The Son of Man, part 4: Redeemer

Not only did Jesus refer to Himself as the Son of Man, but with every reference, He explained the Son of Man.  Through His explanation, He explained the gospel, because He IS the gospel.  Here's a summary of what He said about the Son of Man.

descended from heaven

friend of tax collectors and sinners

came to serve and not to be served

came to seek and to save that which was lost

Lord of the Sabbath

authority to forgive sins

came to give His life as a ransom for many

will suffer

will be delivered into the hands of the authorities

will die

will be three days and nights in the earth

will rise from the dead

returning in glory when least expected

authority to execute judgement

commands the angels

seated at the right hand of God

The Son of Man, fully God yet fully human, left the riches of heaven for the meagerness of earth and loved the very worst of us with His life blood.  He came to seek us out, ransom us, and save us, and He is coming back for us when we least expect it.  As we prepare to enter the Lenten season, may we lift up our heads with anticipation and live in accordance with our Redeemer who is coming again.  

Pray today that our loved ones will grow so tired of being lost that they will long to be found by the One who loves them most, and that they will live as those who have been redeemed.

Do you see this woman? (Luke 7:44)

Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. (Luke 7:44 NASB)

When Jesus turned to Simon with "something to say", He asked him a question that might have seemed silly to Simon. "Do you see this woman?" He said. Of course Simon saw the woman! He had just been pondering her wicked past. He saw her, and all the wrong things she had ever done. He saw her, for sure!

Jesus had seen the woman, too. When Jesus began to describe what He had seen, it sounded vastly different than what Simon had seen. It also sounded amazingly better! Simon saw the past. Only the past. Jesus saw the past, too, as well as the havoc the past had created, but He also saw the fresh start she was making. He saw her love for her Lord and the humility and generosity of spirit she had displayed. With the past and the present, He had a glimpse of her future and the woman of faith she would become. His view of this woman brought great compassion and a willingness to invest Himself in her life. 

We see people every day who are struggling and in need of compassion and assistance. Our willingness to be involved in their lives will be dependent, in large measure, upon how we "see" them. Do we see them with "Simon eyes", focusing on their mistakes and their past failures? Do we see them with the eyes of Christ, focusing on the person they are now and all they might become? Being the hands and feet of Christ begins with having the eyes of Christ. 

Do you have the eyes of Christ toward those less fortunate? Do you have the eyes of Christ toward those who have filled their lives with one mistake after another? The woman with the alabaster vial had filled her life with mistakes, but as she wept at the feet of Jesus, repentant and broken, those mistakes were washed away and a new life began. 

Pray today to see those around us (especially those we love most) with the eyes of Christ. Pray, too, that those with mistake-laden lives will have the past washed away at the feet of Jesus, and will rise to become the men and women of God they were created to be. 

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Click here for last might's post:

http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/06/life-on-farm-greenhouse-compound.html

Loving your neighbor (Luke 6:31)

Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. (Luke 6:31 NASB)

A lawyer once asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment. It was asked as a trick, of course, and intended to trap Him. He promptly replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22:37, 39 NASB). Jesus effectively summarized the entire law in two brief sentences.  Oh, if obedience to those sentences were as quick and easy as His reply!  Jesus knew it would be easier to obey a set of rules for a God we don't see than love our neighbor, who we see and may not find terribly attractive, as ourselves. To make it a little easier, He told us HOW to love our neighbor. Every time you have an opportunity to respond to someone else, regardless of how much you "like" them (or dislike them), treat them the same way you want to be treated. 

A little trick that would help me more if I used it consistently to is remember that when we have "done it for the least of these" (including the least pleasant) we have done it unto Christ Himself. Well, that puts a little different spin on this loving your neighbor business, doesn't it?  If we could just treat our neighbor the way we'd like to treat Jesus, what a difference it would make. Even better, if we would treat our neighbor as Christ has treated us, what an amazing change it would work in us and in those around us. 

Here's what treating your neighbor as yourself looks like:  

Mercy and grace. Every time. 

You can't do it, but Jesus, working through you, can. 

Pray today that we will allow Jesus to love others through us. Pray too that our loved ones will see the love of Christ in us and be drawn to it. 

