God is not Far Away

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 17:17-19 KJV

To understand this story we need understand a little about leprosy in the Bible. Far from being just an affliction of the poor, those with leprosy ranged from generals and kings to even a man named Simon who was one of Jesus’ closest friends. Because of both the law and its contagious nature, those with leprosy were required to live separately from others.  Without divine intervention eventually lepers all ended up outside of town with no companions except for their fellow lepers. That is where Jesus met the ten men that day. When they first saw Jesus they shouted at the top of their lungs for help from a distance. They had heard how Jesus had healed others and hoped that He would do the same for them.

India and Nepal 231

Don’t we all pray like that some days? God seems far away; but we hope that if we ask loudly enough, maybe He will listen. What we need to know is that Jesus is actually a lot more willing to help us than we think. In fact just as healing the ten lepers was the main event for Jesus that day so your request and mine matters deeply to Him right now. He knows our hearts and He chooses to come close even when others stay away. But transformation from leprosy to health is only the beginning of what God has in mind. What He really wants is to be close and for us to fall at Jesus’ feet and be made whole as we give thanks!

Taking Our Own Test

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

My hands sweated as I gripped the steering wheel helplessly watching the train pass by, knowing that with each car I was getting later for class. Five minutes later I bolted from my car and raced up the stairs to my classroom where everyone else was already seated and beginning the exam. Mrs. Sullivan smiled trying to look encouraging as I picked up my English Literature test and plopped down in my seat.

“Who in the world are they?” I wondered as I glanced at the first question with a list of authors to choose from. So I skipped down to the next question but it was on a novel I had never heard of. As I scanned the rest of the sheet realizing I didn’t know any of the answers my stomach churned. In panic I walked up to the professor’s desk. “Mrs. Sullivan; I think something is wrong I stuttered, feeling humiliated. She glanced at the test in my hand and then burst out laughing:

“Sorry Pete! I gave you the wrong test. That’s for my World Lit class!” Waves of relief swept over me as I went back to my desk with the test I was prepared for. Too many times in life I find I get in trouble by trying to be someone I am not. It is like purposely deciding to take the wrong test. Not one of us will pass the exam which God has prepared for someone else. But no matter what we are going through He has promised His help when we are taking our own test!

man in black and white polo shirt beside writing board

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Remembering Joy

Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now, though you see him not, you believe: and believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified;                          1 Peter 1:8 Douay-Rheims

If we would be honest all of us would have to confess that the moments of joy that we experience are pretty few and far between.

plates and wine glass on table

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I recall the moment when I kissed my wife at the altar  and said, “I do.” But that sweet memory was immediately followed by long work weeks, bills and little arguments that conspired to dim our happiness. A year later our first son was born and we cuddled him looking into those deep blue eyes with contentment and pride; but then came his fussing till two in the morning; throwing up on my shirt just before I left for work and yes; more bills.

The Apostle Peter tells us that no matter what our experience in life is; there is a far better celebration to come. Here God blesses us with little glimpses of joy, but a joy is coming that we cannot explain. Because He is our loving Father; God gives us just a taste of heaven now and then; but one day at the banquet table with Jesus we will find heaped high on our plates His fullness of a joy that will last us forever!