A Sovereign God

In the book of John (ch 4:43-54), we read about a government official from the city of Capernaum, who upon hearing that Jesus was in the nearby town of Cana, went over to visit him for he had heard that Jesus could heal and his son needed a healing. The Bible says the son was "very sick." When he found Jesus, he begged him to go with him to Capernaum as his son was "about to die."

Jesus' answer was not one of sympathy, as we would typically see in other instances in the Bible. Jesus asked, "Must I do miraculous sign and wonders before you people will believe in me?" This must have had to do with his experience with the Pharisees and other Israelites that we read of in preceding chapters and the other gospels, for the Pharisees always asked Jesus for a sign from heaven even after they had witnessed the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the leper healed, and the dead brought back to life. People who knew of Jesus' upbringing as a carpenter's son found it hard to swallow all that Jesus said and did (refer to John 6:41-42). And that's probably why Jesus said, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own country." (John 4:43). The dialogue continues between Jesus and the official. The official pleads with Jesus, "Lord, please come now before my little boy dies." And Jesus' response was sort of dismissive, "Go back home. Your son will live!" (John 4:50). Next, what is remarkable is the official's reaction.

We read, "And the man believed Jesus' word and started home." Absolute faith in what Jesus had said! He was not shackled with disbelief as some others who found it hard that the carpenter's son would proclaim such fantastic statements (John 6:41-42). He was not shackled with pride that a lowly Jew would not pay more respect to an official and accompany him immediately.  Rather there was absolute faith on part of the official in what Jesus told him and there was an action of faith, for he started to walk home to his son. On the way back, he was met by some of his servants who gave him the news that his son was alive and well. He asked them when the boy had begun to feel better and they replied, "Yesterday afternoon at one o'clock his fever suddenly disappeared!" The official/father realized it was the same time that Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." (John 4:51-54)

There are times when our prayers don't bear the result we want, in the way we want. But I would encourage you to have faith in God who is sovereign.  Which means he has total and absolute power over all your circumstances and he will cause what is good for you to happen in your life. The official could have gotten mad at Jesus' response to him. He could have thrown it all away, and the life of his son, by reacting in anger. But his faith and the resulting action brought a healing to his son and salvation to his entire family! (John 4:53)

Break Every Chain

Journey

Just musing...  Life is a journey, full of experiences, some good, some bad, and some out right painful. There are friendships gained and some lost. Loved by some and hated by others. And some who just don't care. Who we are is a result of many who have "lent a hand" on the way. Parents, siblings, spouses, children, friends and total strangers. There were many who stood alongside during the peaks of life, some who stood by in the valleys, and other times, all alone, totally desolate.  By definition "Lend a hand" does not seem to have any permanence in it. "Lend" by definition is to allow to be borrowed for a time.

Yet there has been one who has been a constant by my side. Never letting go. Christ, my savior, saw me through some of the darkest times of my life. Patient was he when I did not know him. Merciful was he when I had fallen. Gave me hope when the road ahead looked bleak. Strengthened me when I thought I couldn't take it any more. Gave me rest when sleep deserted me. The Atheist would say, it is the human nature to rise above one's circumstances, the survival instinct. I know me and it ain't I !

I surrender - Hillsongs

Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal...

Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal... Yet  as a Christian it is your responsible duty to continue to do good to those who betray your trust. And in his time God will elevate you - in your home, in the eyes of your peers, no matter where you stand today. This was the lesson from the life of Joseph as I read through the chapters of the book of Genesis.

The affection of his father, Jacob, gained Joseph the jealousy of his brothers.  His naivete earned him their hatred. His loyalty and truthfulness got him prison time. His friendship and service did not bring him an honorable mention. Yet, the Bible teaches, he was obedient to God and continued to do good!

For this, God's favor was upon Joseph when his brothers considered killing him; when he was sold to the Arab traders; when he came to Potiphar's house; when he ended up in Potiphar's prison; and when he was brought out and appointed to the highest rank in the land, second only to the Pharaoh. God's favor upon Joseph was not a hidden matter, but it was apparent to all around him. For God gave Joseph success and blessed everyone around him!