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Link for last night 'a blog here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-overcomer-daffodills.html

Loving your enemies part 2 (Luke 6:28-30)

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. (Luke 6:28-30 NASB)

We continue the passage on loving your enemies. Jesus offered a three-step plan for loving your enemies that involved our hearts, our minds, and our bodies. Praying for our enemies was a critical part of loving them. 

Jesus followed those instructions with examples of mistreatment that would need to be forgiven, done by enemies that would need to be loved. He describes physical violence, stealing/robbery, and unpaid debts.  The examples are all examples of betrayal. The first is a betrayal towards your physical person, the second a betrayal toward your possessions, and the third is a betrayal of trust. 

In every instance, Jesus recommends a very unexpected, nonviolent, response. Turn the other cheek, offer your shirt along with your coat, let the debt go. It's one thing not to fight back. It's another thing entirely to do the surprising act of giving more than has been taken. It makes no sense to us, but it is a very powerful response. In a way, it changes us from victims into victors because it gives us a measure of generosity and control. It loosens our own hold on our possessions. If everything we have is a gift from God, then it is more His than ours. By letting God deal with those who have wronged us, we put the responsibility on the One who can right every wrong. 

How easy it is to get caught up in the wrong that has been done! We can spend years trying to set things right. Choosing not to become embroiled in retaliation sets us free to serve Christ and be about our business. Loving our enemies and forgiving those who have wronged us is mostly for our own benefit. It allows us to avoid the snare of bitterness and anger. 

Has someone wronged you or your loved ones? Are you struggling with unforgiveness or a desire for revenge? Listen to the words of Jesus. "Offer the other... Do not withhold... Do not demand..."  It is a radical response. It's not easy, but it is required. 

Pray today that our response to every wrong would be one of generosity and love. Pray that our loved ones will be so surprised by our response  thst they will be drawn to Jesus. 

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Here's the link to last night's post:  http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/maggie-wonder-dog-confession.html

The Hardest Love of All (Luke 6:27,28)

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27, 28 NASB)

As if the blessings and the woes weren't difficult enough to hear, Jesus plunged right in to a discourse on loving your enemies.  For a people who had suffered horribly at the hands of their enemies for centuries, these were hard words. For people who were surrounded by armed enemies in the form of Roman soldiers, these were impossible words. Impossible, except for the grace of God and as an act of the will. 

Most of us in this country will (hopefully) never have the kind of enemy who invades our land, takes our freedom, rapes, pillages, and terrorizes, but many of our readers experience these frightful horrors on a regular basis We do, however, experience the kind of enemy who says unkind words, starts rumors, cheats in business dealings, betrays us, and does all manner of unkind and hurtful things to us. Those wounds can trigger the same fierce emotions in us that the invading marauders trigger. 

Jesus has a simple solution to either kind of enemy. Love them. It seems easier said than done, but it IS possible.  Jesus knew it would be hard, so He told us how to get started with it using a three-step plan.  

1) Do good to those who hate you. It's not optional if you plan to obey Christ in loving your enemies. When you have an opportunity to do good or get in a little revenge toward your enemy, choose good. When you can, do good. My grandmother used to say, "Kill the devil with kindness."  She wasn't far off. 

2) Blessing those who curse you involves your words, as opposed to doing good to them, which involves your actions. Don't add fuel to the fire with your own unkind words. My grandmother also said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Exactly. 

3) Pray for your enemies. The first two ways of loving are not possible without this most important step. In fact, loving your enemies is a choice that starts with prayer. If you can't think of a blessing you want your enemy to receive, begin by praying that God will bless them with conviction that leads to repentance and transformation. Praying for your enemy also requires that you pray for your own attitude about them. Praying for the heart of Christ toward them is a great way to start. 

Loving your enemy requires every part of your being. Your heart begins by praying, your mind by blessing, and your body by  doing good. This loving is a package deal, and no part is optional. 

Are you willing to love your enemies?  Will you love even those who have contributed to the problems your loved ones encounter? 

If you want to change the world, begin by loving your enemies. Nothing points to Jesus more than this. You will leave those around you stunned and deeply affected. You might just draw them to Christ. 

