Fear Not

The below is a reposting of a post I had written March of 2009. With almost 30,000 since that time from around the world, over 13,000 just the six months of 2012, what is the attraction? Why are so many people interested in this blog? What is going on in this world? Read the following short blog and give me your idea as to what is happening.

I have heard for years that there are 365 “fear not’s” in the bible, one for every day of the week. What a comfort to believe that there is one for every day of the week. And yet, one “fear not” from Jesus is enough, right?

Well, I hate to rain on anyone’s parade, but I have dug and hunted and I can not even find 100 “fear not’s.”

• King James Version: 74 – fear not; 29 – be not afraid
• New American Standard Bible:  4 – fear not; 57 – do not fear; 46 – do not be afraid

This information is not earth shaking. It’s just a cute saying that is wrong and way off. Don’t let it shake your faith, just Fear Not!

At the very best the word for Fear, in all of it’s forms, is only listed 314 times in the original languages which includes words that have been translated into words such as terrible, dreadful, reverence, and terrible acts. As for the different translations blueletterbible.com also list the following:

NKJV 129, NIV 66, NASB 127, ASV 148, DBY 155, HNV 44, NLT 38, ESV 137, RSV 139, YNG 115, WEB 144

The fact is, it would be just as true if it were listed only one time in scripture.

When God said, “let there be light,” He only had to say it one time for it to happen. It does not have to be listed 365 times.

Fasting, A Time of Desperation

During our final week of fasting it is still very important to remember that a Daniel Fast is only a diet if there is no desperation, the stirring of the emotions. Matthew gives a compelling picture of what desperation looks like in Matthew 9:18-26.

At a time that Jesus’ ministry is becoming controversial one of the main leaders of the Synagogue in Capernaum comes to Jesus. According to Mark and Luke, his name was Jairus. This could be political suicide. But he was desperate.

Matthew records that the daughter has just died and Mark and Luke record that she is almost dead. The greek word that is used here in Matthew does not make this a contradiction but rather than being dead it is evident that she may be dead by the time that he brings Jesus back to his house. This is last minute. He is in panic mode.

This was Jairus’ baby. According to Mark and Luke, she is twelve and his only child. By the age of 12 the daughters were to be referred to as a woman. But, being his only child, this is not a woman to him but his little girl.

So, why do you think that he waited until she was almost dead? Did he not love her? Did he not know days or hours earlier that she was sick?

I have this sneaking suspicion that his wife was behind him going to Jesus. I can picture them panicing because nothing they have done has made her any better. Her breathing is becoming laborsome. The color is leaving her face. Her hands are clammy. They are pacing the room and his wife says, “Jairus, forget what the other people will say. I just want my little girl back. Go get Jesus!”

It is amazing how we restrict ourselves because of fear of what others will say. He was one of the leaders of the religious community and the pastor of his Synagogue. He had a reputation to guard. He had a congregation he needed to protect from strange teachings.

But, it is amazing what desperation will drive you to. Desperate? It is evident. The leader came and worshipped Jesus. I don’t think that he intended to give such a display, but when he saw Jesus a wave of emotions overtook him, crumpling him at His feet.

Back in 2001 Melody and I were on a two week missions trip to Peru. Half way in the trip I had the opportunity to call home and her Dawn’s voice. A 10 minute call that cost me $110. I was fine until I heard her say “hello.” For close to a minute I could not talk for weaping. It was a wave of emotion. I did not expect it.

Desperation has brought this leader to bow before Jesus at Matthew’s house, the tax collector, where Jesus is hanging with sinners and John the Baptist’s disciples are wondering why they are not fasting as they did. Jesus is breaking traditions and in this context Jairus is basically saying, “Right now I do not care about traditions. Just let me get ahold of Jesus.”

Now, keep in mind that it is very doubtful that anyone thought that Jesus was their Messiah as of yet. So, I do not think that he was worshipping as to worship God. This worship was one of respect, to bow in the presence of a dignitary, an authority. What humility to be a leader with whose words have great weight to bow to a man who has no title nor position. Jairus is saying, “I’m helpless. I can’t do it and I need you.”

Jesus was there all along. He had the answer to his problem days ago but Jairus was not ready to ask for it. He was not desperate yet. Back then, he felt that he was still in control. Now, he has lost control.

It was only when his need became greater than the desire for public opinion. This is the picture of desperation. What is amazing is that we find another story of desperation in the middle of Jairus’ story.

You want to connect with God? Get desperate. What are you desperate for? What were you desperate for and gave up on?

