pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: healer


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His Ways

The psalmist refers to God as their refuge, rescuer, and deliverer.  These are just a few of the many names we can attribute to God.  Others include, but are certainly not limited to, healer, provider, forgiver, restorer, reconciler, redeemer, comforter, King, and guide.  Each of these names speak to a characteristic or trait of God.  As His children, we call on Him to act on or to be these things as we seek His action through our prayers.  It is at times as if we are reminding God of who He is in hopes of finding healing or restoration or whatever it is we are petitioning God for.

The names we attach to God can also remind us of who He is.  The many and varied names remind us of how powerful and limitless our God is.  The fact that He is so many things to us reinforces the belief that God can be our all in all.  As we consider this, we come to realize that our God is capable of anything.

Yet, to us, God does not always do all that we ask.  Or so it appears to us.  For example, in the midst of a storm or trial in life, we ask our Great Deliverer to deliver us from the situation.  Or perhaps we come to our Great Healer and ask for Him to bring healing to a friend or loved one.  But we find that the trial goes on or that the person passes away.  We question if He is indeed deliverer or healer.  We forget that His plans are not our plans.  Maybe in the first case God was not quite done refining us.  Maybe in the second, the person found the healing they truly needed.  His ways are far above our ways.

In the end, if we are faithful, we will find deliverance or healing or whatever we seek.  May we be ever faithful and trust in His ways and in His plans for our lives.

Scripture reference: Psalm 71: 1-3


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Revealing Jesus?

In the day people thought Jesus was many things: teacher, prophet, healer.  Some even thought He was the Messiah, the Holy One of God.  Two thousand years later the answers are not all that different: a wise teacher, a good person, a revolutionary hero, a symbolic figurehead.  Some still see Him as Messiah.

In the day those who refused to see Jesus as the Messiah had something to hold on to.  The political and religious leaders had their positions and power to hold on to.  Others had the same things we do.  They and us hold onto our illusion that we are in control, of having time before we really have to commit to this Jesus, or of Him not being the absolute Lord of life.  Like many in the day and like many since then, we yield up some control of our life and offer a level of allegiance to Jesus the Christ.  But we hold onto some ourselves; we are not totally committed.

In the day Jesus’ disciple Peter correctly identified Him as the Messiah but Jesus told them not to tell anyone.  Perhaps the claim of divinity would have been too much right then or maybe some would look to Jesus for political and military leadership.  It was enough at that point for the disciples to know.  Soon many would come to know Jesus as the Son of God.

If one were to simply observe our life and listen in on the conversations we have, would we reveal Jesus as the Messiah?  If we are seeking to draw others to Jesus as Lord, then the answer has to be ‘yes’.  Our lives “reveal” who we ‘say’ Jesus is.  May we live in such a way as to reveal that Jesus is Lord of our life and is a Lord others want to get to know.

Scripture reference: Mark 8: 27-30


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One Small Step

At the very beginning of the story in Mark, Jesus was just a rabbi.  The news of who he really was wasn’t out yet.  In Mark, he began his formal ministry teaching in the synagogue, where he also cast an evil spirit out of a man.  What stood out to the people was the authority by which Jesus taught.

That day Jesus also went to Simon’s house, one of the first disciples.  There he healed Simon’s mother-in-law.  News of the man Jesus began to spread because by night many people from the town were brought to Jesus for healing and others were brought so that he could cast out their demons.  Someone more than a good teacher was present.  But Jesus would not let the demons speak – they knew who He really was.  As the day wore on, people must have been wondering just who or what this Jesus was.

For some today this is still Jesus – a nice person who had good teachings and maybe healed and did a few other amazing things.  Some call them ‘miracles’ but…  They like and respect him but do not commit to Him.  They may even follow some of his teachings but are not all-in for Him.  They are not quite willing to surrender their lives to this man Jesus.

Yet this step of knowing about Jesus is a first step.  It is a beginning.  It is the start of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives.  It is the first evidence of seeds planted and starting to take root.  As believers we must be sensitive to the curious and the seekers among us.  We must share our stories and experiences, to help faith become more ‘real’ for them.  We are just one small step along their journeys of faith.  May we be a good step for all.

Scripture reference: Mark 1: 29-34