Today, pray that we will love our enemies with our whole being and that our loved ones will be drawn to Jesus by what they see. 

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Here's the link to last night's post:

http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/tough-as-peter.html

The Perils of Popularity (Luke 6:26)

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. (Luke 6:26 NASB)

We have come to the fourth woe. "Woe to you when men speak well of you" is directly contrasted with verse 22, which promises blessings when you are insulted for your faith. In the first instance (the woe), it is the same treatment given to false prophets. In the second, the blessing is in sharing the hard treatment of the true prophets of God. 

What was it about false prophets that garnered praise? They spoke what the people wanted to hear. False prophets condoned sinful behavior, including that specifically forbidden by God, looked the other way when widows and orphans were neglected, and not only failed to condemn idol worship but encouraged it, sometimes going so far as to participate in it. Their religion was just for show, yet they maintained a position of authority in the church. In a way, false prophets were a boon to a sin-loving society, especially in a nation that was intended to be a theocracy. The false prophets allowed whatever the people wanted, and twisted the words of God to make it seem acceptable to Him. God, of course, did not appreciate the work of the false prophets, nor the people following them, so their temporary popularity eventually resulted in bondage to sin and literal slavery to the Babylonians, followed by occupation by various military powers for centuries. Even the homeland they occupy today is only a portion of what God intended, and there is no peace in the land.  

Whoa! Who wants to be compared to a false prophet? Hopefully, no one!  In this verse, Jesus is saying that the praise of man is often not a good thing, as history has shown. In general, if we are loved and lauded by all, it is because we have pleased them all. If we have stood for righteousness and spoken truth, we are not likely to please everyone, even if we have worked tirelessly doing good deeds. Jesus is certainly the best example of this. He brought grace and mercy, preached love, kindness, humility, and generosity, healed multitudes of sick and demon-possessed, and never sinned, yet He was hated by the religious leaders and it fueled his arrest and murder. 

There is a temptation, of course, to say that Jesus and the prophets had a very rough go. They were, at the least, treated badly and many were martyred, and it is not a treatment that is very easily embraced for oneself. On the other hand, those false prophets seemed to have a pretty cozy position. 

Eternity. That's where the difference comes, and where the ultimate rewards are meted out. Our Lord has promised that, though we do not see the rewards of heaven in this life, one day we will. As followers of the Christ, we are to live as if eternity is our real home, knowing that the trials and tribulations of this life are only temporary. 

You cannot please both God and man. The question we all must answer is which one we live to please?

Today, pray that we will live with eternity in mind and that our loved ones will chose to do the same. Pray, too, that we will be more concerned about the praise of God than the praise of man. 

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Here's the link to last night's guest blog: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/powerful-prayers-in-my-life-by-w-c.html

Laughter That Hides Tears (Luke 6:25)

...Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. (Luke 6:25 NASB)

Today, we look at the third woe in this passage that contrasts the blessings of a life of faith with a life of worldly pleasure. "Woe to you who laugh" is not referring to those who have a joy-filled heart nor is it referring to the "merry heart that does good like a medicine". The reference is to the kind of raucous laughter that is unrelated to the joy of the Lord. Instead, this is the laughter that comes from seeking only personal pleasure and is sometimes used to hide a broken heart.  You can laugh now, in the midst of your search for worldly, sensual pleasure, but one day your laughter will end.

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles sang a song written by Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin entitled "Tracks of My Tears" that speaks about this very thing.  

"People say I'm the life of the party

Because I tell a joke or two

Although I might be laughing loud and hearty

Deep inside I'm blue

So take a good look at my face

You'll see my smile looks out of place

If you look closer, it's easy to trace

The tracks of my tears..."

It goes on to proclaim longing for one who is loved. The song accurately describes the kind of laughter that hides tears. It also describes the deep, aching need that is the only cure. It falls short, however, of naming the need. There is no one person of earth who can fill that void. Those tears can only be dried and comforted by God Himself. 

We do, as Pascal described, have a God-shaped void in our hearts that only He can fill.  

Today, pray that we and our loved ones will grow so tired of hiding our tears behind false laughter that we will reach out to our Lord, allow Him to dry every tear, turn that laughter into songs of joy, and give us merry hearts. 

