January 10th One Year Bible Readings

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~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Genesis 23:1-24:51 ~ Matthew 8:1-17
Psalm 9:13-20 ~ Proverbs 3:1-6

Old Testament - Today in Genesis chapter 23 we read about the burial of Sarah.  I think an amazing thing to note in this chapter is that Abraham is determined to bury Sarah in Canaan, based on God's promise (Gen 15:9-21) to Abraham that Canaan would be his and his descendant's homeland.  Verse 4 stands out in this chapter and I think can speak for us today as well: ""Here I am, a stranger in a foreign land, with no place to bury my wife." We will see this type of phrase throughout the Old Testament - the idea of being an alien and a stranger.  In Abraham's case, he was literally living in a tent - a very temporary structure.  But yet, Abraham was confident in God's promise of the Promised Land.  And for us today - we are called to be "in the world, but not of the world".  In a sense, we are also aliens and strangers.  The question we might need to ask ourselves - are we acting like we are aliens and strangers in this world?  Are we awaiting our promised land with God in heaven?  Or, are we maybe getting a bit too comfortable in this world?  And maybe even loving the material things of this world - more than eternal things?  And maybe are we forgetting sometimes about the amazing promised land God has in store for us?  Below is a painting by American artist Tom Lovell from 1967 titled "The Burial of Sarah" that I think corresponds nicely with verse 19: "So Abraham buried Sarah there in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, which is at Hebron."

Genesis chapter 24 is a just a wonderful narrative story about Abraham sending his servant Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac!  What I like a lot about this chapter was how God was honored by Abraham, and by the servant at the well, and by Laban and Bethuel at the end of today's readings.  It was evident that everyone was making their plans and prayers based on God!  And not based on their own ideas or will power.  God was being consulted.  The last half of verse 7 stood out to me: "He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a young woman there to be my son's wife."  What I noticed about this verse, is that we didn't read about Abraham praying to God that an angel would go ahead of the servant - nor did we read about God telling Abraham this would be the case.  Perhaps one of these two things happened outside of the text.  But, what struck me was that maybe Abraham had been walking with God for so long now, that he may have been in such close relationship with God that he may have just somehow knew this angel would go ahead - and he wouldn't of said it otherwise.   I just wonder if we are obedient to God and walk with God for a good portion of our lives, as Abraham did, if the will of God and God's works just become more and more evident in our lives?  I'm kind of just thinking out loud here...  :)  Hopefully this makes sense.  I do believe that as we go forward in our spiritual walk, God will continue to share more and new insights with us.  Which is great news!  Our walk with God will not be boring!  Even in the midst of trials and hardships, I believe if we are faithful and obedient and continually seek God's will in our lives, we will come to know Him more and more - and, like Abraham, come to know more and more of the Peace that surpasses all understanding.  I love this image below of Abraham in his later years...

Verse 15 stands out in this chapter: "As he was still praying, a young woman named Rebekah arrived with a water jug on her shoulder. Her father was Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah." As the servant was just finishing his prayer, God was answering it!  Have you ever had this experience?  I am not 100% sure that I have, but I think I have.   I think maybe sometimes God encourages us to pray and sometimes he immediately delivers on that prayer - just so it becomes clear that what happened was the work of God, and not our own work.  Now, don't get me wrong - sometimes we pray for something specific, and God does not answer immediately.  Or... perhaps that's the answer in and of itself - no answer.  It's a mystery - but an adventurous mystery to be sure!  What a great thing to experience though, as this servant did, when a prayer is immediately answered.  Below is 19th century American stained-glass artist John La Farge's "Rebekah at the Well":

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Genesis chapter 24 titled "Dealing with Death" is at this link and commentary on chapter 25 titled "How to Find a Godly Wife" is at this link.

New Testament - Today we read Matthew chapter 8, which is an amazing look at Jesus' healing ministry.  While we do read about someone with leprosy, and a paralyzed man, and others with sicknesses and demons - don't we all need some sort of healing in our lives today?   Maybe we can learn something from the man with leprosy in verse 2: "Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before him, worshiping. "Lord," the man said, "if you want to, you can make me well again."  Do we have this kind of faith?  Do we believe that Jesus can heal us of what is ailing us?  Again, I don't mean just sicknesses - but addictions, and dependencies, and bad habits, and sins?  Do you believe that Jesus can make you well again?  Will you kneel before Jesus, worship Jesus, and ask for healing?

I will give a caveat here - I do know people that have prayed for healing from various sicknesses and diseases - and it has not always been healed.  Please don't see this as any shortcoming in your faith - or in Jesus' power.  Oftentimes God's ways are much more of a mystery than we can comprehend on this side of heaven.  "For now, we see in part.  But, then - in heaven - we will see in full."  (my paraphrase of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:12)  Please don't give up on God or Jesus if the healing is not coming as you'd prayed for it to.  Ultimately, all who have faith in the born, crucified, and risen Jesus will have perfected bodies in heaven.  Please stay focused on this "hope of glory", as Paul also wrote about.

The passages on the faith of the centurion are powerful - especially his words in verse 8: "Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed!" Verses 10 & 11 are significant to Matthew's primarily Jewish audience of this gospel: "When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven."  Jesus is making it clear that heaven will not be just for Jews, but will be made available for all who come to believe in Jesus as Messiah and in his life, his death for the forgiveness of sins, and his resurrection.  Can we learn something from the faith of the centurion in our lives today?

Bible.org's commentary on our readings today in Matthew chapter 8 titled "Speak the Word Only" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 9 verse 18 is so true and powerful: "For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed."  This is a great reminder that God's heart is for the poor in this world!  If God's heart is for the poor - should our heart be for the poor too?  How is your heart for the poor these days?  How do you remember the poor and their hopes?

Proverbs - Proverbs 3:1-6 today mentions the "heart" 3 times.  I think this is significant!  Our hearts - and the state of our hearts are of utmost importance.  Proverbs 3:5-6 is a verse I have committed to memory and repeat to myself often.  It is a beautiful verse to meditate upon.  I'll share it with you in the NIV version that I have it memorized in: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Will you join me in memorizing these 2 verses?  I do believe they will bless you immensely whenever you are feeling worried or anxious about anything in life.

Worship God: Psalm 9:18 today reminded me of this great video below set to the amazing Sara Groves song "Add to the Beauty."  This video shows the urgent work of Blood:Water Mission, an organization drilling wells in Africa. (among other important work) The band Jars of Clay are very involved in this great organizaton.  Please take a few minutes to watch this video and then explore http://www.bloodwatermission.com/

Do you know our God of Beauty?  Click here and add to the Beauty!

Please join me in memorizing a verse of Scripture today:
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Comments from You and Questions of the Day:  Based on our Matthew readings today about Jesus' healings - do you believe that Jesus still heals people today?  What does he heal people of today?  Does he heal sickness?  Addictions?  Laziness?  Pride?  All manner of sins?  Has Jesus healed you of anything?  Do you believe He can?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Caryn]

I have been particularly interested in the gift of healing over the last year or so, and have wondered why we are not seeing supernatural healing happening more regularly. Some pertinent things I have realised from the various resources I've used, and my experience:
1. Fact: God is a healer and wants to heal
2. God meets us at our point of deepest need. Sometimes (but not in all cases) our physical problems are caused by an inner turmoil which can be emotional or spiritual, which God wants to deal with first because it is more important to Him.
3. For me, the mystery around why some people are healed and others aren't (There are Biblical examples of godly men not being healed, eg Paul's "thorn in his side") gives the control back to God, and encourages us to rely completely on Him, rather than it being some form of "magic".

