The Gifts of His Ministry

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23

Jesus started His ministry by teaching, preaching, and healing. Teaching for our minds, preaching for our spirits, and healing for our bodies - He came for the whole man. Knowledge, inspiration, and health were His gifts.

Lord, tonight I am concerned for a friend whose body needs to be healed. Jesus, You healed every disease and sickness. Nothing is too great for You. The doctors are confounded, but You are not. You know the cause, and You know the cure. Touch my friend. He has served You for so long. Show him Your great and mighty love. Thank You for his continued prayers for me. Help me to not cease in my prayers for him.

A Father's Approval

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17

Why do so many fathers miss the mark? Sons don't expect their dads to be perfect. They simply hope to be loved. Many a man wanders aimlessly through life trying to gain his father's approval; many will grab hold of anything that resembles love and acceptance - even to the point of sacrificing all he has.

Jesus knew that His Father loved Him. It was His Father's love that kept him going. He knew that the world would reject Him, and for a time His Father would abandon Him. But He never doubted His Father's love.

Father, I have sought love and approval my entire life, yet it so often eludes me. Help me to grab hold of You. You are the Source. You are the Approver. You are the Accepting One. Make me a whole man. Forgive me for sacrificing my best in attempts to gain what my father cannot and will not give. Let my son know that my love never ceases. Love him as I long to be loved.

Worshiping the Status Quo

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:2

The magi came to town asking about a child who was born king of the Jews. I can understand why Herod was disturbed. A child born king would threaten his position, for he was a king by appointment rather than birth.

But why was all of Jerusalem disturbed along with him?

The priests knew a messiah was coming. Wouldn't they be elated at the birth of the true king? I think they were complacent. They had grown content with their rules and ritual. The true king would probably shake things up a bit. They preferred the status quo over the One sent by God Himself.

Lord, help me to never worship the status quo. I want to follow Your lead. The magi followed a star; Joseph followed an angel. I choose to follow You.

When Joseph Woke Up

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Matthew 1:24

Joseph was an honorable man. He had in his mind to divorce Mary because she wasn't carrying his child, but an angel appeared to him in a dream to reveal the truth. The child was from God alone.

What strikes me is the word "when." The verse reads, "When Joseph woke up..."

I take this to mean that the first thing Joseph did upon awakening was to get Mary. He didn't go about his day and contemplate what he should do. The Lord had spoken, and he responded.

How many times do I hesitate? How many times do I have to think it through to ensure it is really what God had in mind?

Lord, I want to be like Joseph, who heard Your command and responded - no questions asked. Help me to be a man who leaves a heritage of quick obedience for generations to come.

God's Timing

Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. Acts 3:2

In the name of Jesus, Peter healed a crippled beggar. This man was the first to be healed after the coming of the Holy Spirit. All the people were amazed, for they recognized him as the man who begged at the Beautiful gate.

Wait!

How noticeable is a beggar? How many times does it take to see someone on the street before he is easily recognized? Yet the people recognized this man. He had been crippled from birth. He had been sitting at the Beautiful gate for a long time. He must have been; otherwise, he wouldn't have been recognized by them.

Not very long before this, it was the custom of another man to visit the temple. Jesus frequented the temple whenever He was in Jerusalem. And it is quite possible that Jesus could have seen this man - this beggar sitting at the Beautiful gate.

Why wasn't he healed before now? Jesus healed many, many sick and affirmed. Yet this man was not among them. Could it have been that their paths never crossed? Could it have been that the man was new to Jerusalem?

But the people recognized him!

The Lord's timing isn't always our timing. In fact, it is rarely our timing! If Jesus had seen this man, He may have decided to wait. This man's healing would stand as proof that the kingdom of God had come. A new age had dawned - an age where common man would be used in uncommon ways.

Lord, help me to be patient with Your timing. Help me to understand what I am to do during the wait. Heal me from the affirmities of this world - from the wicked ways that keep me from walking, from jumping, on the path to which You have called me.