Acts 13:4-12 Darkness for Children of the Devil

Acts 13:4-12 NIV
Bar-Jesus (Elymas the sorcerer) was spiritually blind. He was a Jew; in spite of the fact that Jews were forbidden to participate in any type of sorcery. Bar-Jesus worked hard at keeping Proconsul Sergius Paulus from accepting the truth about Jesus the Christ that Barnabas and Saul (also called Paul here) proclaimed. Paul confronted the sorcerer; calling him a child of the devil. He cursed Bar-Jesus with physical blindness for a time.

Of all people, Paul would have understood what it meant to have been spiritually blind. For once his eyes were shut to the truth, as well. His spiritual blindness had been healed as God had given  him physical blindness for a time, as well. The scriptures do not say whether Bar-Jesus came to accept the truth about Jesus the Christ. But, his physical blindness due to Paul's confrontation definitely convinced Sergius Paulus of the truthfulness of Paul's proclamation.

The inability to accept spiritual healing and wholeness sometimes leads to physical ailments even today.  It is not all that unusual for the darkness within us to overwhelm our physical beings, as well. When we choose to act like children of the devil, by undermining the Word of God, we should not be surprised when darkness surrounds us, either.

May God grant us healing and wholeness of body, mind and spirit.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 9 - Sees

John 9 NIV
Jesus heals a blind man and controversy ensues. You would think that everyone would rejoice over the fact that this man who was born blind now can see. But; no, he was healed on the Sabbath which amounts to work in the eyes of the Pharisees. He is questioned. His parents are interrogated, as well. ut, the blind man will not deny it. The man they call Jesus put some mud on his eyes and healed him, he tells them. This man who was healed testifies to what Jesus has done for him?

He was blind but now he sees. What about you? Can you see what has Jesus done for you? Will you deny it or will you share that good news with other in order that God might be glorified.

Let us rejoice in God who opens our eyes that we might see all that He has done for us through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 18:35-43 That You Might See Jesus

Luke 18:35-43 NIV
What did the blind man see when Jesus healed his sight? Why, he saw Jesus, of course. He saw Jesus and followed him.

My list of people who I pray might see Jesus is pretty long at the present time. So many people in trouble and pain. So much of it simply because they cannot see Jesus and do not know Him. I pray that their eyes might be opened so that they might see him and follow him; that they might be healed. Some of them, I have been praying decades for; others, not so long. But, the prayer is pretty much the same for all: that they might hear the Word; see Him and, in faith, follow Him into the light of His love.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 10:32-52 Following Jesus

Mark 10:32-52 NIV
As Jesus leads his followers on their journey to Jerusalem, he tells them that he is going to be killed and after he is killed he will rise, three days later. I'm not sure if the disciples fully grasp the significance of this, because James and John ask to sit at his right and left hand in His glory. Do they realize that in order to see His full glory they are going to have to follow Him with their own deaths?

Following Jesus is not the "walk in the park" that many would assume. The disciples didn't quite "get it" and I wonder if, sometimes, maybe we don't "get it," either. Following Jesus, means a life of service to others; not a life of serving ourselves. It means a life of carrying the cross that others might hear, see and believe.

Blind Bartimaeus wanted to see. Jesus came along and gave him sight. Once, Bartimaeus could see, he picked himself up and followed Jesus along the road to Jerusalem, on the way to the cross.

May God grant that our eyes should be opened so that we might follow Jesus wherever He may lead us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 8:22-38 Get Behind Me Satan!

"Get behind me, Satan!"

I love reading the stories about some of the events in Jesus' life. He can be so sweet! When I read some of these stories, I cannot help but wonder what people would do if I acted like that.

For example: a blind man is brought to him for healing and what does do? He spits on the man's eyes. Yep, I can already see what would happen if I spit on some one's eyes.

Then, there is the story about how after predicting his persecution and death and Peter rebukes him for talking like that. What is Jesus' reply?  "Get behind me, Satan!" (Mark 8:33 NIV) Can the reaction if you talked to someone like that? I confess, I have. It does not make for warm and fuzzy relationships. But, still I would probably do it again if the occasion called for it.

Jesus' words and actions are not always what we expect. We expect him to be the most generous, indulgent person ever - never offending anyone. The fact is that he offended a lot of people. He offended them so much he ended up on the cross.

But, I find, that often, the most offensive of all of Jesus' words, to many, are the words he used when "... he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)

Tough words, indeed, to swallow for those who choose to gain the world; who are ashamed to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 74 - Destruction of Temple

Psalm 74 seems to have been written following the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar.  God's people have been taken to Babylon in captivity.  The Psalmist wants to know why, as Almighty as God is, hasn't He acted against those who have desecrated His temple?

Why?  We could ask the same thing, today?  Why is God not acting against those who have made His places of Worship something other than places of prayer, places to worship Him?  Why are men and women allowed to preach false gospels in buildings that were built for His glory? Why does He permit it?  Or, does He? 

Have we, too, been led into captivity and we're so blind to who God is that we don't even know it? Have we turned our backs on Him and we're so blind that we cannot even see that? Have we become God's enemies?

Lot's of questions to ponder as we enter into a new calendar year... May they help us to look within ourselves and turn in a new and renewed direction that will build up His temple, glorifying His Holy Name.

God's Peace - Pr. J