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FASTING part 3

Matthew 6:16-18  16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

For the 40 day fasting of Jesus what would be the thing that stirred in His soul? Keep in mind that even at the age of 12 He had a deep appetite for God’s Word and astounded the religious leaders for three days.

Jesus attended the wedding of some friends where He was asked to help with the wine shortage. He told His mother that the two of them were not on the same page. His heart was yearning for something deeper than getting wine. Keep in mind that the first thing that Jesus did when completing His fast was to start preaching and carried the message of Repentance all around Galilee. Matthew remarked in chapter 9 how He had compassion toward the crowds of Israelites, the sinners, the lost sheep of Israel.

Jesus was not just hungry from the lack of food when He fasted. He was hungry for the hurting, the frustrated, the confused, the neglected, the poor, the sick, the demon possessed. His passion was driven by compassion. Even though Peter asked Him to go away because he was a sinner, Jesus would not give up but called him to follow Him.

What are you hungry for? Where is your Mem, your stirring of the emotions? What is your heart aching for?

The hypocrites? They had a stirring of the emotions alright. They hungered for recognition. They hungered for the praises of man. They received their rewards and those rewards faded with them.

But, when we have hungers that involve God then our reward is great and will be seen by all. Why? God get’s the credit. He will reward you, but in such a way that all will want to know your secret.

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FASTING part 2

Matthew 6:16-18  16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Let’s go to the letters themselves in the Hebrew word for fasting in the original pictogram. What story do they tell?

• The first letter is the Tsade. It is the picture of a man laying on his side. The letter means need. In this case it would be a person in need for lack of eating.
• The second letter is the Vav. It is the picture of a nail. It means to connect and is often used as a conjunction in connection two ideas together.
• The third letter is the Mem. It is a picture of water and is the word for water. But not just any water. The water is troubled, stirred up. The letter can also mean chaos and stirred feelings deep within.

What are the two ideas that the Vav is connecting together? The person weakened by the lack of food and the stirred emotions.

Put this definition with Jesus’ description of what He suggests we do when we enter into the public during or following a fast, wash up and cover the smell, and it gives a picture of someone who is willing to spend the day or more before God in anguish rather than satisfy the personal need for food.

Fasting is not focused on what you give up as much as the anguish deep within you. What is stirring within you? What drives you to tears? What keeps you awake at night? What will never happen that you need so desperately unless God jumps in and takes control? It is that which burns within you that will determine what you are willing to give up in order to receive what you so desperately are interceding for.

Therefore, whether a partial fast, a water only fast, or a fast with nothing – all is determined by what you are able to give up for what you so desperately seek for.

What else is Jesus saying about fasting?

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FASTING part 1

Matthew 6:16-18  16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Recently, fasting has become a little more of a common practice because of an emphasis on the church as a whole to participate in a Daniel fast during the month of January. But fasting has to be understood to be more than a fad or a diet. Jesus said, “When you fast…” This practice is not an option but to be expected among His believers. It is great to participate, but the idea of a fad has to be kept out of the practice.

With the Daniel Fast many more have felt that they can participate in fasting and it not effect their work performance or health issues. To simplify it the more, there are now several Daniel Fast cookbooks. There are some very amazing dishes for anyone wanting to fast and yet not feel like they are fasting.

No, I am not downing the Daniel Fast nor the cookbooks. They are great as long as we understand that what we eat and do not eat are not the focus. Does Jesus make any reference to the food that you eat or do not eat in these verses? His reference is to the physical result that fasting tends to have and how important it is to cover it up in order to keep it a private matter.

From my studies and experience I have concluded that far too much is made over trying to do things exactly like Daniel did. We have no evidence that he had any scriptural guidelines for what he chose to eat and not eat. There are many who have become all bent out of shape because “they aren’t doing it right.” Give me a break! I believe that what Daniel chose was what he felt that he could do in order to not draw attention to himself by the authorities. He did what he could to make it a private matter.

So, what is fasting? The Greek word here literally means to starve, to do without food. This was the closest word they had to what the Hebrew word was and yet it was not close enough. It was a common practice of that day among the heathen to fast in order to enhance their spiritual connectivity with their gods. Sounds like our understanding today. Are we satisfied to have the same understanding as the heathen do? James just said to draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Therefore, this can not be the definition that Jesus understood.

So, do we use the Greek definition and feel satisfied? Jesus was a Jew speaking to Jewish people in a Jewish culture. What did those of the Old Testament understand about fasting? What understanding would Jesus’ listeners have had from their Jewish roots?

If you look up fasting in blueletterbible.com you discover that the Hebrew word for fast means “to fast.” Therefore, the assumption is that we already know what it means to fast. The next step is to discover what story the letters tell in the Hebrew word for fast. It is an amazing story.

