWN!!!
We need to call on the authority of Jesus to cast out these demons of
fear...to operate in the confidence of His healing power...and to lead
by example and “heal” others as we interact with them each day. This is
“Christian Discipleship 101”, people! Have you read The Book and taken
notes from the Teacher? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Malachi 3:6
“For I am the Lord—I do not change. That is why you are not already utterly destroyed, for my mercy endures forever."
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Have you ever watched a
boxing match in which one opponent keeps getting pulverized by his
opponent...yet he gets back up and goes at it again? You have to wonder
why he doesn’t just lie down and let the referee count him out. But
there he goes again...up and ready for another blow – perhaps hoping
that this time it will be different and he might even get in a good jab
of his own!
We all know someone who is in a situation where
others are asking, “Why does he/she put up with that?” Maybe YOU are
that person today! There are times when it seems that people are “down
for the count” – or should be...times when a person or circumstance in
life has beaten him/her to a pulp, and it seems pointless to keep
standing up to receive another dose. We “sideline quarterbacks” may
even tell this person to “cut your losses”...to move in a different
direction.
Sometimes, this is good advice. But there are
situations where God wants us to stay and continue to fight. Consider
this...Jesus could have taken Himself down from the cross at any
second. He could have said, “That’s enough...none of these people are
worth this suffering and torture. I’m done.” But He didn’t. He stayed
to the bloody end – quite literally. And as we see in Malachi 3:6, God
has NEVER given up on us...even when we gave Him every reason to do so.
There
will be times when God tells you...”That’s enough. Throw in the towel
and move on.” In the words of Luke 9:2 (paraphrased)...”shake the dust
from your shoes and get on with your life.” But there will also be
times when God says, “Hang on just a little longer. I’m working on
something here. Keep the faith and give me just a little more time to
pull this all together as I designed. I promise you...it’s going to be
worth the wait!”
How do we know the difference? It’s not
always easy! I have found that when I am in doubt about which way to
move...I should just sit still for a while. Sometimes, God wants us to
watch, wait, be patient, and listen for His voice. He will honor your
“reverent pause”...God delights when we act with restraint and do not
operate in impulsivity! The more you listen and operate in His will,
the more you will know in your gut when you are truly supposed to move –
or stay.
One more thing...sometimes, God says to us, “I’ll handle this now...I need you somewhere else.” Just because God moves us does not mean that He
has deserted the person(s) involved. God doesn’t change...He is not
easily deterred...He gives each of us every possible chance to turn to
Him. God’s love and mercy are beyond our comprehension! He will do
whatever it takes to rescue us and bring us to a right relationship with
Him!
This is GOOD NEWS! The God who loves us beyond all we can
imagine is always working on our behalf and in every situation. Spend
some time with Him today and ask Him where He wants you to serve. Is He
calling you to “get up off the mat and go another round” in your present
circumstances? Or have you been “reassigned”? Either way, He is with
you...and that will never change.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Luke 9:1-2
One day Jesus called together his
twelve apostles and gave them authority over all demons—power to cast
them out—and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them away to tell
everyone about the coming of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
“Don’t
even take along a walking stick,” he instructed them, “nor a beggar’s
bag, nor food, nor money. Not even an extra coat. Be a guest in only one
home at each village.
“If the people of a town won’t listen to
you when you enter it, turn around and leave, demonstrating God’s anger
against it by shaking its dust from your feet as you go.”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Suppose
a well-known televangelist came to visit your town for a week. He
entered the city on his private jet...a chauffeur picked him up at the
airport in a very expensive car. This evangelist was wearing expensive,
designer clothing, and he was taken to the home of some of the
community’s wealthiest citizens, where a private chef prepared a meal
for him before he spoke to a group at one of the area churches.
Throughout the week, this person moved from one expensive home to
another, dined on extravagant meals – many of which were brought in from
other cities or prepared by some of our state’s best chefs, as hosts
tried to "one-up" each other. He played golf during the day with the
city’s elite...toured area landmarks with an entourage of press and
public officials ...and was treated to V.I.P. treatment at every turn.
Each
night, this person “preached” in one of the local churches – and even
once in a community-wide gathering at the school’s gymnasium. He
admonished people to “come to Jesus,” and he concluded the services with
lengthy “invitations” and “altar calls” in which he practically
insisted that those in attendance should come forward and make some sort
of public profession...or face the wrath of God and the possibility of
eternity in Hell. Before leaving town, he disgustedly told many that
this community was filled with sin – and sinners! This person’s
week-long stay in the community was the “talk of the town” for a long,
long time...and not necessarily in a good way.
Contrast this
visit with one from a friend who drove into town in his old Ford pickup
with 150,000 miles or more on it. He came straight to your house and
asked if he could hang out there for about a week. He insisted that he
didn’t want to be a bother...that he would be “in and out” as he visited
with other friends and family members in town...and that he would be
treating you and others to a few meals – that you would not be expected
to feed him three times a day or entertain him for an entire week.
Over
the course of a week, this person walked or drove himself around your
community and visited with people; checked on friends and family members
who were elderly, infirm, or under the weather; helped out a couple of
folks with projects around their house or yard; and never missed an
opportunity to tell everyone he met how blessed he was because of
Jesus. He even spent extra time with a couple of friends who needed an
encouraging word and some spiritual direction and prayer – and he led a
couple of informal Bible studies in your living room. When the week
ended, people were genuinely sad to see him go...but they felt a renewed
sense of blessing and joy...and some were even moved to seek a deeper
relationship with God because of the things they had experienced and
witnessed in this person.
Now who do you think was the more
effective witness...the person who blazed in with fancy cars and more
and touted “his way or the highway”...or the friend who came for a visit
and met people right where they were, recognized their needs of all
kinds, and did what he could to address them in Jesus’ name?
