Think of the last time you had dinner with friends. You probably enjoyed good conversation, good laughs and hopefully good food. So too Jesus found Himself dining with some friends one evening. I envision Him sitting back, sipping on wine, soaking in the laughter from jokes exchanged. That is, until the scribes showed up.
According to them Jesus made a poor choice in dinner companions. Shocked they ask His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners” (Mark 2:16)? Consumed with self-righteousness, they couldn’t understand why Jesus ate with these people. Why would He associate with such lowly-men, such dirty people? Why not keep Himself clean?
Jesus overhears their question, and answers “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). I can’t help but wonder what His dinner guests thought as He said this, especially His disciples.
Were they surprised that Jesus called them sinners? Confused that He said they were in fact not righteous? Offended He thought of them as ill patients in need of a doctor? Hadn’t He called them because He had seen potential in them?
Perhaps Simon thought Jesus chose him because of his fisherman qualities. Jesus said He would make him into a fisherman of people (Mark 1:17). Maybe he thought his skills transferred over to the bigger fish of humans and Jesus chose him for these abilities.
I don’t know what Simon felt, but I know I would have lifted a confused eyebrow. Maybe that’s because I want to think Jesus chose me because of something unique in me, something good.
Listening in on this dinner-table conversation has humbled my heart. I’m reminded that there is nothing in me that makes God want me. He chose me because I’m sick, because I’m in need, because my heart is weak, dark and twisted. He came to me, to all of us, because of one reason— His love. Paul says it this way, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).
We cannot heal ourselves. We’re too broken, too marred, too full of sin. Our hearts are void of righteousness. We need the scarred hands of a Physician who can cleanse and mend what no other doctor can. He calls us to Himself and heals our mortal wound, wipes away the effects of the disease and restores our life to Him.
With humble hearts, weak and needy, let us find ourselves feasting at His table. He invites us to dine on His healing love free of charge (Is 55:1), His grace curing our hearts.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Storehouses of Snow
Currently snow blankets more than half the continental U.S. An arctic blast has crept down from Canada, and found its way even into Florida. Residents of Tampa may soon see flurries and folks in Miami must bundle up with high temperatures only in the 50’s.
In North Carolina we soon hope to see some white flakes, perhaps even this evening. With excitement at the prospect, I find my thoughts recalling God’s words to Job, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, of have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of war and battle” (38:22, 23)? I confess, I have prayed this morning for God to open His storehouse of snow and let it mount up! Now I don’t want the time of distress of which He speaks. Instead, when I think of snow, I picture building snowmen, making snow angels, and sledding down white hills. A fun day complete with hot chocolate and marshmallows.
As I hope for snow, though, I can’t help but think of the implications of God storing up snow. He says He has put them away for a reason, for the day of war and battle. The point of this blog isn’t to discuss what the day of distress entails, but rather to highlight the fact that God has a plan for snow. Snow. Those flakes that fall from the sky, cover cars, and get kids out of school for a day or two. God has something in mind for these ice crystals.
And if He has a goal in mind for snow, then surely He has plans for us. If He cares about the use of tiny flakes, imagine then His concern for human beings, for those He made in His image and redeemed by the sacrificial death of His Son.
Today as I read the Winter Weather Advisories posted by The Weather Channel, I think of the plans God wrote down for me before I breathed my first breath (Ps 139:16). The Spirit too reminds me of Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, now reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they" (Matt 6:26)? If God cares so much for birds and snow, how much more will He care and plan each of our lives?
So if you find yourself wondering if God cares about you or is working out His plans for your life, this winter take courage. As God has created each flurry and has plans for it, He has created you and has plans for you. As Paul says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10).
In North Carolina we soon hope to see some white flakes, perhaps even this evening. With excitement at the prospect, I find my thoughts recalling God’s words to Job, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, of have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of war and battle” (38:22, 23)? I confess, I have prayed this morning for God to open His storehouse of snow and let it mount up! Now I don’t want the time of distress of which He speaks. Instead, when I think of snow, I picture building snowmen, making snow angels, and sledding down white hills. A fun day complete with hot chocolate and marshmallows.
As I hope for snow, though, I can’t help but think of the implications of God storing up snow. He says He has put them away for a reason, for the day of war and battle. The point of this blog isn’t to discuss what the day of distress entails, but rather to highlight the fact that God has a plan for snow. Snow. Those flakes that fall from the sky, cover cars, and get kids out of school for a day or two. God has something in mind for these ice crystals.
And if He has a goal in mind for snow, then surely He has plans for us. If He cares about the use of tiny flakes, imagine then His concern for human beings, for those He made in His image and redeemed by the sacrificial death of His Son.
Today as I read the Winter Weather Advisories posted by The Weather Channel, I think of the plans God wrote down for me before I breathed my first breath (Ps 139:16). The Spirit too reminds me of Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, now reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they" (Matt 6:26)? If God cares so much for birds and snow, how much more will He care and plan each of our lives?
So if you find yourself wondering if God cares about you or is working out His plans for your life, this winter take courage. As God has created each flurry and has plans for it, He has created you and has plans for you. As Paul says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10).
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