Willingness of a Savior

"While Jesus was in one of the towns,

a man came along who was covered with leprosy.

When he saw Jesus,

he fell with his face to the ground and begged him,

'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

'I am willing,' he said.

'Be clean!' And immediately the leprosy left him.

Then Jesus ordered him,

'Don't tell anyone, but go,

show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,

as a testimony to them.'

Yet the news about him spread all the more,

so that crowds of people came to hear him

and to be healed of their sicknesses.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

Luke 5:12-16

He tripped and fell, skinning his tender knee on the unforgiving pavement.

"Waaaaa!  I want my Mommy!" the toddler screamed before running off to find his savior.  When the mother caught sight of her distraught child, blood dripping down his shin, she responded immediately.  "Come her, Baby.  It's okay, I'll get you fixed up and you'll feel better in no time."

Suddenly, the little boy's cries turn into sniffles as he put himself into the caring hands of his mother.

This mom didn't have to think about whether or not she'd help her beloved son.  Instead, she was eager to end his suffering.  It's the same with Jesus.  He is always ready to help me, if only I'd put myself into His caring hands.

My healing is dependent upon Jesus' willingness to save me, not on my worthiness or degree of need.  No matter what the pain, He is willing and able to help me.  For that reason, I can trust Him, believe in Him and base my faith on His integrity.  He's a voluntary Savior.

Trust

My daughter adopted two feral kittens a couple of years ago.  Knowing nothing but the streets they came from, these two skittish kitties needed lots of patient and gentle care.  Over time, they have gradually built a level of trust in their human family.  They've progressed from scared, timid felines hiding under the furniture, to the more friendly, playful cats we know today.  Wild cats are used to thinking of humans as predators so it takes commitment to show them otherwise.

It's not so different with me and Jesus.  Even though He has shown me to be trustworthy, I tend to shy away from letting Him get too close.  I may be afraid He's going to condemn me for my sinful ways, forsake me for my lack of faith, or expect from me more than I can give.

The truth is that He came to the world to save it, not condemn it (John 3:17), there is nothing that can separate me from from His love and He'll never leave me (Hebrews 13:5  Romans 8:35).  As long as my heart is willing, what I have to give is enough.  (Psalm 51:17)  If I let Jesus into the deepest recesses of my soul, He will become my best friend.  (Revelation 3:20)

Because Jesus is willing to help me, I can trust Him with my life.

Believe

I hear a lot about the concept of belief in this age of "if it feels good do it" and "anything goes" mentalities.  People can believe in many different ideas and philosophies, but there is only one God and one Truth. (Isaiah 44:6  John 14:6)  If there is belief, there must be a concept, idea or entity in which I place that belief.  I can't just believe.

Since Jesus is able to do more than I ask or imagine, I would rather believe He will provide for my needs.  (Ephesians 3:19-21)  Since Jesus is the Mighty Counselor, I feel secure in putting my relationships into His capable hands.  (Isaiah 9:6)  Since Jesus is the Savior of the world, I accept His sacrifice as the only thing giving me life eternal, freedom from condemnation and peace with God and others.  (Acts 4:12)

Believing is what takes place in my heart, but if it's true acceptance my life will be changed as I surrender more of myself to Jesus.  Oswald Chambers said it's as if Jesus is challenging me: "If you would be My disciple, give up your right to yourself to Me."  Then he goes on to say, "When once the surrender has taken place we never need 'suppose' anything.  We do not need to care what our circumstances are, Jesus is amply sufficient."

Where am I questioning?  Maybe it's when I'm sitting in the doctor's office again, waiting for yet another test result as the pain persists to ravage my body.

Perhaps I wonder whether Jesus really can help when I cry myself to sleep over the pieces of my broken marriage.

It could be that I'm not believing Jesus can do a thing to improve my unstable job situation or less-than adequate living conditions.  

I can believe Jesus will do as He's said He will do, without a second thought.  In my mind, I can make it as if it's already happened.

Because Jesus is willing to help me, I can believe He is able to do anything.