Do
you see where you and I might fit into this scenario? Most of us
probably fall somewhere in the middle...certainly not the
high-and-mighty televangelist - but maybe not the humble servant,
either. Are we all about appearances...and “numbers”? How have we
interpreted our directive from Jesus to “heal all diseases” in His
name? Do we meet people at whatever level they find themselves? Do we
offer unadulterated grace, mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love...
or do we give others the impression that they are inferior and have to
“step up their game” in order to receive the healing power of Jesus
Christ? Do we leave people wanting more of Jesus out of a deep love and
desire to be like Him...or a fear that they have to accept what He is
offering – or else?
Do we approach others with arrogance and a
“look-what-God-has-called-ME-to” attitude? Or do we come without even a
walking stick or a second coat and say, “Jesus is all you need” to
anyone who will listen? Do we try to beat down and berate others into
submission – or worse, to our way of thinking – or do we say, “I’d like
you to meet my Jesus,” and let Him to do the rest. Are we willing to do
what Jesus has called us to do...then walk away and give Him room to
work? Or do we feel we have to put on a show and gather as many
followers as possible?
If we have given our heart to Jesus and
believe that He is our Savior, He has called us to share His Good News
with others...to “heal all diseases” in His name. But Jesus has been
very clear about how we are to accomplish this...and it doesn’t involve a
flashy show, coercion, or throwing a hissy fit when others are not
receptive. We probably all have work to do in this area. I know I
do...what about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
October 10 ~ Luke 8:49-56
While he was still talking, someone
from the leader’s house came up and told him, “Your daughter died. No
need now to bother the Teacher.”
Jesus overheard and said, “Don’t
be upset. Just trust me and everything will be all right.” Going into
the house, he wouldn’t let anyone enter with him except Peter, John,
James, and the child’s parents.
Everyone was crying and carrying
on over her. Jesus said, “Don’t cry. She didn’t die; she’s sleeping.”
They laughed at him. They knew she was dead.
Then Jesus, gripping
her hand, called, “My dear child, get up.” She was up in an instant, up
and breathing again! He told them to give her something to eat. Her
parents were ecstatic, but Jesus warned them to keep quiet. “Don’t tell a
soul what happened in this room.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
- “When pigs fly!”
- “That will never happen!”
- “Fat chance!”
- “I’ll believe it when I see it!”
- “No way!”
These
are just a few of the phrases we utter about a myriad of situations and
circumstances - skeptics and cynics that we are. I could almost hear
this girl’s father, Jairus, speaking these things to Jesus and His
disciples. His daughter was dead already. He and everyone else knew
it. Yet after Jesus and the disciples went in to see her, she emerged
alive, well...and hungry!
There are a lot of thoughts on why
Jesus warned everyone not to speak of what had happened. People would
probably not have believed them in the first place...and those who were
convinced would probably assume that witchcraft or some sort of sorcery
was involved - and come after Jesus and His followers. Jesus knew that
this was not “His time” to be apprehended...that there was still work to
be done...miracles to be performed...lessons to be taught. And while we
are called to share the Good News of Jesus...we’ve never been
commissioned to brag.
There are several lessons for us in this
passage. The first seems pretty obvious – nothing is impossible with
Jesus. Now I don’t mean to imply that He is going to bring our loved
ones back to life when they pass from this earth. But He surely could
if it fit into His plans. The bigger “take-away” from these verses
seems to be that we are not to underestimate the power of Jesus to do
anything and everything. We are to be less skeptical and cynical...and
more positive and optimistic. We are to trust that God is in full
control...and we are to walk in this confidence.
When we receive
word that things are bad...when we hear about dire circumstances, a bad
diagnosis, or some sort of trial or tragedy...we are not to wring our
hands and throw a pity party. We are to seek Jesus...to “follow Him
into the room” and watch and listen as He works...then emerge with the
confidence that He is handling the situation. Remember the story of
David in 2 Samuel 12:22-23, where he answers those who question why he
emerged from his chambers after the death of his baby with Bathsheba.
People are appalled that he is dressed and hungry – and actually sits
down to eat a meal. “While the child was alive,” he tells them, “I
fasted and wept, thinking God might have mercy on me and the child
would live. But now that he’s dead, why fast? Can I bring him back now? I
can go to him, but he can’t come to me.”
The lesson for us is
that we have a job to do...we are to trust in God and believe in His
wisdom and healing power – in all situations. We are to “follow Jesus
into the room” and serve Him as He works in our lives and the lives of
others. Then we are to step out into the world and live with confidence
and assurance. We don’t need to brag...we shouldn’t need to be
constantly announcing to those around us that we are Christians – and we
certainly should never imply that God has given us special treatment or
that we are better than anyone else. It is one thing to say, “God has
done amazing things in my life”...but it is quite another to act as if
you did anything special to merit these blessings – or that you are “all
that and a bag of chips!”
What God has done for us, He will
gladly do for any and all who trust in Him. Jesus died on the cross
that we might all be raised from the death of our sins. The sad thing
is that a lot of us still don’t fully believe this. We underestimate
God’s healing power...His desire to rescue us...His incredible,
unconditional and unending love for us. So like Jairus and his friends,
we essentially say, “It’s too late” or “I have serious doubts.”
Hear
this...it is never too late with God. As long as you draw breath,
there is opportunity to be healed and restored through Jesus Christ.
Will you trust Him do work in your life? Will you “emerge from the
room”...alive, healed and hungry? Isn’t it time you did just that?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Luke 8:43-48
As they went a woman who wanted to be
healed came up behind and touched him, for she had been slowly bleeding
for twelve years, and could find no cure (though she had spent
everything she had on doctors). But the instant she touched the edge of
his robe, the bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, so many are crowding against you. . . . ”
But Jesus told him, “No, it was someone who deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”
When
the woman realized that Jesus knew, she began to tremble and fell to
her knees before him and told why she had touched him and that now she
was well.
