This summer I have been reading the four gospels. At the moment I am in the Book of Acts. In Luke I noticed that Luke several times was saying that people came to Jesus to hear him and to be healed from their diseases. When Luke is recapturing what the gospel was all about, he is saying in Acts that it is about what Jesus began to do and to teach. Jesus was healing the sick and preaching the good news in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Month: August 2009
-
Walking and talking together
Today I have read the exciting story of the two men walking to the village Emmaus, seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were talking about everything that had happened. They were quite confused and perplexed by what had taken place. It was certainly not in line with their expectations. They had been stirred by a prophetic hope and was looking forward to an imminent release of the people of God from the godless influence of the secular powers of society and a fulfilment of prophetic promises. But their hope had been shattered. They could not explain why things had turned out the way they had.
-
The lost father-heart
I just been reading Luke 15 where Jesus is telling three parables, the story of the lost sheep, the story of the lost coin, the story of the lost son. But as I read it I discovered that the message of Jesus is not about losing, sheep, coin or a son, but about the loss of a caring heart, or rather the loss of a father-heart.
-
What will the child turn out to be?
All our ten grandchildren have been visiting us in the house in the forest with their parents this summer. Two grandchildren are still with us. I love my grandchildren. They are all very special and precious to me, each one uniquely created in the image of God. They are all different, but I don't prefer one before the other, for they are all wonderful grandchildren. It is a miracle in itself that I have 10 grandchildren as the doctors told my parents that I would never grow up to become an adult because of illness they could not heal. By the grace it din't turn oput the way the doctors predicted.
-
Family worship
This
weekend we have had a large gathering of our family at the house in the forest.
All our children, except one, have been staying with us with their precious
children. We have been ten adults and seven grandchildren together for the
weekend, and on Sunday we even had four more visitors. It is such a joy to have
a big family around us like this. All are having a lot of fun as we are
playing, fishing, picking berries, making bird boxes, building huts in the
forest or just talking and fellowshipping. -
An attractive life
As I was reading in the Gospel of Mark this morning one small sentence struck me. The last sentence of the first chapter really got me thinking. It is just a short summary of what happened as people got to know about the life and deeds of Jesus Christ. People from everywhere kept coming to him. What an attractive life!
People from everywhere kept coming to him because of the attractive life he lived in caring for people, healing the sick and delivering those who were oppressed by unclean spirits. People actually flocked to Jesus. He could not be seen in public without attracting a crowd.
I am not envying him have a crowd around him all the time, but I fully understand why people are attracted to him, as I myself is not only attracted to him, but have fully committed myself to him because of who he is. He is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He is the human expression of the divine love. He is unique in every possible way. He is my Saviour and my Lord. He has forgiven me all my sins. He has given me a new life. He makes me feel special. He makes me dream big dreams. And he lets my dreams come true!
He speaks to me and he listen to me. He loves me and he cares for me. He is always near, never too busy or far away. When no one takes notice of me, still he sees me. He sees my hurts and innermost feelings. He knows my struggles and the challenges I am facing. And I can come to him at any time! He always welcomes me, never turns me away.
I think that if we lived the same way Jesus lived our lives would be attractive as well. If we care for people and have some spiritual power that enables us to help people in their sufferings and challenges people would be attracted. When Jesus Christ lives in us we will an attractive life and be a blessing to many people.