Too filthy for God...Untouchable

Luke 5:12 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

13 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said.“Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared

This is one of my favorite stories in all of scripture. Every time I read it my heart aches with recognition.

Will you indulge me for a moment and imagine this leper? The Bible says he begged Jesus, with his face to the ground. Please don't overlook the humanity in this story. This man was not only slowly dying of a horrible disease, he was doing it in isolation. He wasn't allowed to participate in holidays, family gatherings, and he wasn't touched, ever.

He begged Jesus. I imagine his anguish could be heard in his voice. I know that Jesus' heart ached with this mans despair. And Jesus, the Lord of all the earth, the perfect snow white lamb touched this aching, begging, desperate man.

Can you imagine!? Can you fathom what that single touch must have felt like? I can, not physically of course but I've been there. There was a time in my life when my walls were so high and so thick that no one could touch me and I was in complete and utter despair, slowly dying. I cried out and He was there, in the blink of an eye.

Jesus touched the untouchable. If you spend some time in the Word you will find that Jesus most often chose to touch those He healed. He clearly demonstrates His capability to heal without touch, there's no doubt He could, but He rarely did. I love that about my Savior!

Then He spoke simple, beautiful words "I am willing". How beautiful is that? He is willing...you can be healed. Praise God, praise God!

"Ah, Sovereign LORD you made the heavens and the earth with your mighty power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." - Jeremiah 32:17

Answers

Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

This is one of my very favorite verses. I am very much a student at heart. I absolutely love to learn and can be voracious when a subject catches my interest.

I'm presently working through a daily bible study and today was asked "What do you enjoy most about God?" I thought for a minute and wrote "you teach me".

Isaiah 28:26 His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

I have yet to come across a question to which God has answered "you don't get to know that". Undoubtedly, there are things I don't get to know and I have heard Him gently say "I will teach you as much as you can understand" but I have yet to be flat out denied.

I used to want to scream and throw things at my bible class teachers who would say things like "we just have to accept things sometimes". My brain just doesn't work that way. I need answers. Maybe you do too. But it never occurred to me to go to the source, until I was broken enough to let down my guard, scared enough to be blunt and sick to death of good enough.

God has used my daily walks in His word to answer the questions I pose. I feel Him smile over me when I "get" it and I never feel Him tire of my endless questions. You see I want to know that I know Him!

Luke 11:9-10 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Hidden and Healed

I ranted and a railed. I screamed and I sobbed. One day it all became too much and I rounded on God with the viciousness of a starved hyena. I was carrying around the weight of the world, the weight of my guilt and my entire existence buckled under the pressure. I could not take one more step. I had nothing left, nothing. I was broken, tortured, laying in a heap at the bottom of the pit.

I started from scratch. I held nothing back. I told the almighty God of the universe, lover of my soul exactly what I thought of Him and exactly where He could stick His love. I was dancing in the raging thunderstorm screaming “STRIKE ME!!!” quite literally. I called on Him to strike me with lightning. I said to Him “ok, if you’re real, then strike me”. I was that low.

And you know what, precious child of the most high God? He did me one better. He knew what I wanted. He knew that I wanted HIM, with that guttural deepest of the deep desire I wanted TRUTH, and truth He gave me.

The old hymn “He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock” closes my throat with emotion. He hid me, beneath His almighty hand. In that hiding place He healed me.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble

I tell you all of this so that you will know that He knows. That anger, that bitterness, that hurt that you are pushing deeper and deeper down into your soul, denying its existence to yourself and to Him is no secret to Him. He knows. Nothing you can say to Him, no blackness you can mine up from the depths of your heart with surprise Him and He will not turn from you. The reason I could spit forth all of my vitriol onto my God was because He was there. He was always there.

Hebrews 13:5 Never with I leave you. Never will I forsake you

Luke 5:31-32 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

That blackness will, however, serve as the material from which Satan fashions the bars to imprison you in your own anger, your own guilt, your own pride and the means by which He isolates you.

Here comes the beautiful thing. They are lies. They are all lies.

John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The truth is:

God picked you on purpose

Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love het predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Nothing can make God stop loving you

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus loves you as much as God loves Jesus (that's a lot).

John 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

You are forgiven

1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

God has prepared good things for you

1 Corinthians 2:9 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”

Whatever horrible blackness you are running from, no matter how vile your past, is a lie. The almighty God of the universe says that you are His and that you are healed. Praise God!!

Who will you believe?

How great is our God

I read fiction, a lot of fiction. My favorites are the books that are mystical and magical and where in the end good always triumphs over evil. Just last night I finished a book that deeply troubled me. In this book the gods (lower case ‘g’) of the protagonist had been overthrown by younger, more powerful gods. The original gods were petty and fickle, they sometimes favored certain individuals and blessed them immensely but could easily lose interest or become offended and turn on the once blessed with curses or indifference.

