A Minute In It - Pharisee or Tax Collector?

A minute in God's word will change your life. Take a minute to read the passage below. Then, ask yourself the questions at the bottom of the post.

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14 (NLT)

Which one are you? The Pharisee or the tax collector?

Hold My Hand

For I hold you by your right hand--I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, 'Don't be afraid. I am here to help you. Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)

I was at a pumpkin patch - fall festival kind of event this past weekend with my Daughter and Grandson. As we were walking around, we had to keep a close eye on my Grandson because he's little and he darts out in front of people and tractors and trains, etc.

As we were walking along, I heard a parent say to their child "Hold my hand."  Made me think of God. He says to us

"Hold my hand. Don't be afraid. I'm looking out for the tractors, trains and people that might run you over. And when you venture out, I'll be standing right beside you."

My grandson is too little to do the hand holding thing for too long but when he does head somewhere, he looks over his shoulder expecting that we'll be there.

Wouldn't it be perfect if we did this with God? First, we hold his hand but if we let go for some reason, we look over our shoulder to make sure we haven't wandered too far off.....and we would see him standing right there.

Everyone Has A Story

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. Mark 5:18-20 (NLT)

Jesus left. He is never going to push himself on us. He shows up and then waits for us to ask him to stay or tell him to leave. It's our choice. The folks of the town asked him to leave so he did.

But the man he healed wanted to go with him. He knew what it felt like to have God work in his life and he wanted more. But, as with all of us, Jesus had work for him to do. He had changed his life and people needed to know how. Jesus didn't ask him to get a degree and go into professional ministry. He didn't ask him to start a big non-profit to impact thousands. He asked him to go back to his family and friends, his neighborhood and tell everyone he knew what God had done for him.

The man did what Jesus asked.  And the Bible says they were amazed. Even though initially they didn't want to have anything to do with Jesus, by this man's personal testimony, their curiosity was peaked and they were willing to listen. By witnessing his life change, they were willing to hear more. Because of his story, they were amazed.

What about you? Do you share your story with others? God gives us each a story. He wants us to tell it because in every single story he is in the middle of it.  That's what people need to see.

Not In Our Neighborhood

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.  Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.  Luke 8:34-37 (NLT)

Jesus cast the demons into the herd of pigs. The herd of pigs immediately ran off the cliff and dove into the water, drowning. The man, however, was at peace and for the first time in a very long time sat calmly and participated in a conversation.

The folks tending the sheep ran off and told the entire town what happened. Keep in mind that a town in that part of the world at that time was not like the towns we think about now. They were little villages where word spread quickly. All the curious came to see if it was true and there, to their amazement, sat this man listening to Jesus and talking to the others around. He was even dressed!

Their reaction was one of joy and happiness. They ran to Jesus and asked him to help their friends and loved ones by healing them too. They recognized who he was and they too wanted to talk to him and be near him.

NOT.

That is not what they did.  They were afraid because they didn't understand this power. They only knew that this was different and too much out of their control so they asked Jesus to leave. They sent away the one who could bring them joy, happiness and healing because he wasn't what they were used to.

How often do we do the same?

The Demons Know Him

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,     Mark 5:1-6 (KJV)

This man.  This man was miserable. He was homeless, naked, howling at the top of his lungs, cutting himself - unable to be restrained or to live with others. He was alone and frustrated. And he was possessed with a demon.

The Bible says when he saw Jesus from a far way off he ran and fell down and worshiped him. I wonder. Was it the man who saw something in Jesus of God's love and wanted to be free of his demons or was it the demons who knew who Jesus was and couldn't help but worship him? Can you, if you are living far from God, recognize him? Can you, if you are living far from God want to worship him even though it goes against everything you are doing?

I believe you can. The Bible tells us that God is the one who comes to search for us. He is the one who looks for his lost and even died so we can be found. God is always, always at work to bring us to a place where we recognize him and worship him.  Not only is he working in our lives, he is working in everyone else's life too. 

Question for us today is - is there someone that God is reaching out to that we are turning away from because they don't look and act like we think they should? And, is there something in our life that is keeping us from falling down and worshiping Jesus?

Happy Monday!

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

This day is a great day! It's a great day because it's a new day! The great thing about every new day is that no matter what happened yesterday, this day can be different. This day can be fresh and wonderful. With God in it, this day will be something completely unexpected and miraculous!

I love waking up and knowing that with God in it, my day will never be ordinary. It will be an adventure and with his strength I can say "Bring it on!"

Happy Monday!

Facing Your Fears

The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.   Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” John 4:28-30, 39 (NLT)

The woman in this story came to the well at midday....which was odd because all the women of the town came early in the morning. They socialized, caught up with each other and cemented their sense of community.  This woman could not go with everyone else. She had a reputation in the town and no one would talk to her. It must have been very painful to be at the well and be ignored so she went later when she could ignore her life.

When she met Jesus though all that changed. She left her jar on the well and ran back into the town to tell everyone who she met.  She ran into the very life that she was running from to share her Good News. She forgot about what she thought of herself and what they thought of her.

Jesus is funny like that.  He knows all of our weaknesses, our fears and what stops us cold. He knows where we need to grow and just how to get us to do it.

Are you someone hiding from a reputation? Or are you afraid of something that is so deeply ingrained in you that you couldn't possibly move past it? Do you have something in your life that is holding you back that you should let go of? Friend, these are all the places that Jesus is going to work. He's going to meet you exactly where you are and move you past that place.

Will it be scary? Most definitely. Will you think you can't do it? Yep. But the one thing you can always count on as you walk into this journey you are on with Jesus, he's walking right beside you. He has not left you alone in the middle of your fear. He's holding your hand.

So, leave your jar at the well and run into the very thing you are running from. The adventure will be amazing.

A Minute In It - More Than You Need

A minute in God's word will change your life. Take a minute to read the passage below. Then, ask yourself the questions at the bottom of the post.

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”

But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NIV)

Why did Elisha ask her what she had in her house?
When he told her to collect jars, how many jars did he tell her to collect?
Why do you think he said "Don't ask for just a few?"
What does this story say about what God can do?
How would the story be different if she only collected a few jars? What would that have said about her faith?
How many jars would you have collected?