The Mission Has Not Changed

The Mission Has Not Changed
18 July 2009
Bible Bookmarked at Luke 13:30-14:35
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear”-Jesus (14:35b)
‘May it be in me my Lord as I seek Thee and seek to better understand all before me. May I grow in strength and wisdom… and hold on to the Truth & hope that You blessedly instilled in me. May this be for me AND this household Lord…’ the simple prayer as all Scriptures here are pondered.
“how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’”(Lk13:34b,35&Psalm118:26)-Jesus
Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem… is pondered- as are all the teachings in these bookmarked Scriptures.
Seen here today; not even Jesus could make His children do, or listen to sound God breathed Counsel- or receive The Gift of unconditional love offered to them. In some cases He was even despised as such a threat to their countering ways and belief’s that those that didn’t trust Him- not only sought to expel Him- but to kill Him. Jesus felt beyond great sorrow when those He only sought to protect and love despised Him.
Jesus speaks here too that it is not until the resurrected Christ will the mission be complete. Now, because He knew the plan, the mission, AND the mission field; in spite of great sorrow, resentment, differences in opinion, slander, disrespect, threats even of life… He knew The Way.
‘In any case, I MUST keep going today and tomorrow and the next day- for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem’ (Lk13:33)
Jesus simply pressed on as He was- The Son of God, Their Savior- through His sorrow. Not persistent because of His hurt feelings- and that they could not see He came NOT as a threat to them- but to LOVE them. No, not even Jesus could make some one love Him and trust Him, or make them see that His only motive for coming was love.
Sovereign = freewill; illustrated here. Wow.
Yes, Father- may I too have ears to hear indeed.
See anew here, that no matter of ones acceptance… ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’ Until the heart is open to His love and gift they will not see it-
They MAY even see the motives of love and caring as a threat to their plans, their way; and ‘suffocating’.
Wow again. Father God knows how this speaks to this heart this morn- in many many areas. He has illustrated and enabled and reminded me to test the spirits of all that is before me. His Holy Spirit Counsels Peace. Because, in all, in the end, God will work together for the GOOD, even if today it may bring a tear, hardship, sorrow. In His Truth remains the original mission and plan: for family, friends- and that mission trip supporting today.
Gods Truth in us and our mission does not change. Whether the Gift is received or not- it remains the Gift of love that it is. Sadly, yes, to some it is even seen perhaps seen as a threat, and their fear of the threat causes anger even to rise up against it. Have you seen this anger? My how this has shed light onto a broken heart this morn… and blanketed it with His love and Peace in the Truth the Victory remains in Christ.
A peace of knowing that God remains in-control; GOOD remains- The Truth remains steadfast and Sovereign.
Today His Good Purpose may not be seen by all- That Gift of love may not be accepted by all… The mission, the message, the reason to love and the motive of love has not changed. When they see that love and can say in their hearts “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” they WILL be saved. Until that day- The Truth nor the Mission has changed.
As Jesus lived and spoke so are we called to do the same. Jesus always spoke in the language of love and absolute Truth. The Joy in the Sovereignty of God is quietly illustrated too… The language of love remembers to ask… not tell. Just as the Gift can only be a Gift if it is accepted and received: The Gift is still a Gift, it remains. Its purpose remains its purpose too. Yet, ONLY the recipient can enable its purpose being fulfilled.
The Joy in the Sovereignty of God- is this- free will.
Truth is this- ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’
Christ Jesus- AMEN & Amen
Yes, As Jesus- so may we be, even through the sorrow or threats we may keep going today and tomorrow and the next day- speaking ONLY in His language of love and absolute Truth. Yes – In Jesus’ name.
A Thanks is given today for seeing through the tears and rejections it doesn’t mean failure. Gods Good purpose remains, Good are His plans, Mighty Is His ways… God IS Able!
‘May God be the hedge of protection, wisdom and discernment: blanketed with Peace, comfort, healing and love for all known and unknown that are loved. In Jesus’ name prayed- and thanks be to God, The Mission Has Not Changed- Amen’ The prayer and thankful reminder today.
‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’ (Lk14:35b) – Jesus
Amen

How?

Devotion On Bible bookmarked at Mark 6:9-41 Plus devotion on Mark 5:34; 5:25-34. The latter mostly the focus here.