Basis

When I sit in my Lazy Boy recliner, I feel confident in lowering my full weight to rest on it because I know it's made with sturdy craftsmanship:  It's integrity comes from the way it was constructed.

Likewise, my faith in Jesus is based on the fact that He is, "the same yesterday and today and forever," (Hebrews 13:8) as well as, "the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13)  He is also the, "author and perfecter of my faith" who is seated at the right hand of God Almighty.  (Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus and His teachings do not change with the times, He is an integral part of all of creation, and He is the One who makes my faith possible.  I can base my confidence on all of these truths.

It is easy, however, to get caught up in all that Jesus has done for me.  He has freed me from guilt and shame.  He has given me a peace that I would not otherwise experience.  He has given me a sense of purpose and meaning as I follow Him.  These, however, can all be considered to be icing on the cake.  My faith is not based on these "perks" or benefits.  If it was, the moment life gets difficult, my conviction would waver.

Instead, my faith is based on the solid Rock of Jesus.  (1 Peter 2:6)  On Him, my confidence is sure.

Because Jesus is willing to help me, I can base my faith on His identity and integrity.

There's no question that Jesus wants to take up a bigger space in my life.  He is willing to heal, to restore and to bind up my broken heart.  Consequently, I can trust Him in all things, believe He can do all things, and base my faith on Him who is all things.  Jesus is my all in all.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can cast away all doubt and keep my eyes solely on Jesus.

When do I let fear block my belief in the One who can set me free?

How is my faith based on what I get out of my relationship with Jesus instead of on who He is?

The Eye of a Needle

"Jesus answered,

'If you want to be perfect, go, 

sell your possessions

and give to the poor,

and you will have treasure in heaven.

Then come, follow me.'

When the young man heard this,

he went away sad, 

because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples,

'I tell you the truth,

it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Again I tell you,

it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle

than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'"

Matthew 19:21-24

I've always heard that Jesus was referring in this passage to a gate in Jerusalem that was called, "the eye of the needle."  It was supposedly so small that the only way a camel could get through it was to bend down on its knees.  According to the original Greek, however, the actual word used was kamilos, meaning "rope" but was confused in translation with the word for "camel," meaning kamelos.  So it seems the true gist of this metaphor was that it is more difficult to thread a rope through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Either way, the point is that it is hard for the well-to-do to humble themselves to the point of valuing Jesus alone, above all other things.  Even though I don't consider myself to be rich, if I have a place to live, at least one meal to eat every day, and more than one set of clothing, then I am considered to be rich by the standards of the rest of the world.  

Putting money aside, however, I'd like to open up the realm of possibilities of what makes me rich.  Jesus went right to the heart of the matter with this young rich ruler.  He knew what the man valued above Him; money.  What do I value more than Jesus?  Or, to put it another way, of what would I have a hard time letting go if Jesus asked me?

Stuff

One of my favorite chaplains when my family was involved in the Army Chapel system was a young man who could have made a decent living as a stand-up comic.  One of his favorite things to say was that, "it's just stuff."  He could have been referring to irritations, possessions or relationships.  His meaning was that apart from Jesus, nothing else really mattered.

The "stuff" that we Westerners hold near and dear to our hearts is possessions.  We love our gadgets and can't wait to get the newest electronic device or computer upgrade.  Watching movies on a small screen just doesn't cut it anymore; everyone has to have a high-definition flat-screen wonder with surround sound and 3-D capabilities.  Whenever a new phone comes out, we're first in line to give it a try.  Cars quickly lose their appeal and we are swift to make a trip to the dealership to quench our thirst for the newer, better and nicer ride.

The question my pastor asked in Bible study one time was this: What do you hold with a closed hand?  He went on to challenge me with the thought that every possession that comes into my hands may not necessarily be for me.  Instead of holding things with a clenched fist, I could instead choose to carry it with an open hand, ready to give it away at a moments' notice.

