JESUS SPEAKING

                Then he got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s (Peter’s), and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And he sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  When he had stopped speaking, he said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

                But Simon (Peter) answered and said to him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.”  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.

                When Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5: 3-8.) 

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                The disciples had just finished fishing and had caught nothing; they were cleaning their nets for the day.  Jesus told Peter to push out one last time and drop the nets.  Peter didn’t want to, but he obeyed Jesus and pushed out to sea.  His obedience resulted in a catch none of them could have imagined; a catch so large there nets nearly burst.  Peter immediately humbled himself, and fell down before Jesus.  His understanding of Jesus was immediately and drastically transformed; in an instant Peter realized that Jesus was not just a man, but something more.  Peter witnessed a miracle because he chose not to allow his experience as a fisherman, or his own reasoning to compete with the command of Christ.  Peter didn’t push out in to the water because he expected to haul in the largest catch of his life (he probably didn’t expect to catch anything at all.)  He pushed out in to the sea because he was being obedient to Jesus Christ.

                Each of us woke up this morning with a great deal of expectations.  We expected our alarm clocks to work, our cars to start, and our cell phones to be functional; we relied upon them; we trusted them.  We can trust our gadgets and even our own instincts and abilities, but when it comes to trusting Jesus Christ we have difficulty?  Peter initially relied upon his own knowledge and understanding when questioning the command of Christ to ‘push-out.’  He saw God do a wonderful work, because he stopped trusting in himself and began trusting in God. 

                Today, we need to trust in God and not our own limited understanding.  We must be obedient to what God is calling us to do.  Is there some area of your life where you are refusing to relinquish control?  Search your heart.  God has called each of us to be obedient to His commands.  Often, obedience is difficult, but unless we obey God we will miss out on experiencing many of His great miracles.  May we all ‘push out’ and place our trust in the eternal and almighty God.

                “Lord Heavenly Father, help us to relinquish control over our lives and give them back to You.  Jesus please help us to be obedient.  Holy Spirit, help us to place our full trust in You.  Reveal to us areas where we lack faith, and help us to change.  We love You Father, we thank You, and we trust You, and we ask all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

            So they came to Jerusalem.  Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then he taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’?  But you have turned it in to a ‘den of thieves.’”

            And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy him; for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his teaching. (Mark 11: 15-18.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            The priests and religious leaders were earning money from the sale of sacrificial animals within the temple.  They were also earning money from ‘short changing’ ignorant pilgrims who needed to exchange their Roman or Greek coins for non-pagan shekels (tithes of pagan coins were not accepted within the temple treasury.)  Those professing the highest degree of Godliness had been using God for selfish gain; those who prided themselves on ritualistic purity had defiled and perverted the purity of God’s Holy Dwelling Place.  Upon seeing this disgraceful sight, Jesus became angry; he flipped over the money changing tables, and used a whip to aggressively chase out those who were selling animals in God’s house.  No one arrested him; no one rebuked him; no one demanded an explanation; the crowds instantly recognized that what he had done was right.  He had put an end to wicked men using God for their own financial gain.  [Note:  This incident occurred several days before the Passover celebration.  The Israelites were strictly forbidden to have even a single speck of Chametz (fungus or mold) within their homes during the feast.  As part of the preparation for this annual festival, every Jewish home had to be swept out and thoroughly cleansed.  Jesus, being God’s son, chose to fulfill this command by sweeping the dirt out of his Father’s house (the temple.)]

            The religious leaders had mingled together the things of God and the things of man. Jesus’ whip sliced ‘in-two’ what should have never been ‘one’ to begin with.  His anger set right the divine order of things.  On one occasion in my own life, I felt the sting of God’s whip when I attempted to combine his goodness with my gain.  Many years ago I worked for a company that imported raw materials for kitchen and bathroom countertops. I handled numerous accounts, but was always on the lookout for any potentially new customers.  In my search I came across a large local company named, ‘Reborn Cabinets.’  (Cabinet makers always needed granite to complete their projects, and my company was a granite supplier.)  This cabinet company was started by a ‘reborn Christian;’ I myself had recently been ‘reborn,’ and I was anxious to work with a Christian company.  After many attempts to set up a meeting with their company had failed, I made one final attempt to reach them.  One day, I left a message with their manager expressing my desire to work with them; I finished the message with a ‘God bless you.’  I had hoped that they would hear the message and realize I was a Christian and give me a chance.  Immediately after hanging up the phone, I felt this pain in my stomach and an overwhelming feeling of remorse within my heart.  I had angered God, and grieved His Holy Spirit by attempting to use Him for my own worldly advancement.  After the feeling began to affect my workday, I made my way to the bathroom to pray; filled with remorse, I promptly begged God for His forgiveness.

            Today, there are a lot of people who need to drop to their knees and beg God for His forgiveness.  Too many people have sullied the name of the Almighty God in order to attain their own personal comforts.  Many ‘Christian businessmen,’ more dedicated to a dollar than to keeping God Holy, plague the body of Christ, using the name of God to secure customers.  Similarly, many people use God to increase their standing in the community.  Many use God to make themselves more attractive to a potential husband or wife.  Some use God to ‘pride-fully’ compare themselves favorably to others.  There are an endless number of possible exploitations of God’s name, but each and every one of them kindles His anger.  Of all the sins in the bible, using God for worldly prosperity arouses the greatest amount of divine fury; as such, we must continually, and fearfully, examine our hearts to make sure that we are not guilty of such sins.  If we discover any uncleanness in our hearts, we must beg God for His forgiveness, and ask Him to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

            “Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and ask that You reveal and convict our hearts of any instances where we have misused Your name for our own personal gain.  We desperately desire to be free from these grievous sins; give us the power to change what we have been doing, and sweep out any dirtiness within our hearts.  Make us clean, and fresh, and new Lord.  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

            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.