Monday, July 21, 2008

Mark 5:25-34

25A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse-- 27after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28For she thought, "If I just touch His garments, I will get well." 29Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My garments?"31And His disciples said to Him, "You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'' 32And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction."

Although this is a familiar passage, I think it is a good reminder of how intentional Christ acted here on earth. Even His miracles point to a higher purpose, picturing His own actions as Lord. The woman in the crowd suffering from a bleeding disease would have been considered unclean within Jewish society. Such a curse would have prevented her from worship in the temple and fellowship with God's people. She was denied the right to participate in one of the most important aspects of culture- that being the act of coming together with her people to worship Jehovah.

Similarly, before we are justified through Christ, we are unable to have full communion and fellowship with the Lord. Our sin prevents our worship with the Creator as we are unclean with sin. Like the woman, we seek the help of outside sources spending time and money where we will not find help. We look to our own strength and the wisdom of the world for answers. However our own actions will not satisfy our healing and restoration to fellowship with the Lord. We must come before Him humbly, on our knees in faith, knowing that when we are drawn to Him, Christ provides healing and salvation.

Jesus chose not to ignore the woman rather taking the time to note her faith. He will also acknowledge us before the Father as our Mediator and the Savior of our sins. Because of His work on the cross, we are no longer unclean. How marvelous this miracle of Jesus to not only do a wonderful thing in the life of a suffering woman, but to also show a picture of His remarkable work of salvation in the lives of suffering humanity!


Thursday, July 10, 2008

Summer Hopes

“We have within ourselves
Enough to fill the present day with joy,
And overspread the future years with hope.”

-Wordsworth

Six weeks from yesterday I move back down to Hillsdale. I am honestly really excited- and optimistic- for whatever the next year will bring. Days like today remind me why I am pursuing knowledge at a college like Hillsdale. Being frustrated with a summer job seems like such a pointless waste of emotion. Yet it is hard for me to be apathetic about anything, hence I tend to become frustration when something I invest it does not work out. Regardless, it has been my hope and prayer this entire summer for the Lord to bless this upcoming year. I am reminded however, that God is faithful and sufficient. My happiness is in Him not because He does what I want Him to do, but because I grow closer to Him and His will each day.

We live and interact in such an emotion driven culture. Everything is subjective to the current state of our feelings. Think of how often our initial reaction is "how we feel" about it. There's nothing wrong with our emotions, but I am thankful that God is teaching me not to overlook His truth within our emotions and feelings.

It is true that within ourselves we can offer joy each day and hope to our future. But such hope is based also on our emotions and feelings which can deceive is. When we conform to God and His will, He will be within us. He will be our joy and our hope. He will be sufficient for all our needs.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Reformed Theology

Listening to John Piper and Sovereign Grace sermons on the ipod at work has prompted a renewed personal appreciation for Reformed theology. Growing up in the reformed tradition, its teachings were definitely something I took for granted without truly understanding the meaning. Yet now they have become a source of comfort for me at this point in my life. Even though so much of life changes, knowing that my faith remains rock solid has been assuring rather than disconcerting, as answers sometimes can be. Especially, if they are answers that are not popular with modern culture.

By recognizing that our depravity is actually GOOD news because of the sacrifice of Jesus, I have realized that the Christian life is never about yourself. It never seeks to bring glory or credit of any kind to the individual. This fact alone has been comforting because when I look at myself, I see someone who does not even come close to receiving any sort of credit for anything I have ever "accomplished." My salvation especially, is not something I deserve any recognition for.

The process of sanctification must continue if we are to live in Christ. What a struggle to live each day trusting Christ all the time for the renewal of our mind and heart away from ourselves and into His likeness...