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Here's the link to last night's blog: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/mamie-and-deadly-attack.html

Hungry? Here's Long-lasting Satisfaction

Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry... (Luke 6:25 NASB)

This passage in Luke 6 is very similar to the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew. It opens with four "blessed's" followed by four woes, all of which offer a comparison/contrast between a life of faith and a life filled by worldly pleasure. Here we look at the second of the woes. 

"Woe to you who are well-fed now," it says. This does not mean that those who eat a well-balanced diet with high quality protein and organic vegetables should beware. Instead, those who are so satisfied by the pleasure the world has to offer and by themselves that they no longer look to God should beware. The stuff of this world may offer temporary pleasure, but it is not long-lasting. It takes more than personal success and material gain to make a life that brings lasting satisfaction. That kind of satisfaction requires a life filled with the riches of heaven that only God can provide. 

The Message paraphrase says it well.  "And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long." (Luke 6:25 MSG)

That pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?  "Your self will not satisfy you for long."  

Today, pray that we and our loved ones will be so dissatisfied with dependence on self that we will turn to the only One who can bring lasting satisfaction. Pray that we will have a ravenous hunger for Christ that will find satiety only in Him. 

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Here's the link to last night's blog post:

http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/visit-to-winery.html

The danger in riches (Luke 6:24)

But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. (Luke 6:24 NASB)

This verse begins the "woes" in Jesus's teaching. The preceding verses spoke of the blessings to be found in the midst of what the world considers poverty. This verse begins a section on the dangers in what the world considers great wealth. 

"Woe", Jesus says, "to those who are wealthy".  It is apparent from the second part of the verse ("you have received your comfort in full") that those mentioned as wealthy have taken comfort in their wealth.  Having material riches is not inherently wrong. Having riches becomes a problem for us when we put our faith in those riches we have accumulated rather than in Christ alone. When our hope for the future is in the amount of money in our trust funds, savings accounts, and investments we are in danger of eternity. 

In a later passage, Jesus says that we cannot serve both God and riches. Protecting vast sums of money is time consuming and requires considerable attention. There is a very real danger that we can invest so much time and thought in wealth management that we neglect our investment in the Kingdom of God. 

In material and in spiritual matters, the greatest return usually comes with the greatest investment. One day, we will see what yield our eternal investments have netted. We would do well to spend our time, energy, and resources on those Kingdom investments now. After all, a small investment now yields an eternal reward. 

Today, pray that we and our loved ones will make significant investments in that which yields eternal rewards. 

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Here's the link to last night's post:

http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-unusual-trip.html

Hurtful words (Luke 6:22,23)

Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. (Luke 6:22, 23 NASB)

"Sticks and stones may break my bones,

But words can never harm me."

That childhood refrain was my first thought when I read these verses, but it is not exactly what Jesus was saying. Being hated, ostracized, insulted, and scorned do not seem much like blessings. If the hatred, ostracizing, insults, and scorning are with cause, they are not. When they come because of your love for Jesus, though, they are blessings, indeed. 

In fact, Jesus said that, when you are mistreated because of Him, it's cause for celebration. "Leap for joy!" The misdeeds are not what we are to celebrate, but the reward our suffering will bring. That reward, Jesus promised, would be delivered in heaven and it would be great. The Greek word here is "polys", meaning large or many. Whatever we will receive in exchange for our mistreatment because of our love for Jesus will be more than worth it. 

Jesus was reminding us that this earth is not our home. We have a final destination, where we will live with Him forever. Whatever we suffer here, whatever we endure, is only temporary. One day, our troubles will end. One day all our trials will be over, but our lives will go on in eternity. 

That promise of reward in heaven should be cause for hope as well as rejoicing. When we focus all our attention on the difficulties of this world, it's hard to remember that this is not our end. When we keep our eyes on heaven, it's much easier to move through hard times without despair. 

Suffering is not a new experience for God's people, and we should not be surprised by it, nor should we panic or be dismayed in the face of it. "...Words can never harm me" is not exactly true. Words can damage reputations and hurt our feelings. In the light of eternity, however, spiteful, hate filled words can be the source of great blessing. When we exchange the hurtful words of this world for the great rewards in the next, we are blessed indeed. 