There is so much I still want to learn about healing - it is an incredibly exciting topic, and SO relevant!

[BR]

I feel I have experienced God's healing power. As a child I was sexually abused. As a result of this abuse I turned to alcohol as a method of self medication to deal with my problems. I would drink nine to twelve beers in a typical evening. I drink heavily for 18 years of my life. I often prayed that God would heal me from my addiction. Then one evening, I was sitting in a restaurant. I went to order a drink before my meal. Suddenly the urge for alcohol left me. I knew I was experiencing the healing I was seeking. That was almost eleven years ago. I have not had a drink since that time.

[Jim]

Nothing is greater than being brought up in a Christian home and having Jesus take control of your life at an early age. I got saved at 15 (but had already messed around with some stuff - drugs, drinking, etc.) But still by getting saved at 15 I sure missed alot of junk.

Without Christ I doubt I would have seen my 21 birthday as I was very suicidal.

Then my life seemed to be going well for around a decade when my whole life crumbled - EVERYTHING!!! I felt like the Job of modern times. But praise God it didn't take forever for God to put me back together again for His glory.

After over 30 years as a Christian, and I am excited about being a Christian, it is so awesome to me. But it doesn't seem like many Christians are truly hungry for the things of God, and I know I'm not as hungry as I should be. These are the last of the last days and these are "difficult times" as is stated in II Tim. 3:1-9.

BUT, I am convinced they can be glorious times for the child of God. I cry out the words, "THERES GOT TO BE MORE, THERES GOT TO BE MORE!!!" And with all my heart I believe God does have more for us in the way of an intimate relationship with Him. But it won't come without us going to God with our whole heart and surrendered lives.

[Jodie]

I have an unusually large interest in the subject of God and physical healing. My interest was sparked when I, at 16 years old, started getting involved in my mom's new church. Although it interested me, at this young age, I still felt like something was wrong with their message. The general message was "if you just have enough faith, you will be healed. But if you don't have enough faith, you won't be healed." That, to me, just doesn't make sense, since according to our Lord, it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed, and obviously if you have even the smallest belief that God can heal you, you've got that much faith. So why were people still dying? Why were people still getting sick, and still in wheel chairs? Again, they would point the finger and say YOU don't have enough faith. Well, I have since concluded that their kind of teaching is disgusting. I have watched how they lure people in with promises of health and wealth, and then those who were once on the right track with God become hardened, and really, they try to be their own God. What's sad is that so many of them don't even realize this, don't realize how far away from the truth they have strayed. They are generally very committed people - always going to church, always going to meetings, always praying...but from what I've observed, their motives are wrong. They cling to worldly and self-serving desires - money, cars, big houses, health, anything that will make them appear "blessed". They cling to scriptures saying that it is God's will for us all to live an abundantly blessed life on earth. I think God DOES want to bless us - but IF our motives are pure and we are not putting to much emphasis or importance on these worldly things, or in other words, making them idols in our hearts.
So if we pray to God with a selfish motive, do you think it would REALLY be in our best interest for him to answer? God wants to teach us to be more like Jesus - who was never selfish. If our motive in healing is to only empower ourselves or make us feel better, and that's it, perhaps we won't see God heal. That's not to say though that it's not his will to heal us. I believe it is. But I also believe it is a process that starts on the inside of our HEARTS. It's actually quite undeniable. If you study this subject enough - reading the BIBLE, not listening to what others say - you will see that God loves a pure heart - and has blessed people with health who have shown good motives, and who have gone through the process of getting to know God personally, instead of just listening to a preacher every Sunday morning. God desires to have an intimate relationship with us - and you can't do that without spending some serious alone time seeking Him out. Did you know that God promises long life to those who will know and trust him? That is a promise - straight from God - and God's words cannot return to him void. In Psalm 91:14-16 (BBE) God says "Because he has given me his love, I will take him out of danger: I will put him in a place of honour, because he has kept my name in his heart. When his cry comes up to me, I will give him an answer: I will be with him in trouble; I will make him free from danger and give him honour. With long life will he be rewarded; and I will let him see my salvation."
Now, God promises "long life" - the word life here does not refer to eternity - it is the Greek word "yom" which means "day (24 hours)" - so we can be sure that he's talking about life on earth, for there is no night in heaven - no 24 hour days like we have here. The only other time that God uses this Greek word in the bible is in 1 Kings chapter 3. The king is Soloman, decendent of David. Now it alludes that Soloman worships other gods, but God comes to Soloman and says "What do you want? Ask." Soloman gives God thanks for being true to his promise, that a decendent of David would be on the throne, and then he says "Give your servant, then, a wise heart for judging your people, able to see what is good and what evil; for who is able to be the judge of this great people?"
Notice - Soloman really could have asked God for anything - but he had a good motive, a good heart, and asked for God to help him lead God's people. So how did God respond? He was GREATLY pleased, and because of this, he said "And God said to him, Because your request is for this thing, and not for long life for yourself or for wealth or for the destruction of your haters, but for wisdom to be a judge of causes; I have done as you said: I have given you a wise and far-seeing heart, so that there has never been your equal in the past, and never will there be any like you in the future. And with this I have given you what you made no request for: wealth and honour, so that no king was ever your equal. And if you go on in my ways, keeping my laws and my orders as your father David did, I will also give you a long life."

NEED I SAY MORE?? Our motives must be pure. We need to have a heart for the lost, not just for ourselves. We need to resist evil, and do good. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that by WORKS, we can be sure to get everything we ask for, or that by our WORKS alone we see good things happen. But being obedient to God DOES have its benefits - and I believe God is very clear about this. I suggest buying a copy of The Message translation, and reading it DAY AND NIGHT. Especially, read Psalm 91 and 1 Kings 3. It is incredible. God asks us to cling to him for dear life. What I think he's saying is "Don't give up on me. At the right time, I will rescue you. Don't give up".
Healing obviously was a HUGE part of Jesus' ministry. He healed everyone - and it was unconditional. I believe that this was to get the message across that he DOES heal, and we SHOULD look to him for healing. But, since Jesus is not walking this earth now as he did - things are a little different - but GOD isn't. God doesn't change. And Jesus did not lose any power to heal when he went up to heaven. Don't give up. SEEK GOD - not just for physical healing, but for an intimate relationship with him. It's only then that you can truly love him and keep his name in your heart, as he says in Psalm 91. I hope this helps.