“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
A lot of people joke that
they can look at pictures of food and gain weight...as if the pounds are
transferred from the images to the body by osmosis. We all know that
there is a step in the middle of that process...one that results from a
significant action by us! Our weight gain generally comes from what we
put in our mouth – and what we do afterward to burn the ingested
calories.
The healing touch of Jesus comes from a form of
“osmosis”...the mingling or absorption of His presence in our hearts and
minds. We are not necessarily required to physically do anything to
receive this blessing. Merely “touching the hem of His garment” is
sufficient to get Jesus’ attention.
Do not miss the profound message of this passage!
Imagine
being in a crowd of people when Jesus and His entourage pass by you.
Just as Jesus gets past you, you reach out and brush the hem of His robe
with your fingertips. And immediately, you feel the spark of
“electricity” surge through your body. You know in a split second that
something has changed...that you are no longer the same person you were
less than a minute ago.
Now think about your daily living. Have
you ever had a “God moment”? Think about the times when something
happened, and you instantly felt blessed or changed...a kind word,
gesture or message from someone that generated a deep emotional
response...an event that could only be explained as the work of God...a
time when you were spared a heartache or even physical injury. Maybe you
said, “The angels were with me.” Or perhaps you thought...”Wow! I
really needed that!” Who do you think sent those “angels” or whatever
it was that you so desperately needed in that moment?
When we
minister to others...or when we receive a blessing ourselves...we have
felt the touch of Jesus. And by our faith alone...and a whispered
prayer for Jesus to draw near to us...we have essentially “touched the
hem of His garment”. My point is that nothing physically has to
transpire between us and Jesus to experience His healing power. He does
not have to come to us in the flesh and lay His hands upon us. We don’t
have to take a pill or perform a ritual of some sort. All we have to do
is to believe that Jesus can meet our every need...then reach out and
“touch His hem.” Jesus will do the rest.
I am also struck by
Jesus’ words that He felt the healing power leave His body. When we
serve others in His name, Jesus’s blessed anointing flows through us to
those who receive our ministry. Stop and think about this...haven’t you
felt Jesus’ power “leave you” as you shared blessings with others?
Maybe as you felt the urge to pray for another or express love and care
for them in some manner, you experienced a deep sense of calm and peace
in your own life. Or perhaps your “mission work” left you bone weary –
but energized at the same time. This is the power of Jesus working in
and through you.
The healing power of Jesus is all around us. In
effect, Jesus “passes by us” many times a day. Will we recognize Him?
Will we trust Jesus so profoundly that we “reach out and touch His hem”
with the confidence that His healing, love and care will flow into
us...and through us to others as we minister in His name? Isn’t it time
we did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Luke 4:17-19
When he came to the village of
Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on
Saturday, and stood up to read the Scriptures. The book of Isaiah the
prophet was handed to him, and he opened it to the place where it says:
“The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News
to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce
that captives shall be released and the blind shall see, that the
downtrodden shall be freed from their oppressors, and that God is ready
to give blessings to all who come to him.”
He closed the book and
handed it back to the attendant and sat down, while everyone in the
synagogue gazed at him intently. Then he added, “These Scriptures came
true today!”
The Living
Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All
rights reserved.
Our
community has an annual dinner for alumni of the local high school who
graduated at least 30 years ago or more. The “50-year” class is in
charge of the dinner and program each year. So this year’s program was
presented by the graduating class of 1964. One of the things the
speaker related was that years ago, she saw an image of a young girl
looking at a device that appeared to be a telephone with a video
screen. The caption said something like, “By the time her daughter is
this age, everyone will use these.” The speaker added...”and here we
are!”
Indeed, as a child, I watched the cartoon, “The Jetsons”
and marveled as they “phoned” each other on what looked like a
television and talked to each other. I wondered, “Could this ever
really happen?” I will admit that I have shaken my head more than once
as I heard predictions for “the next big thing” on the horizon – and
then saw them happen. When people my age were kids, we watched “Dick
Tracy” talk into his wristwatch...but many of us never believed that it
could become a reality someday...”and here we are.” My grandmother used
to talk about how many “advents of change” she witnessed in more than
100 years of life – many that I’m sure she and her contemporaries never
dreamed would truly happen. From rocket ships to television, computers
and smart phones - and countless “newfangled gadgets” in between - she
saw a lot of things come to fruition that many probably deemed pipe
dreams.
So it’s not a stretch to see that people might have been
shocked when a young Jesus read the words of Isaiah and then said,
“Today these words have come true.” In other words...”I’m here...in the
flesh...just as prophesied!” There were surely skeptics in the group!
But quite often, “seeing really is believing”. And for many, the
subsequent demonstrations of Jesus truly did convince them that He was
the real Messiah...that He actually could heal the brokenhearted, cast out demons, make the blind see and the lame walk.
Where this gets a little “muddy” is that things have actually reversed just a bit for us. We cannot physically see
Jesus do these things. We are promised that He will return again for
us someday...but all we have is His pledge in God’s word. We are once
again left to wonder...”Could this really happen?” We are required to
operate each and every day in blind faith that Jesus is with us...that
He is still in the business of healing, salvation, and restoration.
Several
years ago, my spiritual journey took a huge turn when I heard someone
speak on the verse from John 20:29, where Jesus told Thomas, “You
believe because you have seen me. But blessed are those who haven’t seen
me and believe anyway.” In this verse, we received another promise
from Jesus...that our “blind faith” would be rewarded. As I began to
embrace these words and truly trust them, I began to “see” evidence in
my own life of Jesus’ touch...to experience His healing and restoration
in numerous areas of my life...and to rest in His abundant care and
protection. For me, that day of revelation was essentially the day that
“Scriptures came true”.
