Who is Jesus? #131

Well, let's see - Undergraduate school, Graduate Medical School, Internship, Residency, Specialty Training.- It takes much time and money to go to work in the medical field. I would expect that when we step into a doctor's office we want them to be well qualified and trained before they start trying to diagnose us. My wife has had her fair share of health issues over the last 2 1/2 years. We want to have confidence in whomever she goes to that they know what they are doing. I sometimes wonder why we call what they do, "practice." I hope they are beyond the point of practice when they operate on me.
What qualifies Jesus to be the Great Physician? He was together with His Creator Father in the beginning (John 1:1), so He has ample experience with human beings. His degree hanging on the wall might say "Been there done that" (Hebrews 4:15), so He can relate to His patients. He had a great mentor, His Father (John 17:4-5). He cares about His patients (John 11:35-36). He is not in it for the money. He put His life into His work (I Timothy 2:6). He has a great referral plan - one patient tells another who tells another who... and what is this doctor’s fee? It will cost us our lives, but we get life in return.

I believe only the Son of God can do that.

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #130

What was/is His interest in healing?

He healed the blind. He healed the demon possessed. He healed the lepers. He healed those deaf and dumb. He healed the lame. Was that what He was truly interested in? If so, couldn't He have just spoken a powerful word and everyone would have been healed of whatever illness they were dealing with? There had to be more to it than that. There was something about COMING to the Healer for Healing. Do we not hear the call of Jesus resounding in our hearts, "Come?" "Come to me all who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest." Perhpas Peter give us the ultimate statement about the ultimate healing. " "The Lord ... is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to COME to repentance, (II Peter 3:9)." There is certainly power in the Healer, but there is also power in the COMING.

Here we come!

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #129

Another thought about this physician. What would you do if your doctor told you to cut off your arm if it was giving you trouble or poke out your eye if it was offensive to you? I might find another doctor though sometimes amputation is the only way to save the whole body. Jesus makes such bold statements in the Sermon on the Mount. "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of our body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell, (Matthew 5:29-30)." Pretty tough prescription! I am sure some there did not want to hear, much less do, what the physician was prescribing.
Not to take anything away from Jesus' teaching, but we need to understand that Kingdom living was going to take, and does take, some real commitment. There can be nothing in the way or cause distraction for Kingdom dwellers. This was straightforward teaching for a straightforward commitment.
However, I am glad that the doctor offered another solution to some with eye problems. The Laodiceans could buy a healing salve for their eyes from the doctor, (Revelation 3:18). It's one thing to have the diagnosis and quite another to be the source of healing. He has got what we need for Kingdom living.
If our eyes are focused on the physician then healing will always be nearby.
Call the doctor - apply as needed!

L.T.

Who Is Jesus? #128

I started a blog several years ago around this question. Life got busy, grad school, remembering to do it, etc. and so the blog has gone somewhat inactive. Still, every now and then, when studying the N.T. something a little different is revealed about our Lord. This thought comes from our Sunday Night study last night as we talked about Jesus' statement in Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."We spent quite some time in talking about the context of this verse and who just exactly was the sick and who was healthy. We concluded everyone needed the doctor and there he was.Physical sickness spurs us to call the doctor to begin to get some healing. However, the great physician is standing at the door an knocking. Imagine that, He's there before you call Him! Now, there is some healthcare reformation!
Heal me!
Blessings,
L.T.

Back to School

Today is my first day back to school. I have taken several classes online as a part of my graduate studies. This is the first time I have been in a physical classroom which is kind of interesting. I have to be here in Searcy for a week in what is called J-mester.
This class is entitles "Theological Foundations of Ministry" being taught by Dr. Ross Cochran. We had a good start this morning with everyone introducing themselves.
This class purported to be very practical for ministry that has held true so far.
My blog this week will be an update to what happens each day in class.
Today will end with a dinner for all the students and guests and a devotional led by Dr. Bill Richardson (not the gov. of NM).
Should be a good and tiring day.

Blessings to all,

L.T.

Who is Jesus? #127

Jesus is Lord (How do you know?)

I Corinthians 12:3

'Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.'

There seems to be many who would deny that Jesus is Lord because of circumstances in the world or the way they "feel" inside. There are others who, based on the same circumstances or evidence, would conclude just the opposite. To eliminate the confusion God gave us something (someone) very special.

Paul tells our Corinthian brothers and sisters that you can shout "Jesus is Lord" to the top of your lungs, and know that it is true, because you and I have been given the Holy Spirit who testifies to that fact.

Maybe our perception of the evidence might lead to another conclusion, but God's Spirit inside of us confirms that Jesus is Lord. Listen to the Spirit. He knows!

Thanks Father for your Spirit who lives inside us.

L.T.