[Anka]

Well,the story of Isaac and Rebekah is one I like:">It just occured to me that maybe not just Abraham was praying for guidance to get a wife for Isaac but Laban and Bethuel as well....just my thoughts of course....later on Rebekah was asked if she would go and she immediately agreed...when she and Isaac met,he loved her,she comforted him.I have met people who said they've made a vow to God to serve Him single mindedly so have refused to get married...in my heart I know God has said"it is not good for man to be alone"and that was before the fallen state..........................:">ok here I go...last year the book of proverbs ended with the wife of noble character...I think for people who seek to do God's will,they need to have a man after God's own heart to be the head of the family and a woman of noble character to support him.....These truly are the end times and for people who are single it is good to seek first the kingdom....I don't see Isaac doing any search for a mate nor Rebekah...but both were seeking to be pleasant to God.
On healing...yes Jesus healed,heals and will heal.I have seen people break away from the faith though because they wanted to be healed,it didn't happen so they got discouraged and walked away.God has His appointed time and He has /his reasons for everything,reasons we may not not understand.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight
These are also verses I have memorised....We should love God with all our heart,no matter what.A friend of mine had a lady who was blind and paralised(in a wheelchair) pray for her son who had an ear infection....That was a humbling experience for her...In spite of her condition the lady still believed Jesus heals and loved God with all her heart...May God help us all not lean unto our own understanding but seek His ways for our life.....
God bless you all

[Jenny]

I love Abraham's faith. Yes, what you said while "talking aloud" made sense. =) Sometimes we dont even pray, but God confirms something in my heart and i just know that i know that i know. one example...once my nonbeliever friend lost something of great value at work and was starting to panic. God told me, he'll find it, it was this quiet confirmation in my heart. So i told my friend...dont worry, you are gonna find it n said i would pray and proceeded to leave the room to deliver something and my friend said, well dont leave, pray now! (i was thinking, hmm...why doesnt he want this power, he knows the Lord answers prayer! (i have shared with this guy, he is very stubborn)). but i was praying as i was leaving the room and said, its ok...i am praying now, you'll get it back. sure enough he found it shortly after and thanked me for praying. (nooo, thank God for returning it to you!). But thats just an example of having a complete confirmation in your heart and perhaps Abraham just had that confirmation...God revealed His plan so Abraham knew that he knew that he knew. does that make sense? =)
now, we're coming up on the story of the ugly sis Leah :( my heart always went out to her cause i was the Leah in my family.

I love how Jesus heals! He's so sweet <3. of course He can still today and if He doesnt, it doesnt mean our faith is weak..i have known some great ppl who were strong believers who died at a pretty young age of terminal illness, God did not heal them in this life, but released them from these bodies...one was my mommy. i know God has a plan bigger then anything i could dream up. I definately feel like a stranger in this world..its like my soul is anxiously awaiting heaven, the depths of my soul cry out to go Home, my eternal home. there is nothing too dear in this world for me...and i have everything to look foward to when i die! maybe i sound morbid to ppl who dont understand, but i cant wait to die! haha. but to be absent from the body is to present with the Lord. As soon as we close our eyes...bam, we are with Jesus! AWESOME!!! Cant wait!

of course love prov 3:5-6...its a very easy one to have written on your heart. i have to remind mysef everyday of this verse.

[Mae]

I love to read about Abraham and the relationship that he has with the Lord. I really believe that when we go foreward in our spiritual walk that God will share more and more insights with us! I slowly get more and more from Him, I recognize more and more when He talks to me. I can feel it in my heart when He talks to me, all what happens between God and I, happens in my heart. And I love that feeling! Even when He's telling me that I did something that made him dissapointed in my. Because I know that He's working with me.

I love to read how Jesus healed people! Verse 17 "This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases". Makes me think back to the day that I was saved by Him. I believe that He does take away everything that looks like the world, make me look like the world. The day I was saved I actually fell down on my knees and begged Him to save me. And He did ... he took away my bad habits, addictions and sins. Sure, sometimes it's hard not to get back to those again, but I know He's there to help me. He doesn't want me to cave for my addictions, I know I'll hurt Him if I do and because of my love for Him I can let it all go.

Psalm 9:16 "The Lord is known for his justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds". ~ Well yes ... I've experienced that A LOT before I was saved! Tastes of my own medicine YUCK! Well, I deserved it of course ... Even then I knew it was God's justice ( I was brought up as a Protestant), but didn't want to admit it.

Proverbs 3:3-4 "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation". ~ I love this!!! I've met so many wonderful people since my rebirth! I can feel the favor with both God and people. And friendships with God as foundation are so strong!! You live the same life, so it can't go wrong! I live with God's word and it shows from the inside and outside. I'm so much happier now!!!!

[Brandie]

Sarah died young compared to husbands and wives now. Wives usually live longer then the husbands. When I read Gen. I think of a romantic story with God in control, so really to me I am just reading history and I know God guides our paths. Although it would be wierd to have my brother and dad say go marry a man i have NEVER met before.

Matt 8:1-17
The man with leprosy reminds me many times and many nights on the oncology floor at BSA. I would think life was the worst and low and behold God would show me that my life was wonderful.
I know Jesus can make us better the more I believe the more I pray the more I write in my journal the better I feel. I even pray in the car.

Psalm 9:18 But the needy will not always be forgtten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish!
Our heart should be for the poor. My heart breaks for the poor. I give little "E" babies clothes to Canyon's Pregnancy Carenet and when the hurricane people came to Amarillo I went through my closet and gave to the Red Cross. I also volunteer as much as I can to help out anyone. I am a member of Future Educators Society and we bought christmas presents for the angel tree. My dad and gma are proud of me and "E" sees that too.

Proverbs
Yes, I will join with you and memorize these verses I shall post these on my site as well :)

I believe Jesus still heals people with all kinds of issues. There are some sins that some people have to want to be heald. Jesus has helped me through depression. I wouldn't be able to get through it without him. He helped me when I was a child and my step mom was such a big meanie. No child should EVER go through that.

[John]

Gen 24

"This is true of this story of Rebekah and Isaac. It is a picture of Pentecost. Here is Abraham, standing for God the Father, sending his unnamed servant into the far country to take a bride for his son -- to invite her to come, to call, to woo, and to win her -- to bring her back at last to the Father's house where the son is waiting to claim his bride for himself. How beautifully that portrays how God, at the Day of Pentecost, sent his Spirit into the world! It is the Spirit's job to call out a people for God's name, to win a bride for Christ; he has been at this task for almost 2,000 years now, and the Son is waiting to receive that bride." - Ray Stedman

I can post nothing better than this sermon.
http://www.pbc.org/library/files/html/3673.html

[Note: Abraham's chief oldest most trusted servant is Eliezer of Damascus (Gen 15:2) - Translations of his name vary from "comforter" "Help of God" "God is Help". Eliezer is the servant who Abraham sent to find a wife for Isaac.]
======================================================
Matt 8

I missed this last year. Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience. Yet of all the signs and wonders (miracles) Jesus did - Matthew starts off with these three involving a leper, a Gentile, and a woman. In Jewish society these three groups of people would be near the bottom of the societal ladder.

What was Matthew indicating???