What about you? Do you have confidence
that the promises Jesus gave us truly will happen? Do you believe in
the hope that we are given in God’s word? Are you aware of Jesus’
presence in your own life...do you trust Him to heal you, protect you,
and care for your every need – even though you cannot physically see
Him? What is your “talking phone or wristwatch moment”? Where are you
wondering if this could all be “wishful thinking”? Isn’t it time to
recognize that all things are possible with God? Will this be the day
that “Scriptures come true” for you? Are you ready to say...”and here
we are” to Jesus?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Jeremiah 17:14-18
You, Lord, are the one I praise.
So heal me and rescue me!
Then I will be completely well
and perfectly safe.
The people of Judah say to me,
“Jeremiah, you claimed to tell us
what the Lord has said.
So why hasn’t it come true?”
Our Lord, you chose me
to care for your people,
and that’s what I have done.
You know everything I have said,
and I have never once
asked you to punish them.
I trust you for protection
in times of trouble,
so don’t frighten me.
Keep me from failure
and disgrace,
but make my enemies fail
and be disgraced.
Send destruction to make
their worst fears come true.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the closing paragraphs of her book, Just Give Me Jesus*,
Anne Graham Lotz talks about how Peter responds to Jesus in the 21st
chapter of the Book of John. Jesus has questioned Peter and asked him
more than once, “Do you really love Me?” Peter is exasperated and
finally points to another beloved disciple and asks, “What about him?”
In verse 22, we read...”Jesus answered, ‘What is it to you, if I want
him to live until I return? You must follow me.’”
Lotz makes the
point that how Jesus works in the lives of other people – and how they
respond to Him – is basically none of our business. We are not to
compare ourselves with others. We are to focus on Jesus – and Jesus
alone. And other people are to do the same.
This is hard. We
are all about comparing ourselves to others. Are we as successful,
attractive, popular, intelligent, or talented as the other guy? Surely
we are healthier...our “lifestyle habits” are not as bad as
his/hers...right? Clearly we are more faith-filled...a better
servant...more “Christ-like”! And OBVIOUSLY, we are more humble!
Pay
close attention to the words of Jeremiah - and the admonition of Anne
Graham Lotz...focus solely on Jesus. Worship and adore only Him.
Listen for His voice and do what He commands of you. Forget about the
other guy and what he/she is doing – or not. Quit comparing yourself to
everyone else, because Jesus has told us plainly in John 1:22 that
whatever and however He chooses to work with others – and how they
respond – is between the two of them and does not involve us. It has
nothing to do with our own relationship with Jesus.
Focus on your
connection with Jesus. Worship Him with every fiber of your being, and
expect him to keep you “completely well and perfectly safe”, according
to His will. Trust that you are operating within His will, and that He
most certainly will care for you – flawlessly and entirely.
Lotz
closes with an interesting question...”Have you been deeply disturbed
and discouraged – even depressed – as you have looked at the lives of
those who say they are disciples...and the community that calls itself
the church yet not seen Jesus?” She concludes that if Jesus can’t be
seen anywhere else, let Him surely be seen in your life – and mine.
Jeremiah asked GOD to punish those who had criticized him and behaved
poorly. Lotz is suggesting that we concentrate on ourselves and our own
bond with Jesus, the healer of everyone and everything.
Where is
your focus today? Are you busy comparing yourself with others and
hoping you “fare pretty well”? Or are you fixated on praising and
pleasing Jesus – and living in His perfect healing and the safety of His
protection? Is time you for a shift of emphasis? Wouldn’t this be a
good day to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Just Give Me Jesus - ©2000 Anne Graham Lotz – Word Publishing, a Thomas Nelson Company
Isaiah 53:4-5
Yet it was our grief he bore, our
sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a
punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised
for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and
we were healed!
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Pick someone...anyone...who
is truly important to you. I don’t care if you choose a “significant
other”, your spouse, a child, a parent, your best friend – or even your
beloved pet. Now imagine that every time you sin, this person (or pet)
takes a beating. Every time you get sick, this person or animal will be
whipped until bloody. And you will feel better...right?
Wouldn’t
you be mortified if you thought that your well-being...mentally,
physically or spiritually...depended on the suffering and mistreatment
of someone else? Yet this is exactly the exchange that Jesus offers
us. He was wounded, beaten, and pressed down by our sorrows and
sins...all so that we could have peace and healing of all kinds – and
Eternal Life in His presence!
Crazy, isn’t it? Heart-wrenching
even! Yet we essentially brandish the whip and hammer the nails day in
and day out. We press the thorns of the crown deeper into His head and
either take His forgiveness and restoration for granted...or we thumb
our nose and effectively say, “I really don’t care what He did for me.”
Here’s
a challenge for each of us...the next time you are tempted to be unkind
to someone else...to pass judgment...to criticize...or to berate...hear
the lash of the whip as it tears Jesus’ flesh – for you. The next time
you are healed of a sickness or injury...think of the Roman soldiers
spitting on our Savior – for you. The next time you turn your back on
God and try to do things your way...the next time you go days without
talking to God or studying His word and then wondering why things aren’t
going so well...think of Jesus hanging on the cross as nails dig
through His hands and feet and people mock Him – all for you.
When we stop and remember Jesus...when we focus on what He did for us
– it surely must seem a little harder to disappoint and disrespect
Him. Hopefully, we will pay closer attention to how we are acting and
thinking as we think of Jesus and what He did for us – what He does for
us each and every day. He suffered greatly...for us. Believe it...He
really loves us that much!
We cannot fathom another breathing
thing suffering such horrors because of anything we have said or done.
So why can we so readily accept this treatment of Jesus on our behalf?