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The Passion of Yashua – Anointed

Luke 4:16-21  16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

There are four significant things His reading mentions that He is ascribing to Himself:

1. Jesus is acknowledging that He is anointed. The Holy Spirit is upon Him.

I’m going to take a moment and insert a pet peeve of mine. I have met many who will judge from one Sunday to the next as to whether they feel that the worship service was anointed, the worship songs were anointed or the sermon was anointed. This is unscriptural. People are anointed for God’s service. Either they are or they are not. Objects like a building can be anointed for God’s service. Either they are or they are not. Actions are not anointed. We flow in the anointing.

Jesus said that He was anointed. Do you think that He had days that He became un-anointed? No way!

The root word for anoint is meshakh. The first letter is the “Mem” which means water or liquid. The second letter is “Shin” which means consume. The last letter is “Tav” which means mark or sign. It can also mean covenant. To be anointed is to be marked with a covenant mark, consumed or totally covered by the liquid.

The word “anointing” as in anointing oil has a “Hey,” which represents breath or the Holy Spirit. He is our anointing oil. The word “Messiah” is anoint with a “Yod” inserted into the word. Yod represents an arm which means that the anointing comes from the arm of God.

2. Jesus was anointed as Prophet. He is declaring the good news to the poor or needy and proclaiming the favored year of the Lord.

3. Jesus was anointed as Priest. His message mends the broken heart. He is sent to heal the brokenhearted or shattered inner man. He is sent to give sight back to the blind.

4. Jesus was anointed King. He is sent to give freedom to those imprisoned. He is sent to set the oppressed free.

So, what was Jesus saying? “You have looked for the anointed one. I am here.” The word Messiah means the “Anointed One.”

He sat down and declared, “This scripture has come to life. Here I am.” Basically, what they are hearing him say is that He is the Messiah, the Anointed One. This they understood clearly.

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The Passion of Yashua – The Announcement

Luke 4:16-21  16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Approximately 18 years have now passed since Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem with His parents for the Passover Celebration. The message has had much time to develop and it could not be any clearer than it is on this day. He is standing before people that He grew up with. He grew up in this synagogue and attended every Saturday. Through the week He attended school here as a boy. Now, possibly for the first time, He is taking His turn in this mornings reading from the Tanakh and He chooses Isaiah, one of His favorite books.

Just two to three months earlier Jesus, in submitting Himself to John’s message of repentance, experienced the first step in His 40 day initiation that takes Him from a His private world into the beginnings of a World phenomenon. The message that He brings will shake the world.

We are not sure how much time has passed from the time that He concluded His 40 day fast until He stood before the Nazareth Synagogue, but we do know that Jesus did not waist time between the eastern wilderness and His hometown. For weeks He moved from place to place, spending more time in Capernaum, continuing the message of repentance that John the Baptist was known for.

Jesus opened the scroll and read from Isaiah 61:1-2. This passage is known as the Jubilee passage. The year of Jubilee was a law which stated that on the 50th year all land would go back to the original family owners, all debts would be cancelled, and all Jewish slaves would be released.

The context of the Isaiah verse is the captivity of Judah in Babylon as is being prophesied. Isaiah prophesied that because of the sin of the southern Kingdom of Israel that they would be captured and moved to Babylon. But there was a time limit – 70 years.

Why seventy? Not only was there the year of Jubilee every 50 years but there was a year of rest every 7 years where no crops were planted to give the land a rest. But Israel forgot to do this for 490 years.

So, Israel was placed into captivity one year for ever year of rest they infracted upon – That would be 70 years.

Jesus is our Jubilee. Not a year but an era.

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The Passion of Yashua

Luke 2:41-42  His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.

This passage is not so unusual. A set of parents taking their son  to participate in a big event. Jesus is now of the age to begin His entry into manhood. Up to this point, as a traditional Jewish boy, He had been a student of the Tanakh (scripture collection of the Old Testament), memorized the five books of the Torah (the law), and has possibly began His studies in the Talmud (collection of teachings and ethics). It becomes very evident from His three day stay in Jerusalem and His knowledge of Scripture later in life, that Jesus was passionate about the ways of His Heavenly Father. “…I must be about my Father’s business.”

My son has a love for cars. At age 15 he purchased his first car for $750.00, a 1969 Mustang. He poured two years into its restoration and about $7,000. By the age of 18 he owned an additional 4 cars; a 67′ convertible Mustang, a ’95 convertible Mustang, a ’79 Z28, and a ’05 Focus. He worked at a cookie store and paid cash for all but the Focus. Instead, he paid the five year payment off on it in less than 3 years. Within the next two years I had to stress to him how important it was to focus on one project car and get rid of the rest. My driveway had become a car lot.

