Good morning, Church!
Today’s thoughts have been taken from something written by John Otieno which he wanted me to share with you. I have created an abridged version for the blog but you can read the whole article by clicking here.
Have a good week and I am looking forward to seeing you all in a couple of weeks in the flesh! We will still be ‘doing church differently’ to what we were used to pre-lockdown but at least we will be together!
Katharine
OUR GOD IS A GOOD, GOOD FATHER
Our God is a good, good Father. We often declare this in our praise and worship of Him in our church services. It is written in 1 John 4:8 that “God is love”. He is omniscient (all knowing). He is omnipotent (all powerful ). He is omnipresent (present everywhere ). Jesus is God the Son and is also God incarnate.
Jesus died a horrible death on that rugged cross at Golgotha on our behalf. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 it is written “ …He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
In the Gospel of John 3: 16 Jesus said that “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
As I am “born again”, I believe in Jesus and I am fully persuaded that nothing can separate me from God’s love.
It is written in Acts 10: 38 that “ …God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Every single work of Jesus was an expression of God’s love and brought freedom, relief and redemption to everyone concerned. However, the following Biblical example is to my mind note worthy because it manifests God’s love in spite of the Leviticus Laws forbidding what Jesus did. It is the case of the healing of the leper.
In the Gospel of Luke 5:12-14 it is written “And it happened when He [Jesus] was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him saying, “ Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean” Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “ I am willing: be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. And He charged him to tell no one. “ But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”
However, Jesus, who then was a Jewish Rabbi, should not have touched the leper as Moses commanded. In Leviticus 13: 45 to 46 it is written “ Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his moustache , and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ “ He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.”
What I find particularly interesting in this case is that Jesus did not have to touch the leper in order for the leper to be cleansed. This was just an amazing demonstration of love. Why do I say this?
In the Gospel of Luke 17:11-19 it is written “ Now it happened as He [Jesus] went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “ Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “ Go show yourselves to to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “ Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him , “ Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
I don’t know about you but I have struggled with the vexed question of why bad things happen to “born again Christians, loved by God?” More especially in recent times, people have wrestled with this issue. There are a number of possible explanations which can be read by clicking the link above but, in everything, we must remember that our God is a good, good Father. God is love. He is omniscient (all knowing). He is omnipotent (all powerful ). He is omnipresent (present everywhere ).
Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, For He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 106:1
John O
To read more of John’s thoughts, make sure you click the link above as I have edited them for use on the blog.
And as we turn to worshiping God through some songs I have chosen, let’s remember that God is good. He is a good, good Father. He is love. He is everywhere, knows everything and can do anything – far more than we can ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Katharine
If you’re ready to stop worrying and start relying on God’s power in your own life, you need to listen to today’s message from Pastor Robert Madu as he talks about compassion, action and how to remember that God is always in control. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Jesus worked many miracles in the Bible—and yet his disciples still sometimes doubted Him. Don’t forget to remember His power when you’re feeling overwhelmed!
Thank you .