Isn’t it time for a mental shift? Don’t we need to refocus our
awareness...and re-direct our efforts to live in a way that glorifies
the tremendous sacrifices of our Great Healer? Will this be the day
that you say, “By His stripes I am healed...and I will serve Him forever
with each word and action!”? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Hosea 6:1-3
Let’s return to the Lord.
He has torn us to shreds,
but he will bandage our wounds
and make us well.
In two or three days
he will heal us
and restore our strength
that we may live with him.
Let’s do our best
to know the Lord.
His coming is as certain
as the morning sun;
he will refresh us like rain
renewing the earth
in the springtime.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our
cats somewhat “chose sides” more than a decade ago. It started when we
got a big television that apparently made some sort of noise that
scared Lucy. She preferred that I watch TV in our bedroom, where she
would happily join me on the bed and lie pressed against my side... on
her back – and often with all four legs in the air! Mabel was perfectly
content to stay with Greg and enjoy his attention as she curled up on
the footrest of his recliner. When we moved into a two-story house, and
Greg established an office space upstairs, Mabel somewhat became the
“upstairs cat”, while Lucy is never very far from me downstairs.
So
when Greg and a neighbor took an overnight motorcycle trip, poor little
Mabel was more than a bit lost. She hung out with Lucy and me
downstairs...but sometimes she roamed the house and cried as she looked
for her “other owner”. She brought a toy mouse, hoping that Greg would
appear and praise her. She stood up on the back door and pawed toward
the handle, thinking he must surely be in the garage. And when I went
upstairs to check on her once, she was curled atop a pair of Greg’s
jeans. I stroked her face and cooed to her in a soothing tone and
assured her that he would be back very soon...and that all would be
well. If she could just hang on and take a little snooze, her buddy
would be home before she knew it.
In this passage from Hosea, you
really need to read Chapter 5 first to understand these verses. The
people of Israel have been sinful and terribly disobedient, and God has
allowed them to suffer as a result. In Hosea 5:13-16, we read...”
Israel was brutally crushed. They got what they deserved for worshiping
useless idols. Now I, the Lord, will fill Israel with maggots and make
Judah rot. When Israel and Judah saw their sickness and wounds, Israel
asked help from Assyria and its mighty king.” So the words of the first
verses in Chapter 6 are those of the Israelites, who have realized that
they caused their own suffering. But they also recognize that God will
forgive them...heal and restore them...if only they will turn back to
Him. He will return and make them well.
In our own ways, you and I
have been as sinful and disobedient as the Israelites. It’s a wonder
that God has not grown as disgusted with us and allowed us to be “filled
with maggots and rot”. Amazingly, God provided us with a covenant in
the form of the blood of Jesus. And while we may experience temporary
discomfort (and it may even seem like God is crushing us!), we can call
on Him to save us by Jesus’ blood, and He will rescue and restore us.
This may happen quickly – or we may not fully be refreshed and renewed
until Jesus greets us in heaven. But all who earnestly call on the name
of Jesus are guaranteed forgiveness and healing.
Our sweet little
calico cat did nothing to deserve the feelings of loneliness and
desertion she experienced. Mabel will “get over it” quickly, and in a
few days, she will have totally forgotten that she and Greg were ever
separated. On the other hand, we have done plenty to alienate ourselves
from God and disappoint Him. The love, grace and mercy He demonstrates
to us is truly inexplicable...but nonetheless welcome!
The
thought of God “bandaging our wounds, and making us well” is like a
healing balm to my soul. The promise of Jesus waiting in heaven to
welcome us with open arms for all eternity gives me strength and courage
for this earthly journey. I know that He is coming for me
someday...and this motivates me to turn to Him and let Him make me
well. What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Galatians 3:13
But Christ has bought us out
from under the doom of that impossible system by taking the curse for
our wrongdoing upon himself. For it is written in the Scripture, “Anyone
who is hanged on a tree is cursed” (as Jesus was hung upon a wooden
cross).
The Living Bible
copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
Once in a while, there will be a post on
social media about “the good ole days”...in the vein of “do you remember
this?” or “do you know what this is?” There will be a photograph of
some gadget from a previous decade...and the object will be something
that perhaps we relied on every day - but now we have something
better/faster/easier to use that has replaced it. One example of this
might be a wringer washing machine. Say WHAT? Yes...a few decades ago,
people washed clothing in a big tub, then they pressed each garment
through two heavy rollers that squeezed out all of the excess water.
This was a far cry from the “spin cycle” of our modern-day washers!
Even
older is the rub board! I have my grandmother’s ribbed glass rub
board, on which she “rubbed” the clothes to get the dirt out. I also
have a wooden paddle that she used to stir clothing in a big iron
cauldron of hot water and lye soap! Not my idea of a fun wash day...is
it yours?!
Another gadget that some of you may still use today is
the ice cube tray. Most of these are made of plastic – or silicone –
today, but when I was a child, we had aluminum trays with a “handle” in
the middle that you lifted to separate the ice cubes and release them.
Of course, this usually resulted in shatters and shards of ice rather
than the nice, neat, perfectly formed cubes of our present-day
ice-making machines. And NOW, some of my friends even have “Sonic® ice”
machines that create the crushed ice like patrons of Sonic® drive-ins
enjoy.
My mom commented recently that she had seen two working
"pay telephones". She remarked that many younger people don’t know
about
pay phones - or phone booths...and will only see them in the media. We
both remember
the not-so-distant years when she and my dad were traveling and they
would search for a pay telephone in order to call home and check in with
us. There were no cell phones...much less texting, iPads, and Skype or
Face Time!