All through, the humility of Joseph was remarkable. In verse 33 of Genesis, chapter 41, we read of Joseph's counsel to the king, "My suggestion is that you find the wisest man in Egypt and put him in charge of a nationwide program." Here was Joseph who had spent more than a decade away from the love of his father and mother, forcefully sold into slavery by the very brothers he loved, rotting away in a foreign prison, forgotten by all, yet he did not use this golden opportunity in front of the king to get out of the prison by trumpeting the ability to interpret dreams as his own. He did not recommend himself to administer the king's program to battle the coming famine, nor did he make a proclamation to deliver success if appointed as an overseer of the king's program. He continuously, without fail, gave God the glory and gave his counsel without an expectation of a remuneration!

When Christianity is replete with self proclaimed prophets, apostles and miracle workers who trumpet achievements as their own, like warriors of old would display enemy scalps, for the world's recognition, we have to remind ourselves that our savior Christ loved the Pharisees, the Sadducee, and the unbeliever. He forgave his detractors - the ones who rejected him, publicly ridiculed him and then killed him! Christ was able to forgive them because he was humble and he continues to forgive us our shortcomings. Isaiah 53 speaks of his humility and sacrifice. Lord grant us your grace to be humble that we may forgive our detractors and continue to do good.

I need you now by Plumb

Billy Graham - 1957 New York Crusade - Who is a Christian?

The hypocrisy in me - a Christian !

While I want my friends circle and associates to be "perfect" Christians - the ones who are filled with the Holy Spirit, "exercising" the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthian 12), I tend to forget the fruits of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthian 13 and Galatians 5:22-26) displayed through me is just as important, if not more important. In Matthew, chapter 1, the earthly genealogy chosen by Jehovah for his son, Jesus, was inclusive of a forgotten one, a rejected one, a foreigner, a sinner; the good and evil are listed in the genealogy of Christ - the Prince of Princes, the King of Kings, the LORD of all, the Creator of everything I can see and that which are hidden from the view of my naked eyes, that which I understand and that my mind cannot fathom!

Mathew 1, lists in Christ's genealogy the offspring of a woman named Tamar - the forgotten daughter-in-law of Judah of whom we read in the book of Genesis, chapter 38, who bore him sons; the offspring of Rahab - the prostitute from the book of Joshua, chapter 2; the offspring of Ruth, the Moabite (non-Jewish foreigner) daughter-in-law of Naomi (She had a book named after her in the Bible); the offspring of Bathsheba who committed adultery with King David while she was married to Uriah as we read in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 11.  And King David himself who committed premeditated murder of Uriah as we read in the latter portion of the same chapter. There was the good king Uzziah, whose pride resulted in leprosy for reasons listed in 2 Chronicles, chapter 26; there was king Ahaz, who doubted God as we read in the book of Isaiah, chapter 7; and the evil king Manasseh of whom we read about in 2 Chronicles, chapter 33.

God did not discount the obscure lives, nor the foreigner; the good and the evil who repented. As we read in the book of John, Christ said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into this world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no condemnation awaiting those who trust in him..." - John 3:16-21

As bible verses are quite often quoted to discredit and reject those who already have been qualified by Christ, in the book of Malachi, chapter 2, there in lies a warning to the Priests - "The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and this is what I gave them.  This called for reverence from them and they greatly revered me and and stood in awe of my name.  They passed on to the  people all the truth they received from me.  They did not lie or cheat; they walked with me, living good and righteous lives, and they turned many from lives of sin.  The priests' lips should guard knowledge, and people should go to them for instruction, for the priests are the messengers of the LORD Almighty.  But not you! You have left God's paths.  Your 'guidance' has caused many to stumble into sin.  You have corrupted the covenant I made with the Levites," says the LORD Almighty.  "So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people.  For you have not obeyed me but have shown partiality in your interpretation of the law."

In the book of Matthew, chapter 21, while using the story of the two sons to teach the Pharisees and leading priests the point about being obedient to God, Jesus stated, "I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.  For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him." - Matthew 21:28-32.

May the truth that is the Word of God guide us in all our decisions!

Brandon Heath - Give me your eyes