Today, between his ministry trips to Romania, he works 60+ hours a week as an auto mechanic. He has a passion for cars and a second love for Romania.

At the age of 12 Jesus’ passion was already evident. He loved the Word of God. He loved to talk about the things of His Father. He was already, at this age, aware of what His Heavenly Father’s business was and wanted to be a part of it.

Separated from His parents for three days, would it not have dawned on Him that His parents might be stressing over His absence? Where did He sleep? Who fed Him during the days?

He was a normal 12 year old lost in His growing passion. The last verse of this chapter describes Jesus as increasing in wisdom. How many wise 12 year old boys do you know? None and Jesus was a human boy. But, how many 12 year olds already have a passion? Some do and Jesus was one of them.

Therefore, I do not believe that this was His last trip over the next 18 years before His ministry. But, this may have been the last time He sat and talked with the leaders for three days like this.

If he did not talk about the greatness of God and the conflict of God’s Word and their modern culture with these leaders anymore, then who did He discourse with? Joseph? Mary? Neighborhood boys? His local Rabbi?

For the most part, I believe that much of it Jesus kept bottled up, ready to explode it upon a people who are hungry to hear what He has to say. For this, He will need someone to work the crowd. Someone who will spread a single word, “Change.” And John the Baptist one of the few who did this effectively. “Repent!”

It has been 10 years since my son’s first car and he still has it and the ’95 convertible. He collects facts, attends classes to advance his career, is making plans to do a second restoration on his first car, and knows more about his field than most his age.

We may not have anymore glimpses into the life of Jesus until He enters into ministry, but you can be assured that His passion for the Father and the Word always set the stage for any conversation and any collections He may have had.

If He was truly 30 years of age when He began His ministry then He spent most of his childhood, his teen years and his young adult life preparing for the moment that He would pour His wealth of collection into a small group of men. Jesus’ investment into their lives would change them forever and thus change the world.

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My Stage in Life

Matthew 5:1-10. 1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Keep in mind that what we have read is still during the early part of Jesus’ ministry. This would seem to be the first official teaching of the twelve since He made their calling official.

No, Jesus was not teaching to a multitude, although they could have been crowded around listening. What Matthew describes is that Jesus ministered to the multitude, then sad down on the side of a hill and began to teach His disciples.

Not only is He sitting down with His twelve. But, were there twelve or were there as many as 70? Jesus sent 70 out to do ministry. There is a point that many of His disciples walked with Him no more. We really do not know at this point, but they were His disciples.

What we find in this great sermon covering 3 chapters is the foundation for what we look like living in God’s Kingdom where Jesus is the King.

As we start into His introduction keep in mind who the audience is. We can call them His disciples, but it is much deeper than that.

These men, a great representation of the rest of Israel, are frustrated men. It was just days or recent weeks earlier that Peter asked Jesus to leave him because he was a sinner.

• Sinners, those who try to find their own way.
• Sheep without a shepherd.
• Blind who have leaders who are blind also.

Their understanding of who God’s children are is skewed. They do not personally have copies of the Old Testament and have to rely upon the teachings of their leaders, trusting that what they say is correct.

Jesus’ job, for the first year of His ministry, is to teach the people correctly. To be successful in leading people anywhere they have to know what it looks like when they arrive. It’s knowing what a win looks like.

• What does a successful family look like?
• What does a successful children’s ministry look like?
• What does a good retirement look like?
• What does a good pastor look like?
• What does a relationship with God look like?

What is often called the beatitude happens to be a simple progression in a beautiful relationship.

First, allow me to help you understand the picture a bit better by clearing up the translation. In the original there is no verb in the initial phrase of each of these eight insights. The “are” in the “Blessed are” is not there.

Actually, it would read more correctly like this:

• Blessed! the poor in spirit…
• Blessed! they who mourn…
• Blessed! the meek…

Blessed is not to be an end result of being poor in spirit but is perfume that comes from the process. It is a more Jewish statement that lines up with how the Hebrew word is used in the Old Testament.

What is the difference? One is a statement and the other is an exclamation.

• Blessed are the poor in spirit…
• Blessed! the poor in spirit…

See the difference?

What difference does it make in Jesus’ message? The first sounds like basic instruction and the second is an attention getter. He has something important to say.

So, let’s take a look at this growing process.