Here’s the thing... there are a lot of things from
the past that we would not wish to return. Who among us wishes there
were no cell phones and that we had to rely on finding a pay telephone
or dialing 0 for Operator in order to accomplish some of our
communications? I enjoy going to my refrigerator and getting a cup of
ice cubes or crushed ice. I would not want to spend an entire day or
two slaving over a hot iron wash pot filled with laundry and caustic
soap...nor would I want to have to crank a “wringer” to get the water
out of every garment before I hung the clothing on a line to air dry!
By
the same token, I would not want to have to kill an innocent lamb or
calf every time I committed a sin. I’d never get anything else
done...and neither would you! Because you see, we are ALL sinful,
despite our best efforts to behave otherwise. Just like many of us take a
daily dose of medicine to keep certain ailments at bay...or vitamins to
boost our immune systems...we need a “daily dose” of Jesus to keep us
spiritually healthy. And because of his amazing love, grace, mercy – and
sacrifice on the cross – the “old ways” of atonement are forever gone
for those of us who have accepted His great gift of salvation.
We
need the “daily dose” of Jesus to keep us healthy...to boost our
spiritual “immune systems”...but when we give our hearts to Jesus, we no
longer have to worry about the old laws that required continual
sacrifices of animals...rituals to cleanse our souls...intermediaries to
petition God on our behalf. Jesus healed ALL of that! And I, for one,
can never thank Him enough!
My question today is this...are you
living in the “modern world” of Jesus’ healing grace and mercy? Or are
you stuck in the past? Do you know the joy of living well, fit, and
strong with Jesus? Aren’t you ready to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Deuteronomy 7:12-15
And this is what will
happen: When you, on your part, will obey these directives, keeping and
following them, God, on his part, will keep the covenant of loyal love
that he made with your ancestors:
He will love you,
he will bless you,
he will increase you.
He
will bless the babies from your womb and the harvest of grain, new
wine, and oil from your fields; he’ll bless the calves from your herds
and lambs from your flocks in the country he promised your ancestors
that he’d give you. You’ll be blessed beyond all other peoples: no
sterility or barrenness in you or your animals. God will get rid of all
sickness. And all the evil afflictions you experienced in Egypt he’ll
put not on you but on those who hate you.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Okay. Trivia time! Who
remembers dialing 0 for Operator? If you were born any time after 1980,
this could possibly be a foreign concept for you...and for sure if you
were born after 1990! The button still existed on phones at that time,
but the function had changed. When I was growing up, you could dial 0
and speak to an operator and get all sorts of assistance...the Operator
would locate a phone number for you, help you make “collect calls”,
summon emergency personnel, and more. When my parents were growing up,
the Operator actually connected calls from one home to another. You
would dial 0 and tell a real person on the other end of the line that
you wanted to talk to “So-and-So”, and she would ring them for you.
Think “Sarah” on the Andy Griffith show!
A few decades ago, we
really needed the Operator to help us. Today, technology has virtually
obliterated the need for any human intermediary when contacting others.
We telephone, text, e-mail, Skype or Face-time, and more...all at the
push of a button. In the days of Moses, people had to “jump through
hoops” to please God – and to assure that He would love them, bless
them, heal them, and increase them. They had to “do their part”, as
Moses directs in this passage. When they made mistakes, they had to
offer sacrifices to atone for them.
When Jesus died on the cross,
He changed everything. The very act of asking Him to forgive us...to
wash us clean and fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit...is the
equivalent of pushing a button to connect a call to God – for the rest
of our lives. Does this mean that we no longer have to “do our
part”...that we can live as we please and guarantee that God will keep
us healthy, prosperous, and safe? Absolutely not! But stop and think
about this...there is no need to live in continual fear and stress – to
obsess over whether or not every single breath you take is potentially
bringing you to the brink of disaster and condemnation!
By the
blood of Jesus Christ, we can be healed...forever and ever! We can bask
in the glory of Moses’ promises for his people...God will love us. He
will bless us. He will increase us! For me, this changes the
motivation to serve God from that of fear and obligation to an
expression of my devotion and gratitude. Because of Jesus and the
cleansing healing He offers each of us, we should want to serve
Him and live in a way that pleases Him and honors His commitment to us.
And one of the coolest things is that we no longer need an “Operator”
to “connect our calls” to God. We can “dial Him up” directly any time
we want or need!
Change can be good. There are times when it
would be handy to dial 0 and ask for a telephone number or an instant
connection...but now we have such a wealth of methods for reaching
others in a heartbeat that it wouldn’t really be worth it to return to
“the good ole days”. As for our relationship with God, I wouldn’t trade
Jesus and what He has given me for anything...surely not for the
antiquated rituals and expectations of Moses’ time!
Take a little
time today and think about Jesus. Consider how easy He has made it for
you to live in health, wealth and hope. I can hear you now, and I get
it! Yes, we may have challenges – and even heartaches...our definition
of these blessings – particularly health, wealth and prosperity – may
not match what God intends for us. His timing may not be the same as
ours. But when we trust God, we always have hope and a future...and
when we give our hearts to Jesus and commit our lives to Him, we have a
“direct line” to His love and care. Are you fully “connected”...or are
you still trying to “dial 0 for Operator”? Isn’t it time you accepted
Jesus’ direct connection? Is today the day?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Acts 5:15-16
Sick people were brought out into
the streets on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow would fall
across some of them as he went by! And crowds came in from the Jerusalem
suburbs, bringing their sick folk and those possessed by demons; and
every one of them was healed.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
This morning on ABC’s The View,
I watched Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal present a tribute to their
dear friend, Robin Williams, who left this earth two months ago.
Essentially, both comics described a person who “lit up a room” when he
entered. Just the mention of the name - “Robin Williams” – evokes
memories of hilarious routines, a favorite movie or television episode,
“Nanu! Nanu!”, and more. I am sure you have your favorites...but it’s
safe to assume that when you hear Robin Williams’ name, you can’t help
but smile. His effect on people was like that of a healing balm.