Miracles were never the cornerstone of Jesus' ministry. What we translate as miracles was either "signs" or "wonders" in the original Greek. These acts never were meant to bring people to faith, and in fact - for the genral public and the nation of Israel - they did not. The "signs" were meant to authenticate that Jesus was who he said he was - God. If one could acknowledge that fact, then one should probably listen to what God has to say. :)

Atheists, a lot of scientists and some groups in (alleged) Christianity dismiss the miracles as never happening. Usually the claim is of the nature that the bible is a biased source. Are there any extra-biblical sources that mention Jesus' signs and wonders? Yes.

Summary:

1.Josephus affirms that Jesus worked miracles.
2.Early hostile Jewish tradition--in Justin and the Rabbinics--manifest the memory that Jesus did works of a miraculous nature.
3.The hostile Graeco-Roman writers [Celsus, Porphyry, Hierocles, Julian] accept that some of Jesus' miraculous works actually occurred.
4.There are two strands of independent, extra-biblical tradition that support the historicity of one specific NT miracle: The Feeding of the 5000.
5.The general trends and patterns in post-Jesus G-R literature and popular belief are easily explained (and perhaps 'best explained' or 'only explained') by the widespread acceptance by the Roman Empire that a real human in recent history (Jesus) had actually performed credible, 'sane', and non-bizarre miracles.
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/mq12.html

Josephus is a Jewish general, who was not a Christian, and was hired by Romans to write a history of the area. Probably the most repected historian of the that era. In Antiquities 18.3.3 Josephus wrote:

"Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ."
http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/ant-18.htm

[note: the word(s) for "wonderful works" is the same used when Josephus discussed the miracles done by Elijah.]

Most people that do not believe in miracles of Jesus have a pre-supposed bias of not believing in the "supernatural". I would suggest that they have done little or no research into the writings of the times and subsequent historians. And I would ask them - "What if you are wrong?"

[Lucy]

It's amazing, ever since I started this Bible reading schedule I have experienced loads of distractive temptations. When I do sit down however, to read God's word, there is always something that jumps out at me. Today it was 'In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight'. ie: we are actually given permission to chat with God 'involving' him in every single aspect of our lives and he will be part of it by helping us along the way. How awesome is this!

[R]

Matthew 8:1-17

Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," He said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus said to him, "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed." (Matthew 8:3-4 NLT)

In this particular passage Jesus sends the man he has just healed of leprosy to the priest not to be declared healed by the priest but to be a “public testimony” to others of his healing. This always bothered me because there is another place where Jesus heals ten lepers and one, a Samaritan, who turns back to worship Him Jesus sends on his way, by passing the Temple. Going to the Temple to have the priests declare you leprosy free was an expensive and time-consuming proposition. (Lev. 13:2-46, 14:2-32).

But today I read “public testimony” and I think I get it. When this man shows up at the Temple to do the eight day procedure of cleansing, bringing all the sacrifices needed for the entire eight days, the oil, the shaving off of all his body hair---something no one would do UNLESS they had really been healed, people would know that God Himself, Emmanuel—God with Us, was amongst them. They would find out that it wasn’t the priest’s who healed this man but someone not from the tribe of Levi. The ceremony pointed to someone, a Messiah, who was not a priests but whose power and authority out-flanked the priests, Jesus.

When I was first diagnosed with Type II diabetes, I prayed daily and asked others to come into agreement with me for my healing. I looked and expected to be healed but nothing happened. Then about three years ago I accepted that God wasn’t going to heal me. I wasn’t angry or bitter I just accepted that my healing wasn’t part of God’s will for me life. I know realize that my reasoning was faulty, very faulty.

Divine healing is God stepping in to heal us when we are unable to heal ourselves. I was able to do something about my medical conditions, which also included high blood pressure. I had accepted these things as inevitable, part of the “aging” process and boy was I wrong. Boy was I wrong. Often times the things that befall us is of our own doing. I had become sedentary—believing that it was my time to sit back and let others do. My drastically reduced activity had caused me to open the door to degenerative diseases and those things we associate with getting older. I was wrong.

Since beginning an exercise regiment almost one-year ago, my doctor has begun to “wean” me off of the medications I’m currently taking. Sometimes the physical healing we long for is not the answer; the healing may be in the way we think. I experienced a miracle: the miracle of getting up in the morning and working out.

[Gina]

Abraham's faith is amazing...he just knew God would guide his servant to the right person for his son! I believe that as we read daily God's word and grow closer to Him that we can "just know" that God will do something in any situation. I still struggle with that at times, I try to manipulate the situation to bring the outcome faster or do it my way...well, as I grow with Jesus, I realize I have no control...all control is His and everything is in His perfect time. As long as I stay close to Him, I will know His will and will hear His voice.

Yes! I know God still heals! My friend's husband was just healed of cancer! He had it for a few months, and one day went back for a test and woo-hoo...it was GONE!!! Only God can do that!!! I also know that God sometimes chooses to not heal in the way that we would like Him too...but we have to trust that God has a plan that is much better and bigger than ours! Sometimes the healing comes in the form of death...and for believers...that is thee perfect healing! I'm with Jenny on that one...I can't wait to die! Ooo that does sound morbid...but I think you all know what we mean! :0)

Prov 3:5-6 is one that I had memorized when I first got saved. I signed up for a bible study and this was one of the memory verses! I LOVE it!

[Bill]

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

" Based on our Matthew readings today about Jesus' healings - do you believe that Jesus still heals people today? What does he heal people of today? Does he heal sickness? Addictions? Laziness? Pride? All manner of sins? Has Jesus healed you of anything? Do you believe He can?"

When I think of healing I think of sickness, disease and even emotional wounds. Contrary to modern humanistic psychology I don’t view alcoholism and drug addiction as a sickness or disease. I see those problems in a person’s life as the result of sin and spiritual bondage, strongholds of Satan in a person’s life from which he/she needs divine deliverance. Yes, I believe has healed me of physical infirmities in the past, particulary my speedy recovery from a heart attack I suffered about 3 years ago. I know He set me free from sins in my past. I have faith that He can and will heal me in answer to prayer.

GENESIS 23:1-24:51

The Cave of Machpelah ( 23:9 ) is known today as the “Cave of the Patriarchs” which is a holy site to Jews and Muslims. Christians, of course, have an interest in it too. It is there that Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah ( 49:30 ), Leah and Jacob ( 50:13 ) are buried. Unfortunately muslims control this site at the moment which makes it a risky place to visit in the Holy Land.

I am sure at least most of us have heard the old saying “Marriages made in Heaven.” Well, this was certainly true in the case of Isaac and Rebekah. The Scripture says that God had “appointed” ( 24:14, 44 ) Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife. I believe that this is true for all marriages. The problem is that some people rush into it for the wrong reasons and don’t wait for God’s perfect timing. So they marry out of the will of God to someone whom God had not “appointed” for them and therefore not in His plans for their lives. Many people maybe could have avoided going through a divorce if they had diligently sought God’s will in the matter first.

