love

The Sweetest Name

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

While the song says, “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I know” in everyday life people respond most when you call their name. This was never more evident than the day Jesus rose from the grave.

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if  You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!”  John 20:16

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Mary never recognized who Jesus was until he used her name. In the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” one of the turning points in the relationship between Toula (played by Nia Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett)  is when he suddenly realizes that he has met her before. “I remember you!” Ian exclaims. She is both flattered and embarrassed. On one hand she hoped he wouldn’t remember because she had tried to leave that part of her life behind. But on the other hand she discovers that she is loved not for who she is trying to be but for who she really is.

 

We need to remember names in a world that increasingly denies people’s eternal worth all the while demanding that they produce results that satisfy temporary needs. While Jesus always remembers our names it is a lot harder for many of us to do that sometimes even for our children or grandkids.

 

Ask the Holy Spirit today to help you and begin to greet by name, your neighbor, your cashier at the store or the nurse at your medical clinic. The moment their name leaves your lips watch how they turn to look at you and smile. With their name you’ve opened a door; next ask God how to go through it

A Seat at the Table

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”  Luke 7:37-39

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When Simon invited Jesus to his house that day he thought that Jesus would be delighted to come. Though Simon wasn’t one of those plotting to kill Jesus, he was uncomfortable with His teaching and wanted to have a chance to question Jesus personally. Jesus accepted the invitation because He wanted to answer Simon’s questions, just not in the way that Simon had expected! Simon thought that he the situation under control, till that sinful woman entered and began washing Jesus’ feet. Simon couldn’t understand. A humble repentant faith was foreign to him. His faith meant obeying all the rules and regulations then feeling good about himself. But faith is more than just giving Jesus a seat at our table. Faith is seeing ourselves for who we are because we have seen Him for who He truly is! Think of what Simon missed. He had given no water, no oil, no kiss, in all the time that Jesus sat at his table. What chances will you and I miss today if we find only what we are looking for and not what He has planned?