Have you been scorned for your faith? Have your loved ones ridiculed you because of your love for Jesus? Do not despair. He knows your pain and will reward in due time. 

Pray for endurance in hard times and for our loved ones to see truth rather than the lies of the world. Pray that we will keep our eyes on eternity rather than on the trials of the here and now. 

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Here's the link for last night's post:  http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/bahamian-blogging-8-legend-pizza.html

Son of Man, part 3: Overcoming the Will (Luke 6:5)

And He was saying to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (Luke 6:5 NASB)

Son of God.  Son of Man.  

Why does it matter than the Son of God referred to Himself as the Son of Man instead of the Son of God?  The first is who Jesus is and why He came.  The second is how He came and what He offered.  Although fully God, Jesus was also fully human.  His use of the term Son of Man implies that He identified with our humanness and all the struggles that brings. King Jesus understands what it feels like when we are angry, hurt, rejected, misunderstood, because He has been human and experienced the emotions and problems with which we are burdened.  He identifies and He understands.  

The difference between our humanity and His is that we regularly fail in a God-like response to the challenges of life.  Jesus however, faced what we face, yet without sin.  He acted in obedience to His Father every time.  Every single time.  He demonstrated obedience, even when it was hard, and He left the Holy Spirit to help us in our own efforts at obedience.  We certainly cannot live a sinless life on our own, but, as believers, we have the Spirit as our Helper and our Guide.  Could we live in perfect obedience?  Maybe so, if we were consistently, constantly led by the Spirit of God, and if we chose God's way rather than our own every single time.  Of course, we don't.  We don't obey every time.  We don't respond to hurts and trials with a godly response every time, but that does not mean we shouldn't.  

Jesus came as the Son of Man and demonstrated what a God-filled, God-controlled, obedient life should be, and we are to emulate Him.  We are supposed to... if we will.  I'm supposed to, if I will.  That little four-letter word is at the root of the problem, isn't it?  

WILL

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, wrote about this very dilemma.  

"For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:14-24 NASB)

It's a dilemma, this problem of wanting to do right and not doing it, but Paul recognized the solution to the problem was in Jesus Christ alone.  He went on to write that, when our mind is focused on the things of flesh (the sin things we want to do), we are going to do them. When we get our mind focused on the things of God, and are led by the Spirit, we can obey and live a godly life.  Paul said something very important, and very hard.  We are under obligation.  (Romans 8:12)  We are under obligation, not to ourselves, but to Christ, and that obligation requires us to live according to His way.  

Are we living as if we are obligated by the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf?  Do we obey as if our only joy is in pleasing Christ?  

Today, pray that we will live by the Spirit and obey by the Spirit, with our hearts set on pleasing Christ alone.  Pray that our loved ones will be  so astounded by the victory they see in our lives that they will want the same for themselves and willingly embrace the Cross.

Blessing in weeping (Luke 6:21)

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (Luke 6:21 NASB)

In the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."  In times of mourning, comfort is most needed. It eases the burden a bit, and makes the going easier. When we mourn, we long for and appreciate comfort. In fact, one of the verses I have turned to in times of grief and mourning is "He will never leave you nor forsake you". (Deut 31:6). It has always reminds me that I am not alone and provides reassurance and comfort in hard times. 

The idea of replacing mourning with laughter seems just a little odd and vaguely inappropriate, doesn't it? No one expects to laugh in the midst of mourning, but this verse promises future laughter. It offers hope and the promise of better, joy-filled times. It promises more than comfort. It promises healing and restoration. 

How about that? Most, if not all, of us have experienced times of mourning and grief. If you haven't yet, you will, for grief is a common part of the human experience. What Jesus has promised us, though, should give great hope. He will not leave us in our pit of grief and pain. There is no need to despair. He will comfort us in our loss and lead us through our valley to the other side, where healing, joy, and laughter await. 

Pray today that our Lord will lead you and your loved ones through and past your grief, bring healing to those areas of deepest hurt, and replace your tears with laughter. 