MATTHEW 8:1-17

In this passage we see the power of Jesus to heal by either the word of His mouth ( v.8 ) or by the touch of His Hand ( v. 3, 15 ). I like what the centurion said to Jesus: “…SPEAK THE WORD ONLY, and my servant shall be healed “ ( v.8 ). When I ask the Lord for healing for myself or for others that is often how I pray too. I think it is important to note, however, that we cannot ‘name and claim’ miracles of healing as some do today. To me that seems presumptuous and disregards the Lord’s will in the matter. The leper did not approach Jesus and say I claim healing for myself in your name. He said, “ Lord, IF THOU WILT, thou canst make me clean “ ( v.2 ). If it were always God’s will to heal supernaturally then none of us would ever get sick and die. We could just ‘name it and claim it ’ and we would have it. In some Christian circles this teaching is also known as “positive confession.”

PSALM 9:13-20

There are powerful warnings in this passage of Scripture that apply to all nations and especially to ours today. I often quote them when I discuss matters of church and state. I have placed tiny American flags in the margin of my Bible next to these verses. America today is a nation that has forgotten God ( v.17 ) and has become no longer “one nation UNDER GOD “ but rather a nation guided by men who refuse to acknowledge God and have no fear of God before their eyes ( v.20 ).

PROVERBS 3:1-6

Verse 2 is literally true in a general sense. It reminds of a research study that was done some years ago found that people who go to church, read the Bible and pray tend to live longer than those who do not.

At the beginning of the One Year Bible journey there was discussion about Scripture memoriazation. In Verse 3 we are exhorted to “…write them upon the table of thine
heart.”

Verses 5-6 are verses that I memorized many years ago which the Lord brings to my rememberance often. I dare not follow my own heart nor trust my own understanding nor choose my own path. I have been there and done that before I came to the Lord and all it did was cause me sorrow and grief. Trusting in the Lord and acknowledging Him in all of our ways is the way to go. Trust me on this.

[Andrew]

I saw Richard Dawkins last night on TV, debunking relion because no one was healed at Lourdes.

I wish he would have gone to Africa to see healed AIDS victims or people that have been brought back to life after a few days in a coffin. That would ruin his TV program.

Does God still heal? Yes, but sometimes He choses not to.

BTW - Genesis 24 in our reading today is a great story - the first account of nose piercing in the Bible.

[R]

I heard a minister talk about the death of her husband from Cancer, which she had been healed from herself, third stage cervical cancer... She talked about struggling with and raging to God, asking God was He still up there?

Her answer was, "I did heal him, but I healed him my way not yours." She called it the "Other Miracle." The Miracle that kept her sane, the miracle that stopped her from blowing her brains out from despair, the miracle that kept her from drowning her sorrow in alcohol and drugs. I've never forgotten the word she delivered and strive to always find the "Other" miracle in things that appear to be tragic. Sometimes we need another perspective, God’s perspective.

God does heal, but He does it His way not ours. Sometimes our way is lined up with His way.

[R]

Genesis 23-24:51

Some facts:

Isaac is now 37 years old (Sarah had him at 90 -Gen 17:17). Abraham is known as and was called, God’s friend (James 2:23).

I’m going to assume not only did Abraham speak to Sarah about a wife for Isaac, but he also spoke to God as His friend. Friends have this habit of knowing everything about each other. In fact, a friend, a true friend, is someone who knows everything about you and still likes you. More than likely Abraham saw the type of woman that lived in the area and judged them unacceptable. He probably had been talking to God about this state of affairs for a while. And if we remember in our previous readings, we are told that Abraham received news from afar regarding his brother and his brother’s children (Gen 22:20-24). We were set up by God in the previous chapter to here and receive this information about Bethuel and his family just as Abraham was set up to send his servant to look for Rebekah.

It has just came to my mind while typing this out that Abraham may have known that Isaac was to marry Rebekah, by the Word of his friend, God. The entire scenario may have needed to be played out for those involved in God’s set-up, Bethuel’s family and Abraham’s household servant, and more importantly Isaac, and possibly us to show the power of God and that his will comes to pass no matter how hard we oppose Him.. The 10th chapter of 1st Corinthians states that the Old Testament was written to be an example for us (1 Cor 10:5;11) as admonishments and examples.

In regard to prayer. I have come to see prayer as a form of communication with God and it is a two way street. If we take James’ direction to us, we will be quick to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19). As God’s friend, I believe, Abraham was in continual prayer with God, especially after the birth of Isaac, hearing from God and speaking, a little ‘cause by the time of Isaac’s birth and after, Abraham knew that God had all the wisdom and all the answers. I use to sit in on Master Voice classes for Opera singers because my director at work at the time, taught it. I leaned many valuable “spiritual” lessons just from listening to the directions and corrections given to the singers. One Master Teacher, who was clearly a believer, I could tell by the way she taught the singers said this to a young singer who was singing without understanding, or as some musicians call it, “Not Playing/Singing in truth. Her Words:

“Singing Opera is like prayer. It is more about listening than speaking,” She said as I almost fell out of my seat.

[L]

When I read the account of the burial of Abraham's beloved wife, I am deeply moved. When I think of all that Sarah put up with in Abraham's life, especially his shortfalls her death means all the more. We are told that after she died, "there Abraham mourned and wept for her." One can only surmise how much Abraham loved this woman of God who had born their Isaac, the 'son of promise.' He had failed her several times and nevertheless she never stopped loving him.

[L]

One line stood out to me from Abraham's relationship with Sarah. The Scripture simply tells us "There Abraham mourned and wept for her." After all these years of walking with God together, waiting for God's promises to them to be fulfilled, it came to this---he would have to bury his beloved wife. How his heart felt I can only imagine. I have been married 30 years. I pray my wife and I will share another 30 years together. As I write this my wife and I are preparing to go to a cancer center for her to have the first of many chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer. We have sought to be 'a little Sarah and Abraham' all these years.

My wife and I 'claimed' Genesis 12:1-3 as 'life verses' during our university years. The Navigators who brought us to Christ as students constantly challenged us to 'claim the promises of God and to live in the flow of God's promises to Abraham. Galatians 3:29 and Galatians 4:29 say, "And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you.....And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just as Isaac."

Our hope as we journey through this life is the same as Abraham and Sarah's---'he was looking confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.' Hebrews 11:10

Thanks again for this wonderful resource. I look forward to my times in the Word EVERY DAY...I love the art work that complements the readings...

[R]

L—Your statement, “We have sought to be 'a little Sarah and Abraham' all these years.” Brought tears to my eyes and reminded me of this passage from Isaiah:

HEARKEN TO Me, you who follow after rightness and justice, you who seek and inquire of [and require] the Lord [claiming Him by necessity and by right]: look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the hole in the quarry from which you were dug (Isaiah 51:1 Amp)

Thank you for your commitment to each other. I believe marriage was designed to be a representation, on the earth, of the Kingdom of God, in heaven. Thank you for modeling, in your commitment to each other the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

[Shirley]

I have multiple sclerosis, and for the first few years of my disease, I prayed for healing and had hands laid on me by many people. I believed in healing, and at first I was very puzzled because I was not healed. But, I slowly came to the conclusion that the real healing I needed was inside myself -- I had drifted from lots of God's ways. I think if I had been healed physically, I would just have gone along the same path. As it is, I have realized how important our spiritual life and relationship with God is. This is where my focus is now, and I do believe that God is continuously healing me as I learn more and more. I DO believe that God can heal physically -- I just don't think that I am personally ready for a physical healing yet.