How to gather in the completeness found in Christ… What makes these Truths into a word picture that the eyes of your heart can recognize?
Many passages here show people in a hurting world with lots of different hurts within it… seeking out a fix. Some quite desperate after years of trying everything else in the world to try and ‘fix’ the… need. As found really also as true today.
With not only persistence, determination, absolute faith-many will do anything to get to the answer to ‘fix’ the need- answer the need- we each in some way set out on our pursuit too. No real difference today, than depicted here.(5:25-34)
Today’s study brings me back to the first time a certain whisper was heard in the dark; “…the truth will set you free” It kept coming and seemed to increase its volume and frequency of coming. Perhaps in reply to the more and more that was being bombarded with at the time- that circumstances had literally brought me to thinking life was over as I knew it. Was running out of a belief was able to keep up a fight. Everything worked for and believed in was seemingly gone, revised. Why live on then? - confess pondered… almost seemingly in reply to all pondered -There continued this whisper “…the truth will set you free.” So, in thinking was listening to the whisper sought out all the info I could find in each situation at hand. Oh my goodness! Was that ever overwhelming! More and more of the details showed just how much was under attack. Helpless – to being able to control others actions or desires, or change the details, or fix the messes; simply existed through the day- in a numbed state. “Breath in, breath out, get up, …move”- mind coaxes to live on. Came to the conclusion- didn’t want anymore truth- it hurt too much. There was no way to survive these truths it seemed at the time. It was all too too much to bear. Too much.
Alas, think there is no coincidence God leads us to the Word that He does. Not to be mistakenly used as a ‘Jeannie in the bottle’ or ‘fortune teller’…
But as the God breathed Living Word of God that it is. The same God Breathed Word will answer both a crisis of belief and opens the eyes of the heart of a new believer.
Fact of the matter is – whatever circumstance we are experiencing there is another in a far worse one. THAT is NOT to make light of any of them. The amazing thing in any and all is the answer found in this whisper; “…the truth will set you free”. For that is only part of the whole story…
As are the passages we may read in any given day. None should be taken out of context- or used as your ‘horoscope reading for the day’ ‘fortune telling’, ‘genie in the bottle’ – It is the sacred Word of God; Holy & God breathed Counsel to answer any question we may have in any day.
In Mark 5:25-34 are crowds of people desperately trying to reach this ‘miracle worker’ they had heard of. Some were curious perhaps, others in desperate need… some true followers and believers.
Fast forward to the days events: “How does one make sense of it all, or the circumstances be faced with in this day? How can anything come to fix, or meet these needs?” in an old book of words written a long time ago?” you may ask.
Let’s attempt to hear them with the eyes of the heart of this woman here… and then hear Jesus’ amazing reply.
Because in doing so, what may actually be seen here are ‘eyes of faith’. We see here, a long suffering woman. First, understand the times at hand; she, not only is a women- but a bleeding women. In this day- that not only made here a second class unimportant grain of sand citizen, as a women; but she was also un-clean. She was one forbidden to touch or be touched by, because of her condition. Outcast for 12 years! No doctor seemingly could cure her- all sought cures failed… lots and lots of money spent, time spent, and her condition only worsened and continued. Could you imagine for twelve years being unable to openly touch or be touched? Setting the iron deficiency and bleeding aside as almost a secondary concern at this point? By no fault of her own, put in a place of shame.
Perhaps the history of the time- symbolism of the time makes this passage even more… enlightening – amazing – bold.
This ‘unclean’ woman went out amongst the crowds of people… in a determined effort. ‘She heard about Jesus- and believed that if she could get to Him and just touch Him she would be healed.’-(Wanda K. Jones)
She NOT alone in her pursuit either. The blind, lame, deaf, handicap young and old, some carried just to get to Jesus… on a hot dusty road swarmed with crowds pressing in on all sides.
In spite of any odds, persistently determined – this ‘untouchable women’ knew she only needed to touch Jesus and she would be healed. She sought Jesus, was determined to find Him.
To ‘touch’ has great meaning here. It had greater significance than many of the others pressing up against Jesus too.
It was a determined faith touch!
“Who touched My clothes” Jesus asks in Mark 5:30. Disciples say – ‘Uh Jesus, there are people pressing in on You on all sides- what do You mean ‘Who touched My clothes”??? (Paraphrased). This faith touch was different. Jesus and the ‘untouchable women’ knew it. She fell at Jesus’ feet and told Him why she did what she did. Jesus spoke to her in His language of love and absolute Truth…
“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”(5:34)
Hear this reply with eyes of your heart in faith- as the Living God breathed Word that it is…
Jesus doesn’t care if the world thinks you are untouchable. Because when in faith we seek Him and His touch – He, removes the ‘untouchable’ status. He dispels it; heals it; Answers the heart in faith that calls on Him in faith. Then, Made NEW – in Christ.
From His touch on my life, I came to learn the rest of the whisper first heard and just what He meant in it…
It is found in John 8:31-36- The Red Letter, God breathed living Word of Christ to the heart reads; “If you hold to My teachings,(KJV- if you abide to My Word), you are really My disciples. Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”(8: 31, 32)
Jesus quite simply is the answer to any and all. He is the Word made flesh (Jhn1:14) He is the Way, The Truth and The Life.
Reach out in faith to touch Him with your untouchable state. He will answer your need too. In faith simply ask Him.
“…your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering”,”…the Truth will set you free”, “so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”- Jesus’ replies.
Red letter, Living Word of God, God breathed and relevant to every breath we take in our today’s. Thank you God. In Jesus’ name.
So, must confess, have sought the Truth, met the Truth, Abided in the Truth and have come to know the freedom of the Truth indeed….
And praise be in crisis of beliefs have been reminded of it again today as a prayer- Jesus- please touch this untouchable state. By faith know that Your touch will heal it.
In Jesus’ name. AMEN