The people of my book desperately cried out to deaf ears while their crops withered and their men died at the hands of foreigners. My heart ached for these people, crying out to helpless, defeated and, at best, fickle gods.

Last night I couldn’t shake my angst. I felt sick until I realized because of the use of the word ‘god’ in the book I had been subconsciously equating these fictional gods with my GOD! I cried out “How great is our God”! Thank you Father that you are not fickle that you are the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb 13:8), that you love me no matter what (Rom 8:38).

I am reminded of a parable Jesus told, the story of my life!

Luke 15:11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.'

20 So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

Every time I read this story I see more parallels to my salvation. His father ran to him. Can you see this elderly man hiking up his robe and running full tilt toward his beloved son? Can you imagine the way his heart clenched with desperate, aching joy?

I know I came back to God is just this manner. I described myself as a beaten dog, tail tucked between my legs. I was just hoping He would let me lay near the door to just be close to His presence, His healing power. I knew I was not worthy to join Him in His home.

And yet, ran to me! He ran to me. He wooed me. He healed me. Praise Jesus who came to heal the sick (Luke 5:31-32). Praise God who is the great I AM (Ex 3:14), who created the heavens and the earth with His great and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for Him (Jer 32:17).

I think I can't, I think I can't...

You know that feeling you get when you’re about to tackle something big, something scary, something completely outside of your comfort zone? That “I can’t do this, I can’t do this, I can’t do this” feeling? Often accompanied by hyperventilation and a frantic search for the exits?

Thing is, once you decide to follow God with abandon, to take up your cross daily, He is going to call you to some seriously terrifying things. Based on my studies of the giants of Old Testament faith I’m also willing to bet many of those calls to action will be in area’s far far outside of your comfort zone. “my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Chorintians 12:9).

Your daily, sometimes hourly, decision to follow God means you’re different than you were before! And your abandon to Him means He can do incredible, mind blowing, life changing things both in and through you.

In recent months my God has been directing me to step out in faith in some area’s that I find absolutely terrifying. These things that He is giving me the opportunity to serve Him in would most likely not be particularly hyperventilation worthy for the average person. However, for me, terrifying. I find myself telling Him over and over and over “I can’t do this, I can’t do this, I can’t do this”. You know what He says back to me “No honey, you sure can’t”.

Woohoo and a big hallelujah!

Those may not seem like encouraging words but when Father speaks them into my soul it is the weight of the world lifting off of my shoulders. You see, I keep trying to will myself to be faithful enough, to grit my teeth hard enough, to be ‘good’ enough.

I am so thankful that our dear Father does not lose patience with my thick head. Instead, He reminds me, “my power is made perfect in weakness”. The Spirit moves within me and brings to mind the story of the earthy father who when his child’s life hung in the balance confessed to Jesus “help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). How awesome is it that we can even ask Him to give us faith in Him! He is the author and perfector of my faith (Hebrews 1:2). Which means when I submit to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) and He casts Satan out of my life and destroys the deceivers strong-holds I must then every minute of every day choose to FILL MYSELF WITH JESUS (Matthew 12:43-45). Not only so that I will not again be caught in Satan’s snares but also so that I can be a conduit for the power of God!

God will give you every iota of everything you need to accomplish whatever task He has prepared for you to do!

2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

He will NOT abandon you

Hebrews 13:5-6 "Never will I leave you;
 never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
 What can mere mortals do to me?"

Do not try to grit your teeth and be ‘good enough’ give it all to Him and He will turn it into His glory!

Too Filthy For God...Rahab

Joshua 2:1-21, 6:17, 22-23, 25

Rahab…Have you ever actually thought about the fact that Rahab was a prostitute. If you’ve spent much time in Gods word you’ve heard this fact mentioned, maybe even to the point that it means little to you. Please let this fact fall on you afresh.

In our current culture so many have bought wholly into Satan’s lie that sex is a purely physical act, that it is something we deserve and most disturbingly that it is something good that God is selfishly keeping from us. Allow me to point out the fact that this was Satan’s original lie to Eve.

Genesis: 2: 4 The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. 5 God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."

He likes this one and he keeps using it. While the point that sex is something God has set apart for specific relationships is important and true it is not the one I am trying to make at the moment.