[Mary]

First I want to say that God spoke to my heart today in the accounts in Matt.8 I have read that many times before but, today seems extra special because of some personal healing needed in my family. I think maybe we are not seeing this kind of healing today is sometimes a lack of faith .God is still the same today as he was in the beginnig of time so why are we not seeing more miracales in healing.

[Brandon]

We read yesterday in Matthew 7:28-29 "After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught as one who had real authority...". We read in the very next verse that a man knelt befor him, and called him Lord. when I read this I'm reminded that no matter how good of a speaker I am or how well we can verbally articulate what we want to say, we simply can't speak with any more authority and power that the word of God already has. Thus I'm encouraged once again to read the Bible, and to never take for granted that the words I read, truly are God's words.

[John]

As a person who accepted Christ late in life, I have been amazed at what God has done in my life. Before salvation , at the moment of salvation and continuing today, God has been changing me and molding me through his son - Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

I have an extremely addictive personality. Everything in my life has been done to excess. God has been taking care of those addictions one by one - like peeling back the layers off an onion. I tried many times to kick the worst addictions on my own, and failed miserably each time.

At 42, I had a 28 year gambling addiction that had grown in size each year. One day I got out of bed and never had the urge to place a bet again. No lotto, no ncaa pick sheets, no gambling of any kind. Around the same time, I had a 23 year problem with alcohol. I craved the numbing effect of alcohol, and drank a bottle a day of booze over those years. Again, one day I woke up and had no desire to drink again, and to date have had two drinks in eight years.

At 48+ during the moment of salvation when I completely submitted my will to the will of God - three things happened. I was instantly cured of a debilitating mental illness, my explosive temper was taken away (have been perturbed some in last 18 months, but the anger is gone), and profanity was taken from me. I do not mean that I just don't curse anymore, I MEAN the words have left my vocabulary. I have to think to even recall some of the words. This is amazing, because I was a prolific curser/swearer and the words just tripped off my tongue. I have not cursed in 19 months - not once.

As I continually strive to please God since my salvation, study his word and get invovled in my church and community - God has dealt with other addictions: Pornography (I had a $10,000 collection), Cigarettes/Cigars (two packs a day or ten cigars a day for 30 years), Two liters a day of Coca-Cola addiction for 20 years, and currently my diet has been changing and I am getting back in shape after a 20 year lapse in this area.

Each time it is the desire for the addiction that is taken away. My addiction is cut off at the root. God heals completely. I do not know why he has moved so powerfully in my life. My best guess is that he wants me so transformed that people (non-believers or believers that have lost some of their faith)who knew me before or hear my story, would want to learn more about this God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or renew their faith if they have strayed.

The healing is certainly not been done on my request or prayers. Some happened before I believed, and since salvation I really had not wanted to give up some of these things - but God took them out of my life anyway. God knows what I need in my life.

Ironic part: At 19 I had a six month fling with a variety of drugs. I quit using drugs because I did not feel in control while under the influence. By all my other addictions - you can tell - I was never in control of my life.

Conjecture: If I had stayed on drugs, I would have been a suicide victim. If I had kept gambling, I would have been so in debt, that I may have ended it. If I had kept on drinking while suffering mental illness, I may have killed myself. So even these things that stopped before salvation have God's hand on them. He was always protecting me to keep me for that moment that I would commit my life to his Son.

Important to note: Never an intervention or a crisis in my life, no recovery groups, no counselling, no withdrawl symptoms - just complete healing from the Master Physician. The Praise, Glory and AWE is to be directed to HIM.

Sorry this is so Long.

[Laura]

I would just like to start out today by saying, John thank you so much for sharing your testimony with us. It's amazing to see how God healed you and is such a vital part of your life. I love to hear stories of others that have had struggles and how God pulled them through.

I have had so many instances of times when God has given me (not necessarily physical healing) but peace and comfort in certain situations. I have learned that God always hears our requests and answers our prayers sometimes immediately. Other times, I see the lesson that He wanted me to learn. He does things on His time and His way. We don't often understand that. Things usually always make sense to me later when my prayers aren't answered right away. Usually the outcome to prayers turns out better than I even imagined they would. He usually goes above and beyond in ways I never even thought of.

If we take a look at all the terrible tragedies in the world and become angry or disgrunted with God, we need to stop and think and remember the verse in Romans 8:28 "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His promises". Do you remember after the 9/11 incident when people began turning back to God, attending church more and that a great outpouring of love and compassion was seen by the many people who volunteered to help the families of the victims, lots of patriotism for our country that was seen etc... It seems like it often takes some kind of tragedy in our lives to occur to shake us up and make us realize who is really in charge. There is good that comes out of something terrible and God was glorified in the end.

On a personal note, I've struggled with anger before. Sometimes I tend to speak before I think and act on impulse. I remember one time being at work and being so argry with a supervisor of mine that I was scheming of a way to get back at her when I went on my break. I thought of all the choice words I could use and felt that I was right and should be treated more fairly. What I was prompted to do instead,was probably the best thing at the time, and that was to pray. When I prayed an amazing thing happened, all that anger just disappeared like vapor. It surprised even me. I asked God how I should handle my supervisor and He said go back and apologize. Well that was the last thing on my mind. But, I felt like this time I should obey Him. And guess what, her and I have had a great relationship ever since.

I have learned that no matter how small it seems like your request is, God is always there to help in some way. I often pray that He helps me find my keys when they get lost and small things like that. Nothing is too small for God. I know He is still working on me with the more serious issues and teaching me many important lessons along the way.

One of my favorit verses was todays verses in Proverbs 3:6. In all ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. I really try to live my life by that verse and feel it is so important to memorize that one. Thanks again Mike.

[Jan]

John, isn't our Beloved so amazing...He is just beyond words to explain His unfailing love for us all. I praise Him greatly for your many healings/deliverances & the way in which they have come.

Take heed my brother...He has something very very special for you in life.

jan

[Terry]

John, you have made my day and I thank God for your testimony! Sometimes I think that those of us who grew up in the church are at a great disadvantage because we have become so used to church and God-talk that we have become too ambivalent towards God Himself. We take Him for granted and are almost desensitized to His Holy Word!

That is one reason I am so glad to be in this Bible Study. I am expecting a miracle from Him - the transformation of my old attitude (the old man) to a brand new attitude (the new man) - one of more love and more faith and more desire to serve Him and to be closer to Him. I am almost jealous (hopefully in a 'right' way) of Abraham and his relationship with God. I want to have that kind of closeness to my Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

[Tom]

I believe Jesus heals all kind of sin. I am a healthcare provider and I have many of my patients ask why me? I once had a minster answer that for me. He stated that Jesus was planning to use you to help someone else by giving them the strength to get through the situation and grow in health or presonally. He also stated that this applied to all situations i.e. martial problem, drinking ect. I thank God for this Blog. This makes me want to Blog to spread the Word. Thank God For this.

