Bent Over by the Pressure

“… and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.

She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her,

"Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."

Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”

Luke 13:11-13

Living life we have things to that overburden us, to be “bent over”.   We live in a world that has suffered from the afflictions of evil beings, we’re in a world of unclean spirits (John 14:30-31).  That’s why we carry the “tribulations” or “troubles” of this world.  As the crippled woman, we are crippled, bent over, and can’t straighten up.  That’s the pressure of this world; as in John 16:33 Jesus speaks of this world’s “tribulation” (NKJV) or “troubles” (NIV), interestingly, the root of Scripture’s Greek word used here means pressure—and, pressure bears down on us and we become bent over by the prince of affliction and pressure of this world, Satan.  

“But take heart! [Jesus] has overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).  And, you, like the crippled woman can have the pressure in this world lifted from you, because “the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  Free of troubles, tribulation, the pressure of  whatever is crippling your life.  Free! 

Take the time to talk with the Lord quietly, lift up your hands and let Jesus touch you just as he touched the woman crippled by a bad spirit, for “he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”  Jesus sees you, go to his call, let Him touch you. 

Set free!  Hallelujah! 

Owen <><

Acceptance

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 15:7

When first meeting someone, there are times you can sense whether that person will accept you or not.  You may have feelings, if you were to approach me, on whether I will listen to you or even care what is on your heart.  It would be wonderful if you could accept me as I am, inside I want to be more like Jesus—the problem is you’d have to accept that big hunk of me that isn’t.  My desire is simple, you don’t have to do anything to prove yourself to me and I hope for the same acceptance from you. 

To simply accept others is truly a matter of faith, no conditions or deeds required.  Jesus was so accepting of others that he was “reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper” (Mk 14:3), that my friend is acceptance.  Jesus doesn’t have any conditions or ask anything of you, just trust Him, and in turn he will touch you, healing your heart (Eph 2:8). 

I think of people who received more than they expected by accepting Jesus.  One woman that accepted Jesus wanted to touch the hem of His garment (Mt 9:19-21); Bartimaeus, a blind man accepted Jesus unseen, yet, called out, “have mercy on me” (Mk 10:46-48), and countless others who accepted Jesus found healing in body and being, because Jesus responded in unconditional acceptance of them.  Acceptance is a virtue of Jesus and is the delicious fruit of humility (Phil 2:1-13, Col 1:12). 

When you accept someone and they accept you, you will find yourself in the midst of a great healing.  The focus of that healing is to simply accept one another as we are.  That’s exactly how Jesus accepts you—just as you are—when you accept Him, there comes healing to your entire being.  The wounds on your spirit are healed, salvation comes.

Owen <><

The Desire of Your Heart — Power or Compassion?

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, …” Matthew 9:36

Scripture defines God’s personality as, “God is love” (1 Jn 4:16).  To Moses God revealed who he was personally by saying, “God, God, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient — so much love, so deeply true —  loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin” (Ex 34:6-7 the Message).  That’s who I desperately need, how about you? 

    

All power is at God’s disposal, the Bible, nonetheless, does not say “God is power.”  The Lord God Almighty can and will act in power and endow power—but, he does so in love.  When power is not rooted in love, but rooted in pride, the rendering is evil.  If you were to have power alone, your lone desire would be to conquer; your means would be without compassion, you would never experience love.  To what end is the receipt of power without mercy, grace, love, deep love, lived in utter compassion? 

How would you want God to look upon you; in power or with compassion?

What of God’s grace, can it be forced upon one in power, or does his grace come when His eyes look upon you with compassion, and then you’re given a nudge to come?

Thank you Lord for you gracious compassion—the desire of my heart.

Nudged onward daily,

Owen <><

Reaching a Turning Point

And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.     Luke 22:62 NLT

Why was Peter so distraught, so beside himself that he wept bitterly, that he “cried and cried and cried” (The Message)?  Because, when a roster began to crow, words Jesus had spoken to him came to mind, and they began crushing his heart.  Peter was overwhelmed with grief as the guards insulted and beat Christ.  Peter had a turning point in life.

There is, in God’s grace, something more than the blessed hope.  What can be more important than eternity in the glory and presence of the Lord?  What?  An opportunity to embrace a turning point, a time to weep deeply, bitterly; a time to express love for Jesus where one cries and cries and cries.

Peter’s turning point ignited weeping into a ministry that burned, but was not consumed, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Peter did the unimaginable.  What was that?  First, Peter preached the inauguration sermon of Christ’s Church with such anointing, on the day of Pentecost, that over 3,000 were born again.  Then, as his shadow was cast across the sick they received divine healing (Acts 5:15).  Interestingly, Peter’s ministry officially began on Pentecost, the feast celebrating gratitude to God for the harvest; and Jesus spoke of the fields being ready for the harvest (Matt 9:37-38; Lk 10:2-3)—Peter’s Pentecost sermon was for that harvest reaped by the gospel’s salvation message.  Peter’s turning point affected a multitude in his day and affects us today.

Have you realized a turning point?  … Has your soul wept, bitterly cried out for the One betrayed, denied, tormented, and killed—Christ Jesus?  You, Peter, and I all need salvation’s assurance; beyond that is our call to discover a turning point, a moment to weep for Jesus and for those needing Christ—that they too, may have their turning point.    

Weeping and Turning,

Owen <><