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Here's the link to last night's post:

There was something behind the smile that I failed to see. http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/bahamian-blogging-7-smiling-student.html

Blessed are the hungry (Luke 6:21a)

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied... (Luke 6:21a NASB)

We know that there are hungry people in our world and that there are still people who die from starvation. Is their hunger satisfied? Not in this lifetime. According to Matthew Henry's commentary, however, Jesus is speaking of the hope of eternity. You may be hungry here, but one day your hunger will be satisfied. 

In some ways, satisfying hunger depends on that for which you hunger. The Gospel of Matthew says it this way: "Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for you shall be satisfied." If what you crave is righteousness, your attention will be directed toward obtaining that righteousness. When your goal in life becomes to obtain righteousness, you will seek until you find it in the One who IS our righteousness. 

In this business of seeking and finding, generally speaking, we find that for which we seek. Seek evil, and it's easy to find. Seek righteousness, Jesus said, and you will find it. The finding, however, is also dependent upon the fervor (or hunger) of your search. 

What is it for which you hunger? How great is the fervor or hunger that drives your search?

Pray today that we and our loved ones will have such a hunger for righteousness that we will not stop seeking until our hunger is satisfied in Christ alone. 

Blessed are the Poor (Luke 6:20)

And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20 NASB)

The Message version has an interesting paraphrase of this verse:

"You are blessed when you have lost it all.  God's kingdom is there for the finding."

The Greek word translated here as "poor" is ptōchos and is, perhaps, better translated as destitute and reduced to begging. That doesn't seem like a blessed situation in our affluent society, but, according to Jesus, it is.  How can that be? When we have lost all the "stuff" that distracts us, it is easier to get our eyes on God, from whom all blessings flow. When it becomes obvious to us that we are powerless to solve our problems or meet our own needs, we are more likely to turn to a Higher Power and request help from the Almighty. Any situation that drives us to Jesus is, in fact, a blessing. 

What if we are not financially poverty-stricken? Where is our blessing? The blessing of poverty of spirit is still available when our focus is on eternal rather than temporal things. When we see our position and possessions as gifts from God and not as evidence of our own greatness, we move closer to poverty of spirit. When we hold our "things" with open hands that allow God to do with our finances and possessions as He wills, without limits, we have moved into the blessing zone. 

Poverty of spirit, however, requires that we also see others in a different light. Not everyone who finds themselves in the condition of reduced means is there because of laziness, irresponsibility, or poor choices. Many who are poor have great spiritual wealth. We would do well to see them and their situation through the eyes of Christ and to BE the hands and feet of Jesus in helping to meet their needs. 

Today, pray for the poverty of spirit, despite our circumstances, that drives us and our loved ones to seek the Kingdom of God. Pray, too, for a willingness to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. 

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Here's the link to last night's Bahamian blog: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/sister-zina-and-blood-song.html

Plugged in to the Divine (Luke 6:19)

And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. (Luke 6:19 KJV)

This power-packed verse tells us something wonderful. There was a reason everyone wanted to touch Jesus, to be "fastened" to Him.  It was obvious to them that virtue (manifested as healing power) was emanating from Him and they wanted to directly connect to it. In a sense, their touching was a kind of spiritual "plug-in" to the divine power of Jesus. 

A truly amazing thing happened next. They were all healed. Every single one of them was healed. Some were healed of unclean spirits, some were healed of a variety of diseases, and some were healed of those frightful maladies we never want to admit to having, like bitterness and unforgiveness. Whatever their need, they wanted His help with it, and Jesus provided exactly what they needed. 

Healed. 

Isn't that a beautiful word?  No matter your problems, and no matter your need, Jesus can intervene in your situation and in the lives of your loved ones to bring healing and wholeness. The healing of the multitude came only after they reached out to fasten themselves to Jesus. Do you want to be healed? Reach out to Jesus and allow Him to demonstrate His power and virtue in your life. 

Pray today that we and our loved ones would have a desire to connect to Jesus and allow Him to bring healing in whatever way is needed. 

Stuck Like Glue (Luke 6:19)

And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. (Luke 6:19 KJV)

The whole multitude. It might be helpful to remember who was included in the multitude:

The new apostles

A crowd of disciples

A throng of people including:

Those who wanted to hear

Those who needed healing

Those who needed exorcism of unclean spirits. 