1. The POOR IN SPIRIT – Aware of Spiritual Emptiness: They are those who are painfully aware of their misplacement as in the poor in Isaiah 61. They do not fit in this place. We are people of another world, the Kingdom of God. This is a reflection upon the awareness that we are weak without God. Peter exemplified his awareness of emptiness when he said, “Go away from me, I’m a sinner.”

They were lost. They were sinners. They wanted to live right before God but did not know how to do it. They were already poor in their spirits.

2. They THAT MOURN – Repentive: how can being blessed and mourning go hand in hand? Paul gives us the understanding in 2 Corinthians 7:10:

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Awareness of your spiritual emptiness will produce repentance.

3. The MEEK – Give Up Control: This is a direct quote from Psalm 37:11. The Hebrew word that is used in the Psalm literally means humble. It is not a word for weakness but it is an understanding of our proper place in this universe. God is great and we are small. The opposite of meek are those who are manipulative, controlling, and violent.

The progression continues. Awareness – Repentance (Savior) – Give Up (Lord)

4. Those Who HUNGER and THIRST for RIGHTEOUSNESS – Godly Desire: Jesus is painting a picture of perseverance. Without food or water you will die. The right things in our lives have got to be like food and water to our souls. These are those who want to live right really badly.

Psalm 42:1-2  As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

5. The MERCIFUL – Compassion to Others: The common thought of that day was like the idea of Charma of today – what goes around comes around. If something bad happened to you it is because you were bad in this life or the one before it or because you parents were bad. What Jesus taught was that people go through bad times. Later in this same chapter He taught that it rains on the just and the unjust. Therefore, show mercy. Reach out to the hurting. When we show mercy we receive mercy.

The Hebrew word for compassion comes from the root word that means womb. In other words, compassion is what a mother feels toward her unborn. What does it say about our compassion if we kill our unborn?

6. The PURE IN HEART – Seeing God in Every Circumstance: What does an impure heart look like?

To be pure in heart is to be focused on one thing, God. When we focus on God then God can be seen even in calamity. What calmness we can experience when we can see God even in the middle of everything falling apart.

Awareness of Emptiness – Repentive – Release Control – Desire More of God – Compassion on Others – See God Moving in Everything  – still growing

7. The PEACEMAKERS – Healers: The Hebrew word for peace does not mean the absence war but means “completeness”, “wholeness”, “healing.” To be peacemakers we must be about bringing people to a place of wholeness, completeness, and healing.

8. Those Who Are PERSECUTED for RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE – Through Good or Bad, We Are Committed: These are those who are totally committed to stand for what is right. This stand must be the willingness to stand in the face of those who hate what you stand for.

On these progressive stairs, where are you located?

Now that you see the picture the Jesus described, can you see a reflection of yourself?

Is someone standing at the top step better than the one at the bottom of the step? According to Jesus both the first step and the last step “have the Kingdom of Heaven.”

If bother are equal, why should we care if we move from one level to the next? Each level is built with the foundations for the succeeding level. Every level is transitional and moves our relationship closer to God.

Which level is your stage in life?

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When You’ve Had Enough

Mark 1:40-45 is a story early on in Jesus’ ministry. It’s a story shared in somewhat the same manner in Luke 5 – a leper being healed or cleansed.

Leprosy is a disease where your body is literally rotting while you are alive. Many lepers end up with missing fingers, ears, toes and oozing soars with the smell of rotten flesh.

There was no treatment for it and the control of it was as bad as the disease itself. Lepers had to be isolated into their own little communities. Just imagine having a family that you would not be able to touch, hold or kiss ever again. Those who were closest to you would not be allowed to console you while you suffered.

Therefore, when Jesus touched this man and he was healed he received his whole life back.

But, there is a detail that Dr Luke shares that Mark misses. It is worth noting. Luke said that the man was “FULL” of leprosy.

He was not just sick but what we would think in terms of someone in stage 4 cancer. He was very bad off when he got his life back.

How about you? Are you FULL of anything? Full of frustration? Full of anger? Full of hurt? Full of disappointment? Full of bad news? Full of anxiety?

First, the man left his community, his comfort zone, and went to Jesus.

Second, what the man did was against the law. The leper was to yell “unclean” when someone came near so that they would keep their distance. This man come so close to Jesus that Jesus was able to touch him. Sometimes I feel that many of the rules that come from our churches end up keeping people from God. Forget the rules! Pursue after Him hard!

Third, maybe out of desperation, the man declared that he knew that Jesus could heal him.

Did he really believe it. For at least that moment he did.

When you are FULL of crud it is time to believe in someone better than other humans that have to deal with their own crap when they go home too.

Lord, empty me so that I can be filled with You!

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