Greg
and I learned yesterday that a childhood friend of ours succumbed to
cancer. Sherman was something of our own personal “Robin Williams”. He
entered the doorway telling a hilarious story, and he left everyone
smiling – and sometimes shaking their heads in the context of “what just
happened?!” We can’t help but smile when we hear Sherman’s name. Just
the thought of our sweet friend makes us happy - even in his passing.
Here’s
how this passage about healing relates to the recollections of these
two men...we can easily understand how the thought of a brilliant, witty
comedian or friend is enough to make us smile. But we cannot
comprehend how the “passing shadow” of one of Christ’s disciples could
heal the sick and possessed. We cannot fathom being so filled with
Jesus that His healing power flows through us to the point that even our
walking past someone who is sick or in need could result in their
healing. Furthermore, we can’t imagine a faith so strong that we would
believe that falling underneath the shadow of such an anointed person
could result in making us well.
But this is exactly what happened.
What
does this all mean for us? Are we to begin seeking anointed healers –
or those who claim to be – and believing in their healing powers as
agents of Jesus? Are we to seek this power in our own lives? I don’t
believe that we will physically become able to heal the sick in Jesus’
name – although some would claim otherwise. For me, this passage says
two things: 1) do not underestimate Jesus’ ability and desire to use
you as His disciple – in whatever way He sees fit; and 2) grow your
faith in Christ’s “healing power” over your own life. In other words,
be ready and willing to reach out to others in Jesus’ name - wherever
and whenever He sends you. Trust in a God who is so powerful that His
healing power can flow through the shadow of a mere mortal and restore
another – if He so desires.
Live in such a way that the mention
of your name causes others to conjure a mental image of Jesus Christ
and His love and care. We can’t BE Jesus...but we can be more like
Him! And we can be servants that honor and glorify His name in all that
we do. Recognize the power of even a smile delivered to a stranger by
someone whose heart is filled with Jesus.
I thank God for the
joy that was Robin Williams and our friend Sherman...for the happiness
and brightness they brought to the lives of so many. You can cast a
“shadow” of the love of Christ over others...you really can - if you are
closely attuned to His word and will for your life. You can be the
“healing balm” that brightens another person’s day and “soothes their
soul” – if not their body. Time’s a wastin’! None of us is promised
tomorrow, so we need to get started! Learn to recognize Jesus’ power
and presence in your own life...discover how – and where – He wants you
to represent His love and care...and go “light up a room” in His name!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Acts 4:20-30
We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we saw Jesus do and heard him say.”
The
Council then threatened them further and finally let them go because
they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For
everyone was praising God for this wonderful miracle - the healing of a
man who had been lame for forty years.
As soon as they were freed, Peter and John found the other disciples and told them what the Council had said.
Then all the believers united in this prayer:
“O
Lord, Creator of heaven and earth and of the sea and everything in them
- you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor King
David, your servant, saying, ‘Why do the heathen rage against the Lord,
and the foolish nations plan their little plots against Almighty God?
The kings of the earth unite to fight against him and against the
anointed Son of God!’
“That is what is happening here in this
city today! For Herod the king, and Pontius Pilate the governor, and all
the Romans—as well as the people of Israel—are united against Jesus,
your anointed Son, your holy servant. They won’t stop at anything that
you in your wise power will let them do. And now, O Lord, hear their
threats, and grant to your servants great boldness in their preaching,
and send your healing power, and may miracles and wonders be done by the
name of your holy servant Jesus.”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
On the September 17th
episode of her new talk show, journalist Meredith Vieira disclosed that
she was involved in an abusive relationship more than 30 years ago. She
provided details of this abuse on her program and explained why she
stayed in such a situation for so long. She talked of fear...and yes,
guilt...and how her abuser was usually quite remorseful afterward. I
don’t know for sure why Vieira shared this on her program. Perhaps she
felt it would garner ratings, since abuse and neglect are currently
hot-button issues in the news. Or maybe she felt God telling her,
“Someone needs to hear this information. Your words can be the rescue
vehicle...the healing balm for those who are hurting and in trouble.”
We’ve
all been in situations where we may have felt an urge to say or do
something...and then we thought, “That is none of my business,” or “I
can’t say or do THAT!” And often, we kept silent...or held back. As we
observed what happened next, we sometimes regretted our hesitation.
Other times, we boldly forged ahead, even though we might not have known
the person well. We offered suggestions, shared our own personal
experiences, or simply said, “I’m praying for you,” and faithfully
trusted God to do the rest...and the results were amazing.
Understand
that I am not suggesting that we all start getting up in each other’s
business! This must always be done prayerfully and responsibly. But
when you get that nagging feeling that you need to share a scripture or a
prayer with someone...to pick up the phone...to drop by for a
visit...to reach out to another person in a particular manner...or to
step up and offer your assistance...ask God what to do with these urges.
Then listen for His answer...and when you feel that He is telling you
to proceed, do not hesitate.
I will not deal in specifics, but in
recent weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to reach out to more than one
person in situations where I really did not know him/her all that
well...they were more what I would consider “acquaintances” than close
friends. Yet I saw that they had needs and struggles, and I sensed
strongly that I needed to send them a message in some way. Trust me
when I say that in more than one instance, I hesitated...I
procrastinated – delayed hitting the “send” button or making a call.
But to a person, every time I trusted that God was leading me and took a
leap of faith, that person responded and said, essentially...”Your
timing was perfect! Your care and concern meant so much...and I am
better for it.”