It was not just a big crowd of people.  This was an enormous amount of need. Everyone in the crowd that day (even the hearers) wanted to touch Jesus. The Greek word here is haptomai and means more than just a casual touch. It means to "stick like glue" or to be fastened. 

We might understand the disciples wanting to touch Jesus, but even those with unclean spirits wanted to touch Him. Those spirits that plagued them were not able to overcome their desire to fasten themselves to Christ. 

The question we must answer is how strong is our desire to touch Jesus and adhere ourselves to Him?  Can those around us recognize our "fastening"? How strong is our connection to our Lord?

Today pray that our greatest desire, as well as that of our loved ones, will be to fasten ourselves to Jesus and live as those who are adhered to Him.  

Better than we were (Luke 6:17,18)

  Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. (Luke 6:17, 18 NASB)

Can't you just imagine this level place? Jesus and the apostles were surrounded by a large crowd of disciples as well as a great throng of people who came to listen and be healed. Everyone on the same level place, both servants and those being served. Followers and seekers. No one better. No one less. 

There was a progression to their encounters with Jesus. Apostles had once been disciples. Disciples had once been seekers. That's how it should be for us, too. We were never intended to stay the same as when we came to Jesus. We are supposed to come to Him, allow Him to heal our hurts and make us disciples. Over time, we should grow in maturity as disciples. We may not become apostles, but we should certainly be better than we were. 

Where are you in the crowd around Jesus? Are you in the throng of seekers? Are you in need of healing? Have you moved to discipleship? Are you growing in discipleship?  

Today, pray that we and our loved ones would come to Jesus as we are and allow Him to change us into what we were meant to become. 

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Link for last night's Lenten devotional: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-sure-fire-formula-for-success.html

Level ground (Luke 6:17)

Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judeaand Judea and the costal region of Tyre and Sidon (Luke 6:17 NASB)

A level place. 

I'm not sure where I heard the phrase first, but "The ground is level at the foot of the cross" is a phrase that has meant so much to me. I don't know if it derives from this verse, but it is certainly similar. The phrase is used to mean that no one is more important than another when we come to Christ. 

When Jesus came down from the mountain with his newly appointment apostle messengers, their first introduction/opportunity for service was on a "level ground".  Not one of the new apostles could position themselves or be positioned higher than another. Peter, James, and John were no "higher" than Judas. None of them were "higher" than the crowd. 

As we look at those around us, both in and out of the church, we would do well to remember this level ground. How easy it is for those who have been polished a bit by years of faith in Christ to consider themselves "higher" in the faith than those new to the faith. We must remember that we serve on a level place that puts us no higher than the one who has just come to Jesus with all his rough edges still sharp and prickly. In the hierarchy of Christ, the first is last, the last is first, and all serve on level ground. 

What an amazing concept! Not only are we no higher than another, but no one is higher than we are.  What is even more amazing is that Jesus, God made flesh and dwelling among us, positioned Himself on level ground, too. Once again, He demonstrated the position of humility. It is one we would do well to emulate. 

Where do you see yourself? Do you consider yourself higher or lower than those around you? Sadly, seeing yourself a bit higher in the faith than some around you is a matter of pride, and particularly heinous to our Lord. How easy that sin is, and how quickly we must repent. How quickly I must repent. 

In matters of service, the ground is also level, as it was on that particular day for Jesus and His new apostles. If we love others as we love ourselves and treat them accordingly, we will have done exactly right. 

Today, pray that we would view our loved ones and those around us through the eyes of Christ and recognize that we are all on level ground before Him. One of the glorious things about level ground is that the path to Christ is shorter and easier than if a climb to a lofty height was required. Pray that our loved ones will make those few short steps to repentance and transformation. 

Apostles and Disciples: the betrayer (Luke 6:13,16)

And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. (Luke 6:13, 16 NASB)

The first Judas listed is Judas the son of James. He is also called Thaddaeus as well as Jude and Jude Thaddaeus. Although there is some variation in translation of his name, it is clear he is not Judas Iscariot. Not much is written in Scripture about this first Judas, but he is thought to be the apostle later regarded as Saint Jude. 