God heals in many different ways.If someone had told me what the coming year had in store for us as a family, I would have said, there is no way we as a family or as a mother will live thru this. Our handsome son was diagnosed with Aids. It was a total shock. He was in the medical field and my first thought was, good, he will get the best treatment from his peers. I was so wrong. He was rejected by far more physicians, nurses and workers in the hospital then I would ever had dreamed possible. Some refused to treat him, handing his case to someone else and some refused to even come in his room. As his mother, I thought of our Mother Mary and how she must have felt as she watched her Son being jeered, beaten and finally nailed to the cross. We were told by one Doctor not to tell his brothers and sisters that he had Aids, that they would not want to have anything to do with him. I told him he was wrong, that they would love him as they always had, and they did. My annual retreat was coming up and my son insisted that I go. As the speaker stepped up to begin his talk, he said "Pick Up Your Cross and Follow Me". I knew God was talking to me. I picked up my cross and followed Him. It was a terrible year, as we watched our son die. But I was so thankful that we all had this time with him. One night he couldn't go to sleep, so I laid beside him and we held hands and said The Lords Prayer. What precious memories. Towards the end he had a choice of more aggressive treatment or hospice. We told him we would support his decision. He was having a hard time deciding, he wanted to live, he was only twenty-four. I held him and told him, "As hard as it is for me to believe that someone could love you more then we do, there is, and He is waiting for you with open arms"and if everything you have been taught about Jesus and Heaven is a lot of baloney, you somehow, let me know. He said , I will, Mama. He died that night. No one could ever have told me I would say "Thank You Father" for taking him home, but I did. I was at peace. There were a few comments at his funeral, that the doctor must have given me some seditives. My seditive was my Lord. He walked with me every step. He heals the broken heart, so you can go on.
A few weeks went by and I was talking to God and told him I just needed to know my son was alright. I had received a daily devotional from a cousin, who said it had helped her when her husband died. I opened the book, just randomly, and read a small passage in the middle of the page, because there was something about "green pastures" and The Twenty-Third Psalm was my sons favorite. It said:
In "pastures green"? Not always; sometimes He Who knowest best, in kindness leaeth me In weary ways, where heavy shadows be.
So, whether on the hill-tops high and fair I dwell, or in the sunless valleys, where The shadows lie, what matter? He is there.
At the very far side of the poem there was a name. It was my son's name. I had my answer. Thank you Father. There is no question, he does answer prayer in many forms.
I'm sorry this is so long, but I did want to share His goodness and love for each of us.

[Chip]

God’s character does not change, right? (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6) Jesus Christ - who is God - is the same yesterday, today, and forever, right? (Hebrews 13:8) According to our reading today, Jesus’ ministry was to heal - physically as well as spiritually - the sick. Jesus sent out his disciples with orders to heal the sick. (Matthew 10:8) I think it is plainly obvious that Jesus still heals people today. Most amazingly, physical healing is the least miraculous of Jesus’ healing work today. Most importantly - most miraculously - Jesus heals us of our Spiritual death and corruption and restores our right relationship with God. We become new spiritual creations! (II Corinthians 5:7) As His Spirit works in our lives, we are “transformed in the renewing of [our] minds” (Romas 12:2) - which I believe to mean that Jesus heals us of our iniquities, addictions, and other inclinations of our former selves toward evil: mental/emotional healing. And finally, yes, I do believe that Jesus still ministers physical healing today. Who, what, where, when, and why are questions all far too advanced for my feeble mind to comprehend, and I won’t let my inability to answer them rattle my faith - though, I will continue to study the Word and try to walk more closely with my Lord, in the hope that my faith may grow, and that I might gain more wisdom to know the answers to these questions insofar as God will reveal them.

[Brent]

The beginning of Proverbs chapter two and Proverbs chapter three begin with the command to store God's word within our hearts. I don't believe that it is coincidence that Mike challenged us to memorize scripture this year.
How is everyone doing? The obedience to this command promises us understanding of the fear of the Lord and finding knowledge of God (chapter two)as well as long life and prosperity.(chapter three)

[Liz]

What I find after reading the Matthew portion of the reading today is that the faith like the Centurion's is indeed rare ... how easily adults become jaded, especially after hardships and turmoil. I am jaded and cynical myself and I find it hard to have the kind of faith that the centurion demonstrated ... no wonder Jesus was amazed. :)

[K]

Proverbs 3:5-6 were part of our son's Sunday School Kindergarten memorization program. Those verses are well memorized by all our house :-)

[Mark]

Isaiah 65:24 says: "Before they call out, I'll answer.
Before they've finished speaking, I'll have heard."
Both Abraham's servant and the centurion in today's readings received answers as they were speaking.

Yet Paul's pleas for deliverance from his "thorn in the flesh" seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Our omnipotent, eternal God is sovereign. He is not required to answer to anyone, yet He commits himself to guiding our paths if we will delight in Him. This reminds me that He is also a very personal God.

[BJ]

Proverbs 3:5&6 are verses I committed to memory too. I memorized it in the NAS. That is the version I read, study, and memorize from.

In verse 6 when we know God what we are doing is we are continually getting to know God personally and we are in constant fellowship with Him.

I believe vv 1-12 go together and they shouldn't have been split up. We receive wisdom from God when we trust and honor Him. He delivers us from evil and gives us longevity and peace(vv 1-2), we find favor with God and man(vv 3-4), we are given guidence(vv 5-6), health(vv. 7-8), prosperity(vv 9-10), and learn and have a proper response to discipline(vv 11-12).

I like how the word persih in used in the NAS version of Psalm 9:18... For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.

God Bless

[R]

I’m struck at how there is a common theme of faith running through all four readings today. Or I’ve just happened to notice this theme at this particular time. There are all kinds of faith through out this reading, little faith, great faith, apprehensive faith and faith that seems a little uncertain then goes into confident assurance

Hebrew 11:1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Faith is acting upon evidence that is not perceived by the five senses but the person knows within him or herself that what they have heard or believe is true.

Genesis 23:1-24:51

Abraham is a man nearing the end of his life, a man who tried to figure out God and had gotten it wrong, a lot. He knew he had heard from God but lacking evidence about what he had heard, he tried to work things out himself. But now we see him buying a piece of land to bury Sarah in the land of Cannon, a land promised to his descendents, but not to him. Because he knows that future generations will possess where he is standing, he is confident in buying the land; however, in his current state he realized he is an alien in this land. To him the future is as tangible as the present because of his now great faith.

His faith is such that he sends his trusted servant to get a wife for his son Isaac. And this is not just any wife from anywhere because he knows that God will direct this servant to the right woman. In fact Abraham speaks to his servant emphatically because by now he realized and had come to believe that whatever God says He will deliver on.

Genesis 24: 39" `But suppose I (Abraham’s servant) can't find a young woman willing to come back with me?' I asked him. 40`You will,' he told me, `for the LORD, in whose presence I have walked, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must get a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father's family. 41But if you go to my relatives and they refuse to let her come, you will be free from your oath.'

There is no hesitating, no doubt in Abraham regarding what God is doing and will do in his life and the life of his descendent(s).