OK... have to confess here... when tried to start this Blog to share my devotions...

it just so happens that modem to go online became defunked... and very temperal. And THEN when coming here today... well

the editing functions went a wee bit hay wire...

SO in the stubborn nature that THANK YOU GOD that I have... shall try again

to post in its whole, today's devotion:

PRAY

Todays devotion:

When we know not WHAT HOW to pray....

todays bookmarks Roman's 8:1-33 & John 5:44-6:43

From the Book Of John, "The Bread Of Life"

6:27 "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him God the Father has place His seal of approval."

28 Then they asked Him "What must we do to do the works God Requires?"

29 Jesus answered, "the work of God is this: to believe in The One He has sent:

...35 The Jesus declared, "I AM the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and He who believes in Me will never be thirsty.

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He doesn't teach us here in His Red letter way - to hold on to 'self' as the answer, and then ask His approval of 'our' choices or to receive blessings from 'our' choices.

How to do the works God requires? BELIEVE on Him, Christ Jesus.
Bread of Life is that which sustains our daily needs; not to mention is a daily need.

Hold onto His eternal GOOD. NOT the to the circumstances of the day. Don't let satan deceive you into holding on to a bad, or the thought that God doesn't love you or care about your todays. Satan is the father of deception - his daily plan is to convince any he can that God does not have time for you, or have your best interest at heart. He will attack your believing wherever and whenever possible. SO fill yourself up with TRUTH instead of deception. Take in the Bread of Life - NOT lies. God is Good all the time He loves you.

Live in the blessing given: don't give the enemy a foothold. Hold onto the GOOD.

NEXT bookmark Romans 7:13-8:33

...8:24 For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the SPIRIT Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of The Spirit, because The Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with GOD's will.

28 AND we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (love God) who have been called according to His purpose.

...31 What then, shall we say in response to this? If GOD is for us, WHO can be against us?

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SO, There you go! In this hope we are saved. Often, when I do not know what or how to pray - simply pray God's word led to.

His Word here, todays' prayer:

"Father God, in this hope we are saved: Jesus our Bread of Life. May I believe on Him and wait patiently on His timing. Where weak please help. I know not what to pray. YOU who knows my heart hears it cries, its groans, that no word can express. Search please my heart. Counsel it with the Spirits intercession rising up all of my hopes to be in accordance with God's will. THANK YOU, You God Are GOOD. You will work ALL together for YOUR GOOD purpose, and because I love you and trust in Your call and hold on my heart as it seeks Your purpose, it will be. If you God have planned it, designed it, purposed it - NONE can come against it. In the Truth and the Victory here, I place my faith - and hold to hope in You. Yes, for in this hope we are saved. Be my victory and strength to live out loud your plan today. In Jesus' Name - Amen"

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In A friends crisis of belief today, surely inspired the interpretation of God's Word read today. In that inspiration is the prayer for any and all that may have a crisis of belief today... that God will guide and counsel our way to hold onto HIS GOOD today.

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When we KNOW not WHAT WHY... HOW to pray....

Today's Bookmarks: Romans 8:1-33 & John 5:44-6:43

From the Book of John, The Bread of Life:
6:27"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, On Him God The Father has place His seal of approval."
28 Then they asked Him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in The One He has sent."
...35 Then Jesus declared, " I AM The Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and He who believes in Me will never be thirsty.
<>< color="#c0c0c0">can, that God does not have time for you or have your best interest at heart. He will attack your believing wherever and whenever possible.
SO FILL YOURSELF UP WITH TRUTH INSTEAD of deception. Take in the Bread of Life, NOT lies daily. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. He loves you! Live in the blessing given: don't give the enemy a foothold.
HOLD ON TO THE GOOD

<>< color="#c0c0c0">same way, The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of The Spirit, because The Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with GOD's will.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (love God) who have been called according to His purpose.
...31 What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
<><><

A friend in crisis of belief today... inspired certainly the reading of God's Word today... and the prayer... and pray, any in crisis of belief... may hold to the flicker of faith of Christ Jesus in their heart... and fan it into a flame today. In Christ Jesus.... PRAY- Amen