I  have a friend who actually does this.  I must be careful when I'm around her because if I admire a necklace, scarf or teapot, she'll give it to me on the spot.  God put it on her heart to stop valuing her stuff and give it away when someone comments on it.  In this way, God is teaching her to hold her things with an open hand.

God's Word teaches us that everything that we can smell, feel, taste, and see will burn up on the day of the Lord.  (2 Peter 3:10)  Nothing will remain.  Since I can't take any of this stuff with me, why do I spend so much time, money and effort buying it, cleaning it, caring for it, and using it?  What time that I spend on this stuff would be better off spent on something that will survive the fire at the end of times? (Matthew 6:19-21)  

If Jesus is my most valuable possession I will be willing to hold all my stuff in an open hand.

People

I remember feeling pretty attached to my boyfriend when I was in High School.  I recently took a peek into my Adolescent mind by reading my diary.  I can't bear to think of my life without him. . . I love him so much!  I can't wait to see him again!  It will be hard when he goes off to college, but I'll try to see him as much as I can.  I can't imagine living without him.

Wow.  If it wasn't for that diary, I wouldn't have recalled the depth of my affection for this boy.  Thankfully, my relationships since have taken on a more mature and well-balanced quality, at least for the most part.  As much as I thought I loved my High School sweetheart, my heart is now much more closely entwined with my husband and children.  They mean more to me than any other humans in the world.  

I have to admit, though, there was a time when I was afraid God would ask me to go on some kind of overseas mission and I would be forced to choose between my family and obedience to God.  How could I leave my young daughters behind?  Behind this fear was a deeper issue: I was valuing them more than Jesus.  

Oswald Chambers puts into perspective in this way.  He says, "There is only one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Why our Lord is apparently so severe regarding every human relationship is because He knows that every relationship not based on loyalty to Himself will end in disaster."

It is very easy for me to expect my husband to fulfill that deep-seated need for me to feel loved and cherished.  When he is less than loving, I am incensed and unhappy.  If instead I placed that burden upon Jesus, I find He loves me with a love that will quench my deepest thirst.  (John 4:13-14)

I can look to my friends to fulfill my desire for companionship, or I can turn to Jesus to be my constant friend who will always love me and never leave me.  (Hebrews 13:5)

I can find fulfillment in my role as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, but my true source of contentment is in Jesus. (Philippians 4:12-13) 

If Jesus is my most valued relationship I will be willing to let go of my loved ones and count on Him to fulfill all my needs.

Holiness

Author and educator William Arthur Ward said, "Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not to envy, to follow but not to imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate."  There is a fine line to living my life for the glory of God and living my life for my own success.  I may try to be encouraging and supportive on my own, but I end up becoming a smooth-sweet-talker.  

I could intend to observe other's lives in order to get ideas in how to improve mine, but I only wind up with jealousy and resentment.

It may be that I find myself to be a strong leader but I easily slip into the role of judgmental bully.  

When I value my own character development in God and His ways, love goes out the window.  Selfishness comes naturally to me.  It is normal for me to desire the best of everything for myself.  This applies to godly character traits, as well.  I want to be the best Christian I can be, not necessarily so I'll please God, but many times its so I can be thought of by others as a strong believer.  

Selfish motivations get me in trouble when it comes to my walk with Christ.  Instead of focusing on what I'll get out of my relationship with Him, I can concentrate on making myself less and Him more.  My desire to obey must be out of a clean heart with no thought of what I'll gain.  (Psalm 51:10)

If Jesus is my motivation I will be willing to follow Him without regard for my own growth.  

It is hard to follow Jesus wholeheartedly!  There are many things I hold closely to my heart.  I clench my fists around my stuff, embrace family and friends tightly as I count on them to fulfill my needs, and I selfishly motivate myself to obey with the hope of gaining a more godly character.  

As Jesus looks at me in my despair,  He reminds me that, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  (Matthew 19:26)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will value Jesus above all other things, people and benefits.

How do I desire a stronger faith, but don't think about how I can glorify God?

When is my stuff more important than my relationship with Jesus?  What am I unwilling to give away?