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD , and he credited it to him as righteousness. It may have taken Abraham a while before he fully believed with such Great Faith, but God, who knows the beginning from the end saw Abraham’s great faith before Abraham began walking in the confidence of his relationship with God. Abraham is called the Friend of God (James 2:23) and a friend, in the truest sense of the word (or my definition), is someone who knows everything about you and still likes you. God knew everything about Abraham and liked him. So too God knows everything about us. And he liked us, loved us, so much that He gave His only Son. But we have to believe, by faith, to acquire the promise.

Matthew 8:1-17

In this passage of scripture we have two people who come to Jesus and each exhibits faith because they came to him believing that Jesus could do for them what they so desperately sought after. Each of these two gentlemen had faith but they were at different levels of faith.

The leper knew that Jesus could heal; however, he was uncertain if Jesus would heal him. “Lord, if you want to …” Many of us have this kind of faith, including myself, where we know and understand that Jesus can…but we are hamstrung from going further in getting our desires and needs met because we are not sure if He will do anything for us. We read Jesus’ Words stating that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom, however we think that it is for somebody else not us.

Then we have a Roman Centurion who is not a citizen of the kingdom but some how he understands that Jesus is operating not only in authority over those things that bring death to our lives, he knows within himself that Jesus is also operating under the authority of God. So powerful is his understanding of this revelation knowledge that he just tells Jesus to, “Speak the Word and my servant will be healed.” This man has great faith. No need to come to my house since I too am not worthy because I’m not even a citizen of the kingdom, but I have faith enough to know that the power to heal is not in the touch of Your hands but in the Words You speak.

We also have the crowd that comes to the door of Peter’s house after he healed Peter’s mother-in-law, bringing sick folk to be healed because their faith is such that they believed if we come to Him, we would be made whole.

Psalm 9:13-20

The Psalmist has faith that God’s enemies will go down to the grave even thought he has yet to see them take that journey. He has faith that the poor and needy will not be forgotten nor crushed. But he wants to see God, the Lord, make His enemies tremble in fear so they will know the true relationship between man and the God who created them.
Proverbs 3:1-6

And we end with a much beloved verse, verse six, that requires faith in order to trust the God who will direct our paths as we submit our understanding to His will.

For me this today’s reading has truly been a journey of faith, different levels of faith. This inspires me to continue running the race even knowing that I have not attained Great Faith. As my feet trod the path set before me, I will build up my faith just as a runner how consistently runs will build up stamina to run the path set before him.

Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Grace and peace

[Susan]

This may be a review of a few days.

Orson Scott Card (Greensboro, NC) writes about these historical fiction accounts of these stories in Genesis. He writes about the Patriarchs wives. Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah.
He takes a Mormon slant.

Bodie Thoene (Colorado) also writes about the early church in her series the AD Chronicles. She describes Christ as the first light, the second touch (a book about lepers). Christ is also the four dawn in his genelogy.. there are 14 generations between, Abraham, David, the Exile, then to Christ. He is the fifth seal. There are five births that have special protection in the Bible. Issac, Moses, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Jesus.

I also went through Beth Moore's bible studies The Patriarchs and Believing God (about Abraham and those in the hall of faith Heb. 11)... a few years ago. If you want to dig deeper, she does a great job of pointing out life applications to the text. We memorized a verse in Hebrews. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later recieve as his inhertence, obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going.

It reminds me of our family's Abraham journey. My sweet twins were born two months premature. The only thing I could do was submit the whole situation to God. It was out of my hands. I did not know what was going to happen. I believe God alone pulled my girls through. They are 6 months now and doing very well.

Well, I think that's enough for one day.

[jen]

Matthew 8:8 is one of my memory verses which I repeat often especially if I am feeling guilty

I pray for the poor and support a little girl who has a terrible sickness

proverbs 3:1-6 amen

[Wendy]

Absolutely, Jesus still heals people today! I am living proof! I was basically bed ridden August, September and October of this year. After a missions trip to China in July after years of remission of psorasis I had a recoccurence. Not only did I have the psorasis on my body, it set into psoratic arthritis in my joints and my immune system was literally under attack. It was a very difficult, painful and stressful time. After a battery of tests and x-rays I was approved by my insurance company to begin intravenous therapy at the cost of $24,000 a year in the hosptial every 4 weeks for the rest of my life. I was so sick, I had to quit my job. We decided not to accet this. We firmly believe that God desires us to be well. So, we SAID THE WORD! We began to claim and speak every day that "by his stripes I am healed!" and I reminded God every day that he took up my infirmities at the cross, so I good be whole. We went and prayed with several friends and church members in agreement for healing. About November I suddendly got better, was able to discontinue my pain medicine and can now tell you that I am completely healed and not taking any treatments. The doctors don't know what to think, and when I went to the eye doctor last month, I've worn a very strong contact and eye glass prescription since I was 15 years old, my prescription strength was actually lowered for the first time and not just a little, a lot, because my eye sight had improved! Praise God!! The scriptures say we can speak things into existence, I think that was what Abraham was doing when we mentioned the angel, he spoke it by faith. God is still on the throne today, it takes faith, he has given us all power and authorithy under heaven to trample snakes, and scorpions and all kind of evil and sickness. Use your authority today and SAY THE WORD! Christ is in you and he is the same today as yesterday. Praise the Lord!

[Skip]

I certainly do believe that Jesus still heals people today. I have seen and heard of cancer patients who were told that there was no hope for recovery and I truly believe that through their prayer and the prayers of others they went into remission and lived many years beyond what any doctor had told them. God chose not to heal my father of cancer. I lost him 9-months after he was diagnosed. He was not only my dad, he was my best friend. I prayed for his healing but it never came. I am not mad at God because I know that God has a plan for all of us. It was my dad’s time to go home to be with Jesus and I am happy for him and wait for the day when I will again see him and be together with him in the company of Jesus. What a wonderful day that will be!

The verse that stands out to me is: Matthew 8:8-9
8 But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 "For I also am a man under (I)authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."

What powerful faith this centurion has! I always try to model my faith after this centurion. Believe without seeing! Whenever I feel my faith slipping I recall these two versus and almost immediately my faith gets a boost. What a wonderful Lord we have in Jesus!

Yours in Christ
Skip

[CK]

A friend of my brother was diagnosed with cancer early last year. At the time he was diagnosed he was given 3 weeks to live, He was young-in his early 30's, a well known musician in my town, had a girlfriend who was pregnant with his child. Everyone was praying for him to be healed. One day the hospital chaplain came to visit him and pray with him. After the chaplain left, his nurse asked him if he knew Jesus. He said no. Then the nurse asked him if he was ready to meet Jesus and they prayed together and he accepted Jesus.
He and his girlfriend were married while he was in the hospital. They had a son. His life was changed as only Jesus can change it. He died on Thanksgiving day last year-not from the cancer but from complications of surgery to remove some blood clots about 10 months after the original diagnosis. How wonderful though that he died knowing the Lord! He may not have been physically healed but he was spiritually healed. He had a chance to be a husband and father. All because of a nurse who led him to Jesus. Each of us has chances like that to witness and how many of us do it? But that is the great commission-to bring others to Jesus so they can be "spiritually" healed as well.