01/07/2023
Where are we as a people? We might wake up in the morning with a cough, but by mid-day it has gone. When this occurs we think it only natural, and that our body has healed itself, but in truth we are healed by grace every day despite becoming hardened to faith, and turning away from the ways of God. Our Heavenly Father heals without our knowing, and walks quietly with us, even with the most despicable sinners, as He whispers to our hearts, and loves us in our most undeserving moments. Will we repent? Will we turn to the Lord? Will our hearts be healed, and our feet find the way home, without our knowing?
“The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim [Israel] to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them.”
Hosea 11:2-3 ESV
God, and Jesus Christ tell us often in scripture that they are with us always, yet even as believers, how much of our day is spent walking alone without acknowledging their presence? How many stumbling blocks do they remove from our path as we walk on oblivious to them and all they are doing in our lives? We can’t wait a day on the Lord without growing restless, and yet God will wait our entire lives for us to turn to Him. I marvel at the account of the thief who was crucified next to Jesus. He had lived a life of crime and sin, but in his final moments of suffering his eyes were opened to Jesus, who He was, and in that moment he was healed, saved. Oh that all men would take advantage of such moments in their lives.
“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””
Luke 23:39-43 ESV
Was it blind luck that led this thief to be crucified on Calvary that day? Was he simply talking out of his head in pain as he defended Jesus? No, and in fact we are each led to Jesus in our lifetimes too… the question for us in that encounter is a simple one… will we choose to recognize Jesus for who and what He is, or will we continue to see Him as the world sees Him, and remain blinded by our faithless lives in the world?
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
2 Corinthians 4:4-5 ESV
The god of the world, Satan, or by any other name such as Baal or money, they can blind us. They can keep us from seeing truth, and that we are not alone on this journey we call life. Let’s pray today that our own eyes will be opened to the various healings that God is quietly performing in our lives, and let’s pray for those who are yet to meet Jesus, that they will be led, even in their unknowing, to Him, and that they will come to a acknowledge Him.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with us always and for leading us by grace down the various paths, roads, byways, and highways, of life that ultimately bring us to an encounter with your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for every unseen healing you perform for us, and for your goodness and mercy that directs each of us to that moment on our own road to Emmaus where we must make our choice to either believe, or not. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us and patiently waits on our confession of faith, even until our final breath. Praised be your name for every healing and blessing you bestow upon us in secret as you look after us until we can make our decision as to faith and eternity, or disbelief and death. Merciful are you who by grace, and your Holy Spirit, leads us and woos us until our decision is to believe is firm. Circumcise our hearts Lord, and make them fertile ground for our faith in Jesus. Wash us in His blood and cleanse us of every sin. Do not judge us on the day of judgement by our lives, but by our lives in Him. Call us your children, seat us at your table, grant us eternity in your presence, and reveal to us all of the ways, and every healing touch, that you gave us. In this we will sing your praises, and give you all glory forevermore.
Rich Forbes