Matthew Chapters 8&9

Sorry it has been a month since my last post...

Wow, there is a lot going on in these two chapters! Most of the sections tell of people who are sick or demon possessed that are brought to Jesus' attention and he heals them. Sounds simple enough. Several points stood out for me. One, Jesus was getting to work. Like the farmers creed, he did what was in front of him to do. If someone needed attention from Jesus, they didn't make an appointment or wait for the next convention, they went to Him or had a friend or family member go to Him (one person was dead) and there was immediate relief. The next point is that those coming to Jesus sought Him out. As Jesus did His work and word got out that He was a healer people believed and came to Him. Now I don't believe that we are talking about unsophisticated uneducated gullible people who would run to any Shaman they heard about to find relief from their suffering. There was faith that this was God/Son of Man, even if they did not have words for it. One example told is a Roman Captain who came to Jesus and asked for healing for one of his servants. His faith in Jesus was so strong that he knew that only a Word would be enough for the healing, Jesus didn't even have to go there. Jesus was amazed and pointed out that many people not of Jewish faith will come to be Saved, and those raised in the church will not have developed any faith at all and be left out. How many different ways does Jesus make Himself known to us? How often have we heard something that just seemed "right" even if it was outside of our scope of experiences or knowledge? We need to remain open to what God has in store for us. We alone do not have a handle on what is possible or plausible in this life or how Jesus will choose to resolve a situation. We simple must believe that it can be done.
The one other point that really caught my attention was the telling of Jesus meeting up with Matthew the tax collector and having dinner with him and other undesirable sinners that evening. The religious leaders were upset that Jesus would set such a bad example. I personally have tried to live this expression of Love and acceptance in my own life. I have good friends/close friends who consider themselves to be pagans, homosexual, atheists, doubters and others. I do not keep my beliefs and faith to myself, I freely share it with them. I do not hide the fact that some of their life choices or actions don't fit with what God has intended for us. I also believe that all of us are fallen and broken and fall short of what is intended for us. I was extremely touched yesterday by one of these "sinners". A co-worker of mine that I have befriended said that she was praying a meditating and I crossed her mind and she came up with several ideas for things that could help me with day to day tasks in the upcoming weeks. (I will have my right arm amputated in about a month). She went to her spouse and said " I was praying and came up with some things that may really bless Natasha". Now for the sinner part: my co-worker is openly gay and frequently mentions her wife of many years. Do I discredit the fact that lesbians pray? To my God? Should I be insulted that God has chosen to bless me through this deviant? (Words that I often hear to describe homosexuals). I have accepted this person as a child of God and have not retained a polite distance from her. I have not merely been civil towards her when appropriate. She is truly a good friend. I am not insulted that God (my God) has chosen her to help me. What sort of blessings or growth opportunities do we miss out on when we close ourselves off from other people? How many other people will miss out on what we have to offer if we don't go to them? My faith tells me that Christ works through me and all people who acknowledge Him, and as far as the sins are concerned, He will work it out personally with the sinner in His own timing. Amazing Love: blatant sin does not keep us from coming to Christ! We hear it said many times that we do not have to be perfect, that we are all sinners and Christ accepts us, but how many believers write people off who haven't repented of some sin/behavior in the time frame that we think they should? How many believers discredit another person's faith because they continue to engage in sinful behavior? Is it our place to question? Now don't misunderstand me, I am not saying that I am accepting or condoning sinful behavior. I will speak out against it to the offender. What I will not do is assume that Jesus cannot be at work in their lives if they profess to have a relationship with Him. I don't know at what point a person will feel convicted enough to give up a particular sin. Fortunately I am not a Savior, my responsibility is only to point the way to Him.