JESUS SPEAKING

            And it happened when he was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.”  Then he put out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  Immediately the leprosy left him.  And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded you” (Luke 5: 12-14.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

             Leprosy was a socially devastating disease; it rotted fingers, toes, eyes, ears and noses;  it maimed, disfigured, and hobbled it’s victims without killing them.  Lepers were feared and hated, not only for their hideous appearance, but because Leprosy was highly contagious.  Immediately upon contracting the disease, the victim was ostracized; they were no longer able to interact with family members and friends; no more shared meals; no more hugs; no more kisses; no more handshakes.  They were doomed to live in isolation outside of the towns and cities.  If they needed to travel near people, they were required to yell, “Unclean, Unclean,” so that people could avoid close contact with them (In some cultures they were required to wear bells to warn other people of their leprosy.)  A leprous man who had suffered the pains of being an outcast came to Jesus in desperation.  With a single touch, he was freed from his sickness.  Jesus immediately recognized the man’s desire to return to his family, so he commanded him to go to the priests for examination [In Jewish culture, the priests diagnosed social diseases.  When a person claimed that they were healed, they were required to go before the priests for examination.  If they were truly clean they would be allowed back in to the population; they would be able to return to their family and friends.]  God is not some cold and distant God.  He is a compassionate God.  He is concerned with our personal relationships.  He seeks to heal the sick.  He desires to reunite the outcasts with those they know and love.

             For the last two months while studying in the coffee shop, a man who appears to be no stranger to prison, has been sitting down right next me.  He plugs his phone charger in to the outlet I use.  He watches everyone very closely (a habit picked up in prison no doubt.)  One day, his pant leg was rolled up too high, and for an instant I caught sight of a tether fastened around his ankle (I wasn’t the only one keeping an eye on him.)  He elicits a feeling of uneasiness within me.  I feel like he is waiting for me to use the restroom so he can swipe something.  I’ve moved spots a couple of times and I’ve tried to avoid talking to him.  While I pondered what this scripture meant, he came in the door and sat down right next to me.  God spoke to my heart, and I realized that I was treating him like a leper; I was behaving as if he had some disease; the Spirit of God directed me to speak to him.  I introduced myself, and we talked for a bit about his situation; he had only been out of prison for two months, and no one wanted to rent him a room because of his criminal background; he has been living in his mother’s car, and can’t get work until he finds a place to live.  I was moved to share the love of Christ with him, and I invited him to attend a bible study in my home.  He seemed interested.  I told him his past did not matter to me, or to God.  In the eyes of the world, he was as leprous as the man Jesus healed, but with God he could be clean.  The Lord used me to reach out and touch a sick and hurting soul.  I was able to show him that there is a God who truly loves him.

             In this world, all around us, there are people who are treated like lepers:  drug addicts; criminals; the mentally ill; gang members; and the homeless (to name a few.)  The world has turned its back on many people, but God hasn’t; the outcasts of the world are His children too.  When you see someone no one else wants to talk too, bring them God’s message.  When you see those who are unloved, show them that God loves them.  Talk to the outcasts; eat with them; help them; care for them.  Don’t be afraid, but rejoice, knowing that God has chosen to use you to touch the lives of those He loves.

             “Lord heavenly Father, we come before You and we ask and pray that You would give us Your heart of compassion.  Use us to touch those who are untouchable.  Remove our fears and replace them with love.  Bring us opportunities to include and care for those who have been ostracized.  Give us more of Your Holy Spirit, that we can help to make the unclean, clean again.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

            Then one said to him, “Lord are there few who are saved?”  And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.  When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and he will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’  But he will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from.  Depart from me all you workers of iniquity’” (Luke 13: 23-27.)           

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            In the ancient world, cities were surrounded by enormous fortified walls.  The city gate was usually a solitary entrance that was open during the day, and closed in the evening.  During the day everything that entered the city was inspected, including the people.  They were asked questions such as, “Why are you entering the city?” or “Do you know someone who lives here?”  These questions were designed to keep dangerous people out.  Within the city, individual homes also had single entrances which were open during the day and closed in the evening […] Hospitality was highly esteemed in Middle Eastern culture.  When people saw strangers in the public square during the day, they would question them politely in an effort to get to know them, before offering them a place to stay for the evening.  They asked questions like, “What is your name?  Where were you born?” and “what city are you from?”  When evening arrived, the master of the house would shut and lock the door.  Jesus used this cultural custom in illustrating a parable […] some foreigners tried to enter a man’s house at night, without having gone through the customary process of getting to know the owner first.  The homeowner replied, “I do not know you, where you are from.”  The owner in this parable represents God; the home is representative of heaven; the daytime represents life, and the night represents death.  The foreigners represent those who will not be allowed to enter heaven.  What does it all mean?  Those who build an intimate relationship with God in this life, will be able to enter His Kingdom.  Those who have refused to build a relationship with God in this life will be denied access to God’s kingdom when they die (there are no more opportunities after death.)  No matter how many times they knock on God’s door, they will spend an eternity in outer darkness.  God Himself will say to them, “Depart from me all you workers of iniquity […] I do not know you.” 

