Standing Before God 17th Day in Lent (Monday) Read: Romans 5:1-11 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Romans 5:1-2a (NIV) ‘Grace is the basis for our standing before God’. What does it mean to ‘stand before a King’? I enjoy reading the historical fiction books by Philippa Gregory. It is obvious in these books that there was a hierarchy in society in the Middle Ages. There was the upper class consisting of the kings/monarchs, nobles, knights, and clergy. Then the middle class tended to be the merchants, doctors, and those with important jobs; and then there was the lower class – the peasants and serfs who performed all the menial tasks and jobs. Firstly, to see the king you had to get through all the secretaries and make an appointment – only if you had an important issue. If it wasn’t important or considered necessary or beneficial to the kingship, there would be no way to stand in the king’s presence. Through the saving action of God in His Son Jesus Christ, God has allowed us to come directly into His presence and talk to Him freely. Back in the Old Testament times, the common people had to talk to God through the priests and offer sacrifices to make themselves worthy. Now we are reconciled with God. Reconciliation is talked about quite freely in society and between cultures and nations, but the essence of reconciliation is to bring people together with differences or conflicts and help them understand each other. Being reconciled with God means that He has come to us directly and made us clean through the act of Jesus on the cross. He opened Himself up for us to understand more of the nature of God. So, we can stand in His presence – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We don’t have to ask for an audience from a priest or secretary. Through the grace of God, we can stand in His presence and ask Him for whatever is on our minds. We can understand and accept the grace and love that He offers us every day. Jesus’ act of suffering allowed us to stand before God. Prayer: Dear Lord God, thank you for your reconciling love and act of grace toward me. Being able to stand in your presence is humbling, helps me always to be appreciative. Amen. 2
Do You Believe? 1st Sunday during Lent
Read: Matthew 9:27-31 “Then he [Jesus] touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you’” Matthew 9:29 (NIV) Magic defies reason. When a magician does a trick, even though you may be watching ever so carefully, you do not see the sleight of hand that makes the trick appear magic. Our eyes see one thing, but another occurs. Is it real? Our reason says no, but we cannot prove it! A magician wants people to marvel at their gifts. What if we could not see it? Would it then still be magic? There is the idiom: ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ or ‘Seeing is believing’.
But what if you can’t see it, yet you believe. Is this a stronger faith? The two blind men in the story above in Matthew obviously believed that Jesus could heal them from their blindness. Their faith came, not by seeing Jesus perform miracles, but from hearing the stories about what Jesus had done. These two wanted the mercy of Jesus and so believed in His power to be able to open the eyes of the blind. It seems that their faith was the one condition that granted their healing request. It is interesting that this healing happened inside and out of sight of the public – for “they went right into the house”.
After they were healed Jesus also told them, “See that no one knows about this.” While Jesus is all powerful, his power was used to show his compassion and care and not to show off as a magician would do. He didn’t want to gain notoriety with people just wanting to see His miracles. In the Gospel of Matthew, we are reminded over and over that following Jesus is about following His commands and words that bring life, health and healing in body, mind and spirit. Jesus, as God, is all about teaching about the Kingdom of God and showing compassion to all. This is something we can all do this Lenten season – share about Jesus’ love and care for those around us! Jesus’ act of forgiveness is not magic, it is a gift of love and grace!
Prayer: My Loving Jesus, you showed me the need for my healing from the wrongs I do. Your forgiveness and love are all I need. I trust you and have faith that you hold me in your hands. Amen.
Touch of Love 4th Day in Lent (Saturday)
Read: Matthew 8:14-15; Luke 4:38-39 “He [Jesus] touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.” Matthew 8:15 (NIV) I have yet to be a mother-in-law, but as of last Friday, I will be one after Easter this year. Being a mother-in-law means that you care for the one who is caring for your child – an important job! In Jesus’ time women and widows were always cared for by a son, but Peter showed compassion for his wife’s mother in caring for her, as it appears that the mother-in-law is living with Simon Peter and her daughter.
Peter’s brother Andrew and possibly children are also living there, so we can assume she is a widow. The mother-in law would be helping her daughter with the family and household and caring for all who came to visit. When someone is ill, everyone gets involved in the care. Back in Jesus’ day they were also classed as unclean and could not be touched unless the carer also wanted to be classed as unclean (being unclean meant being apart from others for a couple weeks and then presenting oneself to a priest to be declared clean and allowed in public – reminds me also of COVID).
In most of the healings Jesus performed, he always touched those who were sick. Touch brings about a closeness, an empathy with the one unwell, most of all it conveys care and love. This healing was no different. Jesus touched the woman and helped her to her feet – she was healed. She immediately went to her duties to serve the visitors who had come to the house. Interestingly, just as Jesus broke the Jewish law by healing on the Sabbath, this faithful woman also got up immediately and prepared a meal. It was her gratitude that made her also break the Sabbath law and serve Jesus and others who were hungry. Not only had Jesus helped the mother-in-law, but he also helped Peter’s wife to still have her mother around to help when both Peter and Andrew followed Jesus as disciples. Serving and caring touch are something we can do for others out of gratitude for all Jesus does for us. A loving touch and care can show more than expensive gifts.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you came to touch and heal the lives of those who were sick in body or spirit. Your Word is powerful, and you have given it to me as a gift to share with others. Amen.
Unworthy 3rd Day in Lent (Friday)
Read: Matthew 8:5-13 “Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.’ And his servant was healed at that moment.” Matthew 8:13 (NIV) Have you ever been invited somewhere where you felt out of place, or not sure why you were there? A few years ago, when we first moved to Noosa, it was found out that I played f lute and so soon enough the Noosa Orchestra conductor came to me and asked me to be in the orchestra. I told him that I wasn’t as good as the others and he said, “You play what you can, and we will be happy to have you.”
So, I did and practised hard and enjoyed my three years with the orchestra, even though there were many more times I felt unworthy and inadequate. I wonder what it would have been like to be walking around with Jesus. He was God’s Son walking on the earth accepting all, healing all, there was no presumptuousness about him. There was no air of arrogance or pride, rather Jesus lifted others and lowered Himself in humility. In the above story of the centurion, he came to Jesus feeling humbled and unworthy in His presence, but in this he showed great respect, trust and faith in this Saviour of the World. A centurion, who had distinction and rank, came asking for help for a servant. Who cared for servants? Let alone a centurion? This was remarkable.
But he spoke humbly to Jesus speaking of his authority and power, but also his unworthiness. Jesus recognised this humility and faith and that he was a man who cared deeply for others. Jesus honoured the centurion’s plea and healed the servant. Do we treat God with the respect deserved? Do we humble ourselves at His feet begging for mercy and knowing that we are not worthy for God’s love and forgiveness? God does deserve our respect and honour, but He accepts us as we are and as we come to Him – we are forgiven and loved! Healing takes place in all forms – body, soul and spirit!
Prayer: Thank you, Lord God, for showing me your love and forgiveness every day. I am not worthy of this, but you lift me up and promise me your gift of grace. Amen.