The next disciple is not my favorite. Judas Iscariot. Jesus spent all night in prayer, He had divine input for His decision, yet still He selected Judas Iscariot as one of the apostles. Did He know what was to come? Did He know that Judas was a thief and a betrayer? Probably so. Certainly God the Father knew.  Regardless, he was chosen as an apostle. That decision tells us two things. Judas Iscariot was in the larger crowd of disciples following Jesus and in the smaller group of disciples who had been close followers. We don't know what weakness with which he had struggled, nor what mistakes he had made in the past. Was he doomed to betray Christ by the selection as an apostle? No. He had the same advantage of constant contact with Jesus as the other eleven men. He heard the same lessons, enjoyed the same close communion as all the others. His path of sin was one he chose and continued on to its deadly conclusion. 

Jesus confined Himself to flesh and came to earth with the understanding that He would be the spotless Lamb of God slain for the redemption of the world. He knew about the cross and He came anyway. He knew that He would be betrayed and He likely knew that Judas might be the source of that betrayal, but he certainly knew there was that risk. In fact, however, all twelve of the men were at risk of becoming betrayers. In a moment of anger or frustration or passion, all of us are at risk of betraying Christ. 

It saddens me to write this, but Luke could just as easily have put my name in that last spot of apostles. Leanna was chosen to be an apostle, yet she betrayed Jesus. He could have put your name. Every one of us has failed Christ in some way. More truthfully, we have failed Him in many ways, yet He still forgives and washes us white as snow by that precious blood He shed. 

Today, let's take stock of our propensity for sin, for betrayal. What is it that draws us away from our Lord? 

Pray today that we and our loved ones will willingly relinquish those things that draw us from Jesus and threaten to make us betray the One who loves us most. 

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Link to last night's Lenten devotional: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/lenten-series-7-moses-part-2.html

Unlikely Apostles: part 2 (Luke 6:13,15)

And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: and Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot; (Luke 6:13, 15 NASB)

We looked at the first six of the disciples-turned-apostles yesterday. Today, we have another four men for our study. 

We have recently looked at the conversion and calling of Matthew. He was a tax collector for the Roman government. Those Jews who worked as tax collectors were considered traitors to Israel, friends of Rome, and extortionists towards their own people. It was a lucrative job, but when Jesus called Matthew, he was out the door and on his way to a fresh start with his Messiah. Everything he had ever done was washed away by the mercy and grace of Jesus. 

Thomas is best known as the "doubter" because of his doubts about the risen Christ, but he was also the disciple who spoke up after Lazarus died. When they learned that Lazarus had died, Jesus headed toward Bethany. The other disciples were hesitant because of a previous  attempt at stoning Jesus when they were in Judea. Thomas, however, said, "No. Let's go with Him and die with Him if we need to." (John 11:16). Thomas's doubts did not stop Jesus from using him to evangelize the world. After Jesus returned to heaven, Thomas made his way to India, where he took the Good News and evangelized for years. 

Little is known about James the son of Alphaeus    He's not quoted in Scripture and no daring exploits are recorded. Traditional thinking is that he was crucified in Egypt, where he was preaching the gospel. 

Simon the Zealot also has little mention in scripture, but we know that he was both called and persevered to the end with Jesus. 

These four men were called to a deeper walk with Christ and to become His messengers to a perishing world. Matthew had piled up sin for years, but none of that mattered when he allowed Jesus to transform him. Thomas's questions didn't matter when he found his answers in Christ alone. The quiet, behind the scenes servants, James and Simon the Zealot were no less used of God because they were not as flamboyant and well-known as some of the other apostles. In fact, they were called to serve, and that's exactly what they did.  

We, too, are called to serve our Risen Savior. Neither the sin of our past, our doubts, nor our quiet, unobtrusive manner should keep us or our loved ones from being servants in the Kingdom of God. 

What is it that holds you back from the call of Christ in your life? Let it go. 

Pray today that we and our loved ones will allow Christ to remove everything that keeps us from following Him with all our hearts, and that we can be useful in His Kingdom. 

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Heres the link to last night's Lenten devotional. 

http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/lenten-series-6-moses.html