            Today, computers play a crucial role in our everyday lives.  There are many people who desire to do evil things to your computer; they desire to spy on you, and to steal your personal information.  There are many digital walls that keep evil people out.  So they look for ways to be invited in […] Email is a great way to communicate with others, but it can also be a very dangerous way to communicate; some messages can be used as a doorway to enter your system.  I get emails all the time with headings that say, “It’s Jen (who doesn’t know at least one Jen.)”  Or “Hi, I haven’t talked to you in while.”  The messages are designed to make me believe an old friend is knocking at my digital door.  But, one click can open the gateway for evil; a virus can crash my system, or a crook can access my financial records.  To avoid this danger, I have learned to investigate the source of the message before opening it.  If they don’t check out, then they don’t check in.

            In much the same way, God doesn’t open His door for just anyone.  He only opens his door for those He knows intimately.  This life is our time to establish a relationship with God, and that relationship will determine where we spend eternity.  If you have not taken the time to build a relationship with Him now, in the future you will find yourself locked out; and no matter how many times you knock, the door will never open.  Many who have died are probably already knocking; the only thing they have to look forward too is an eternity of looking back with regret, on the very short life they wasted serving themselves instead of seeking God.  If you are reading this message, you still have a choice; make God the center of your life.  Talk to Him; read His word; love others; spread the message; submit yourself to following Him, and when you arrive at His gate, it will open for you, and with Joy, God will welcome you in to His eternal kingdom.

            “Lord Heavenly Father, we desperately seek to know You, and to draw closer to You.  Draw near to us, and help us to serve You with joyful hearts.  Help us to overcome the lusts of our flesh, that we might do Your will in this place.  Father, we ask that You remove any obstacles that are causing us to miss the narrow path.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.”  Amen

JESUS SPEAKING

            When the hour had come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.  Then he said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  Likewise he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22: 14-20.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            A Covenant (or testament) is a contractual agreement between two parties.  Over 3,000 years ago, God made a contract with a Shepherd named Abraham.  In the contract, He promised Abraham many descendents.  He also promised that one of his descendents would bless the entire world.  Abraham cut off his foreskin as an acknowledgement of their agreement (a tradition that Jews still practice.)  With the arrival of Jesus Christ, God had fulfilled his contract with Abraham; he made a new contract in which His Son would die on the cross to forever reconcile sinful with a holy God.  The communal acceptance of the bread and wine was the sign that his apostles had accepted this new covenant.  They each tore a piece from a single loaf of bread, which symbolized the brokenness of his body on the cross.  They shared a single cup of wine, which symbolized the blood that would pour from his body.  This first ‘Communion,’ much like Abraham’s circumcision, was an outward expression of their inward faith.  Because they had spiritually accepted God’s contract of eternal forgiveness in their hearts, they celebrated their decision in communion.

            Kobe Bryant is one of the biggest named professional athletes on the market today.  With all of the cars, the fancy homes, and the nice clothes, it’s hard to think of him as an employee.  Yet, he receives a paycheck just like everyone else.  Right out of high school he signed a multimillion dollar contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.  A few years later when his contract was up, it became necessary to make a new contract with him, or risk losing him to another team.  And yet again in 2010, when his contract had come to an end, he signed a 3 year deal worth tens of millions of dollars.  Some day even this contract will expire.

            Unlike Mr. Bryant’s contract, God’s new contract has no expiration date; faith in Jesus is the signature that establishes an eternal relationship between God and the believer.  Communion is the outward expression of that inward faith.  The Jersey Mr. Bryant Dawned after signing his contract was a public expression of his covenant with the Lakers.  Christian communion is a display of our covenant with God.  We become one as we collectively partake in the body and blood.  If you believe in Christ and have not taken communion, pray that God will bring you to a gathering where you may share in the sacrifice of our Lord.

            “Lord, may we put our faith in You.  May our hearts be united as one with other believers around the world.  We acknowledge your sacrifice upon the cross, and we accept the terms of Your new covenant; we thank You Lord for Your act of charity and love, and we look forward to our future time, when we can finally share a meal with You in Your coming kingdom.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.