He Gave
This past week I was once again out in my garage praying and asking for direction from God. I just wanted to know what He wanted from me, what could I do for Him? Then He just spoke to me about going to the hospital. At first I did not understand… I trust Him for all my healing so why would I go to the hospital? Then He made it clear… I have faith for my physical well being and those in the hospital are in need, they need someone with faith to encourage and to lift them up. As I spent more time in prayer about this it was not really about me going to the hospital in reality, it was about looking to give what we have to those who do not have.
I thought about times when money was scarce and someone would come up and stick a check in our hands and it would be such a blessing. It let us know that God was looking out for us and that it would all be OK. This same thing is what takes place when he bless those around us when they are in need. It might be money, it might be food, it might be clothing, it might be a word of encouragement or any other number of ways to meet their need. To give them what they do not have.
As I thought even more on this I begin to look at the life of Jesus and realized He was constantly giving what others did not have. He loved people too much to leave them the way He found them.
11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” 12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. 14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”John 11:11-15, 40-44
To Lazarus He gave life. Lazarus was dead and his life was over until Jesus came on the scene. Jesus called him out of that dead state to offer him a new chance at life. He still is doing the same thing today. He loves you too much to leave you the way you are.
22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. 23 Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?” 24 The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” 25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him away, saying, “Don’t go back into the village on your way home.” Mark 8:22-26
To the blind He gave sight. The blind man was brought to Jesus and He healed him. How excited do you think the people who brought Him to Jesus were? To play a part even though small was a necessary role that helped to make a difference in his life forever. Who do you know that is blind? What part can you play in their life? Jesus loves them too much to leave them the way that they are.
29 Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. 30 A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. 31 The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. Matthew 15:29-31
He healed the lame, the blind, the crippled, those who couldn’t speak and many others! He loved them too much to leave them the way that they were. Those who were in the presence of Jesus were amazed at His love and power. The simple truth is that He is still amazing, He is still performing miracles and He still wants you to bring those in need to Him so that He might reach out and touch their life and change their world.
Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:1-11
To the woman caught in adultery he gave mercy. Yes she was guilty. Yes she knew better, yes she did this on purpose… no reason that she should be allowed mercy, except that Jesus loved her that much. How much better it would have been had she brought before Jesus for restoration instead of for judgment. Don’t be like those people who found fault with her and wanted to see her punished… be looking to offer people a chance at restoration. That is what Jesus offers to those with no hope… a day of mercy and hope! He loved her too much to leave her the way that she was.
To the 5,000 He gave them food when they were hungry. To the host of the wedding He gave the best wine out of water. To the demon possessed He gave deliverance. To the parents He gave life to their daughter. To the centurion He gave health to his servant. On and on it goes. Jesus always meets the needs of those in need. He gives them something that they do not have… which results in a blessed life most of the time. Sometimes though… His gift is rejected.
The rich young ruler went away sad because he could not accept the instructions that Jesus gave him and had to say no to the life that Jesus offered.
In Jesus own home town He left with many sick and dying because they could not believe on Him for their healing.
57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:57-58
He had so much to offer to them. He traveled there to bless them, to heal them, to meet needs, to leave them with something that they did not have. Yes, He loved them too much to want to leave them the way they were. But they would not believe on Him, they would not receive from Him. It cost them more than they would know.
How about you today? Are you having the faith to believe on Him? Are you saying yes to His plan for you?
Today you are faced with one of two questions:
Have you accepted Him as Lord of your life? Have you finally said yes to Him and given your life over to Him? Are you 100% sure if you died right now you would go to Heaven? You can be. Everyone bow your heads for a moment. If you right now want to say Yes to Jesus and give your life over to Him and start living the life that He has for you then say this prayer.
(Prayer)
Now for the rest of you who are already saved and in the right place. Will you live your life as an offering to God? Will you look around and see who needs to be introduced to Jesus, who needs a healing touch, who needs a calm to their storm, who needs a light in their dark world? Will you really start looking to be a giver more than just a possessor? Jesus loves those around you too much to leave them like they are and He is counting on you to be His hands and feet. Allow Him to flow through you into others. Make your life about reaching out and as you do so you will find that all of your needs get met, your diseases get healed, your family gets restored and most importantly… your life has purpose and Jesus is glorified!