We don’t fully comprehend how vital we
“disciples” are to the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. Every day,
He reaches out to us and gives us “assignments”...ways great and small
that we are to minister and heal others in His name. Too often, we are
so caught up in the busyness of OUR day...our own selfish desires and
agendas...that we miss these opportunities. We are fearful and
timid...embarrassed and insecure. For whatever reason, we don’t really
want to get involved. Surely God can’t mean for US to do these things!
Surely He doesn’t think we are the right vehicle for reaching others in
His name! Doesn’t God know who – and what – we are?!
God has
equipped us with everything we will need to accomplish His plans. If we
are confident that He is powering and endorsing our efforts, we truly
have nothing to fear...and everything to gain! He knows exactly who is
the right person for every task...and that includes each of us!
Where
has God been gently nudging you toward discipleship? Where are you
being shown opportunities for “healing” in Jesus’ name? Are you paying
attention? Are you “show and tell Disciples” for the amazing love,
grace, mercy, forgiveness – and healing power – of Jesus Christ? Are
you ready to truly serve Him obediently and confidently? Are you “all
in” for Jesus? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Acts 3:12-16
Peter saw his opportunity and
addressed the crowd. “Men of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising
about this? And why look at us as though we by our own power and
godliness had made this man walk? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob and of all our ancestors who has brought glory to his servant
Jesus by doing this. I refer to the Jesus whom you rejected before
Pilate, despite Pilate’s determination to release him. You didn’t want
him freed—this holy, righteous one. Instead you demanded the release of a
murderer. And you killed the Author of Life; but God brought him back
to life again. And John and I are witnesses of this fact, for after you
killed him we saw him alive!
“Jesus’ name has healed this man—and
you know how lame he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name—faith given us
from God—has caused this perfect healing.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Some of you may be watching
the resurrected version of the television series “Dallas”. Back in the
70s and 80s when this show first aired, one of the main characters,
“Bobby Ewing”, played by Patrick Duffy, was killed when the sister of
his brother’s wife ran over him with a car...or so we thought. We
learned in a subsequent season that this “death” had all been the “bad
dream” of Bobby’s ex-wife Pamela. Still with me? I know this is crazy,
and even writing it all down made me wonder, “What were we thinking?!”
I
share this to tell you that we are no strangers to modern-day
“resurrection” stories. They happen all the time in television series,
movies...and even our favorite novels. Someone appears to be dead, but
we discover that they really aren’t. Children watch cartoons in which
the characters come back to life over and again. All of this combines
to create a sort of “numbness” and indifference in each of us...and on
certain levels, it causes us to detach from reality.
It is no
surprise that we are somewhat numb to the profound significance of
Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection...that we are not as cognizant of
Jesus’ healing power as we should be. It isn’t even that big of a
stretch to see how we could give ourselves and the “healers” in our
midst more credit than we deserve for our health and well-being in every
area of life. Although it’s a “slippery slope”, one can see how easy
it might be to give too much credit to physicians, therapists, coaches,
teachers, parents, friends, and even clergy for enabling us to put one
foot in front of the other.
While these people may play a
significant role in our overall health and well-being...their true power
comes from Jesus. We may benefit from their wisdom, expertise,
kindness, compassion, mercy, and life experiences, but none of this
would be available to us without our Savior. Jesus knows what we
need...when we need it...and how to get it to us. He uses human beings
as the vehicle for our healing...but ultimately, He is the Great Healer.
Unlike
the original “Dallas” series and its 2012 revival, Jesus’ life, death,
and resurrection were no television soap opera. Jesus is as real as it
gets...and His power to heal and restore us – and meet our every need –
is unsurpassed. His use of ordinary people like you and me to carry out
His missions is equally real.
Maybe it’s time for us to open our
eyes and re-align our focus a bit. Maybe we need to be more aware of
Who is really running the show...and give Him the appropriate measure of
gratitude. Maybe we need to stop thinking so highly of ourselves and
stop to recognize Who fuels our every breath! Perhaps we need to start
looking a little more closely at Who is truly the Author of our
lives...and give credit where it is due. Isn’t this the perfect time to
begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
1 Peter 2:21-25
This is the kind of life you’ve
been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered
everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done,
and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.
They
called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered
in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant
body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to
live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep
with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and
kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
This morning, I substituted
in Timothy’s Sunday school class as an assistant leader. As this little
group of five-year-olds waited for their parents to pick them up after
class, I watched while each took turns “hanging” from a miniature
“cross” that was placed against the wall in one corner of the
classroom. “Look!” one of the little girls cried, “Timothy is nailed to
the cross!” And sure enough, there stood Timothy...arms raised to the
cross-beam...body pressed against the vertical post. I didn’t fuss at
them... I just smiled at the children and nodded as I called the names
of those whose parents had arrived.
These precious five-year-olds
do not – and cannot – fully grasp the meaning of the cross. They have
been told that Jesus died on the cross for their sins...they’ve seen
pictures and heard stories. But they don’t fully understand what
happened there...the “how and why” of it all, or the holiness – and
healing - of this symbol. But the sad thing is...for the most part,
neither do we.
Very few of us really grasp the power of the
cross. It’s understandable that we don’t fully comprehend the grace,
mercy and love that God extended to us through Jesus in this manner.
Even more difficult for us to take in is how the wounds of Jesus became
our healing...mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Jesus
took everything that happens to us on His shoulders. He essentially asked, “What else have you got? I’ll take that, too!”
So
the next time you start to start to worry and stew over
something...think of the cross. When you are sick or injured, and fear
and panic start to set in...remember that the wounds of Jesus are your
healing. When you are confused or uncertain...when you face difficult
decisions and circumstances...remember Whose you are. When all seems
hopeless or you feel like you cannot take another step, remind yourself
that you are named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your soul.
The
One who never did anything wrong or said anything amiss paid a huge
price for our “healing”. Isn’t it time we recognized Him? What does the
cross mean to you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
