God shows up over and over again...

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” Titus‬ ‭2:11-12

How often do I pursue my self-interest over the interests of God?

 
A few weeks ago, I spent the afternoon with a friend that is actively pursuing self over the pursuit of God and God showed up in our conversation. Why do I get surprised when He does?

After we departed, I found a great analogy thru a life situation... Recently I had a small 1/8 of an inch spot on my face that was cancerous. Post removal I have at least 26 stitches and a permanent 2-inch scar. Why? The cancer that wasn't visible was deeper and wide then what was visible. 

How often is our sin the same?

I have found it interesting that I've been more concerned since the surgery with how I will look once healed vs the truth that I now have a form of cancer which needs to be monitored.  The pursuit of self creeps in yet again and I get a glimpse of just how deep and wide my sinful nature really is.

 Just food for thought...

Believing God for a miracle...

John 4:46-52. "... And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.  When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.  “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”  The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live."  The man took Jesus at his word and departed.  While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”

Taking Jesus at his word...  that's something I think we all struggle with but more specifically, that's one I struggle with...

The royal official made two wrong assumptions...  He assumed Jesus had to be present to heal his son, and that if his son died it would be too late for a miracle.  But Jesus does things in His way and His timing.  Jesus tells him, "Go, your son will live!"

Did you notice he was a royal official? His title gave him authority to command others to do want he wanted them to do.  He could have commanded that Jesus go with him. I'm not sure I wouldn't have used my title to  nudge Jesus to do want I wanted him to do. Did you also notice that the royal official made no further request? I'm not sure I would have believed. I'm not sure I would have acted on Jesus's instructions...  The man chose to believe Jesus and turned around and headed back home.  How is that possible?  His son was dying. There was an urgency for Jesus to go with him. Why did he turn around and go home?  He took Jesus at his word and actively believed what he was told.  "While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living."  When the royal official asked when the miracle occurred, it was the exact time Jesus had told him to go back home.

How often do we say “I’ll believe it when I see it, God” when in fact what God asks of us is "You’ll see it when you believe it.” The royal official believed what Jesus told him and, when he acted on Jesus' instructions, he saw the healing. He got his miracle!  How often do we miss out on our miracle because we don't actively believe and obey God's instructions?

What does God want you to simply believe Him for today?  Will you join me in trusting God to heal and work out His miracles in His way and in His timing?

Faith is obeying God when it doesn’t make sense. It’s taking the risk in believing. When we do His miracles are made known.