So, what is my point? It is simply this; more likely than not in some season of your tenure on this earth you bought that lie and you have experienced the devastating consequences. No, most likely you did not experience an unexpected pregnancy at 16 (though someone has). No, you may not have an incurable STD (though someone does). But if you’ve given yourself over in this manner you have felt the stinging shame, the ripping of your heart and the crying out of your soul (whether you admit it or not). If you are feeling a stab of reproach in these words I beg you to push away from your computer screen, sink to your knees, put your face on your carpet and experience the full forgiveness of your Savior and your God. Have a nice long talk with Him. We’ll be here when you get back.

All of that digging up of emotions you’d prefer stayed buried was to say this. Rahab was a prostitute. Can you even begin to imagine the pain, shame and self-reproach she must have felt?

Yet (don’t you just love the Godly ‘yet’?) when she heard of the mighty acts of Yahweh she ALONE in all of Jericho had faith enough to be saved!!! And, precious child of God do not miss this point, God honored her faith. She and all her family were saved when Jericho was leveled by God and his Israelite army. Praise God!!! He used this broken hurting woman who offered up her tiny mustard seed of faith to protect his people, he saved her from death and here comes the beautiful part, she became an ancestor of Jesus.

Rahab, the prostitute, was taken as the wife of an Isrealite man, Salmon. She became the mother of Boaz. Boaz, was a man of the highest character. He was the type of man who came to the rescue of a helpless foreign woman (see the book of Ruth). How I love the stories of men like these!!! God was the inventor of that white horse you’ve been waiting on. The direct descendant of Boaz, the child of the former prostitute, was Joseph, as in Mary and Joseph (Matt 1:5-16). Wow God!

So, here’s the thing. God, who breathed every word of scripture into being, did not omit Rahab’s profession from His record in either the Old (Josh 2:1 among others) or the New Testament (Heb 11:31). He certainly could have. He could have made the entire Israelite nation forget she ever was a prostitute. Or, if he were like us, He could have chosen a nice upstanding young woman to hide the spies and to become the ancestor of Christ. Praise God He is not like me. He chose the heart of His woman. I want to yell ‘YAY’ but my babies are asleep so I’ll just shout for joy in my heart!

Oh Lord our Lord how majestic is your name in all of the earth!!! (Ps 8:9)

You see, you are not too bad for God. Take it from Rahab and this former pit dweller.

Too Filthy For God...Moses

So, Moses…you’re probably either picturing Charlton Hesston or a VBS poster of a man who would make an incredibly convincing Santa stand-in, arms raised, staff in hand, red sea parted.

Moses gets 6 verses dedicated to his faith in Hebrews 11. He is a permanent figure in the Christian faith, after-all, he lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He faced down Pharaoh (Ex chapters 5-11). He parted a sea (14:26). He saw God’s glory (24:15ff, 33:11)!! God the Father buried Moses’ body himself when he passed on to Glory (Deut 34:5). “Wow” comes to mind.

Moses did some seriously incredible things…but he didn’t start out that way.

Did you know that Moses, who would be greatly used of God, committed pre-meditated murder? Oh, yes.

Exodus 2:12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

When he realized people knew what he had done he ran away (Ex 2:14), that’s why he was tending sheep in the desert when God spoke to him out of the famous burning bush (3:1ff). Furthermore, he argued with God (repeatedly, 3:11,13, 4:1, 10, 13) despite God’s assurances that His provision would be more than sufficient. My favorite of Moses’ statements is “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else”. My, oh my! Has that ever been the cry of my heart in times of rebellion. I can almost hear the 2 year old screeching “but I don’t waaaannnnaaaa!” can you? He was such a coward that only after God consented to grant the assistance of Moses’ big brother did he finally begin his journey back to Egypt as God had commanded.

I am by no means celebrating or condoning Moses’ shortcomings. I do, however, celebrate my Father who allowed that they be recorded for me to read thousands of years later, that they may serve as evidence of His unending grace.

How do we reconcile the man God celebrates in Hebrews 11 with the chicken of the early chapters of Exodus? Easy, Moses didn’t become a giant of the faith by buckling down and trying harder to be a good Israelite. God does not exhort Moses for “being good” he revels in Moses’ faith!!

Moses, the murderer, the chicken, the simple shepherd lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt and even more amazingly, spoke with God face to face! Praise God, I am not a lost cause.

So, what’s the point? Simple, you’re not too bad for God. You’re not too lost. You’re not too deep, too vile, to dirty. Why does Satan fight tooth and nail to keep sinning filthy pit dwellers in that pit? Because once God redeems that sinning pit dweller he or she can not be shut up. Once you realize that no sin you have committed is to bad for God, that your faith in him, your love for him allows him to redeem you, you are a serious threat to the kingdom of darkness. You will shout of His love from the rooftops. "I'VE BEEN REDEEMED" Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and he is lying to you now. Faith, choose to believe.