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Gleanings From The Word

Category: God’s Power

  • The True Miracle Cure – The Gospel

    The True Miracle Cure – The Gospel

    An AI-generated photo-realistic image of a patent medicine bottle, "Uncle John's Miracle Cure."

    I’ve been down with a bit of a bug since late last week. Mot enough to be really sick, just enough to feel tired, miserable, and sorry for myself. I’ve mostly isolated myself to keep from sharing it with others. I’m sure it will run its course in a few days. In the meantime, I’ll stay housebound. Now, the funny thing about being under the weather is that immediately, well-intentioned and compassionate people have the cure.  We all know that one miracle cure.

    Use these essential oils. Take this herb. Smoke this wildflower. Try the newest wonder drug. Kiss a toad whose mother was conceived under an oak tree during a full moon. Some of these wonder cures may even work, in some circumstances, for some people., and I always appreciate the caring behind the suggestion.

    I’m reminded of the words of Charles Dudley Warner from “My Summer in a Garden.” “This soothing syrup is said to contain no opium or anything that could possibly injure the tenderest infant. It is recommended for children of all ages. It is sure death to worms. It allays irritation, assists digestion, and cures wind colic. It regulates the function and promotes natural, healthy sleep. It is pleasant to take and is perfectly harmless. It is good for everything, and it does nothing, – and is good for that too.”

    Sometimes we treat Jesus as the miracle cure all. Yes, all things are possible with Christ and prayer, but that doesn’t mean we always get what we want, when we want it.  Sometimes His plan includes some suffering, persecution, and trials. Please note I don’t consider the bug to be either suffering or a true trial, even if it’s inconvenient.

    To paraphrase an old thought, God is not committed to your immediate comfort, but to your eternal conformity to Christ — and that conformity is your truest happiness. It isn’t that He doesn’t want us to be “happy” or “healthy,” it’s just that His benchmarks are much higher than ours. He can and does heal. He can alleviate every form of suffering. Sometimes that’s not what is best for us.

    What is it that God desires? We are set apart for Christ, to become like Him.

    “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29

    “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

    He wants us to be like Jesus. What an incredible thought. We will never be God but we can be Jesus-like in mind, heart, and character. Now that makes me happy despite feeling sorry for myself over this bug. He is our literal miracle cure.

    Hold fast, my dear friends. Everything you are going through has a purpose and God will complete His work in you.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Stormy Seas – Calming the storm
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
    The True Miracle Cure – The Gospel
    A long but vitally important list
  • Murder – death of Jesus for our sake

    Murder – death of Jesus for our sake

    four crows on a tree branch

    Today, I saw a murder of crows in the tree. In case you don’t know, a murder is the formal name for a gathering of crows.

    Seeing the crows brought murder to mind. I started to think about all the murder mysteries I have watched and read over the years. They all had something in common, besides the body. In all of them, as far as I can remember, the victim was unable to prevent his own murder.

    There is one murder, however, that I know of, where the victim willingly submitted to being murdered for a greater cause. I’m Speaking of course, of the murder of Jesus, planned by the Jewish leaders, and carried out by the Roman rulers.

    The Jewish leaders perceived Jesus as a threat, and when they could not discredit him, they planned to kill him. They used Pontius Pilate to have him crucified, a most ignominious death.

    Let’s set the scene, before Jesus was taken to Pilate, one of his disciples betrays him and shows up at the Garden of Gethsemane with troops to arrest him

    Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Matthew 26:50-56 ESV

    Jesus willingly goes with them and submits to being convicted in a kangaroo court on completely fabricated charges. He is mocked, rejected, tortured, and eventually killed on the cross.

    Why would the God of the universe permit himself such indignities? Because he loves us. He humbled himself, set aside his rights, and came to earth to die.

    “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8 ESV

    If that thought doesn’t amaze you, you need to stop and think about what he has done for you.

    Praise God for all his mercies.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    For the Birds – God’s provision
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear