“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” – Mark 2:17
Look for the Hurt
When you read the Bible, particularly the Gospel, there is a group of people, the Pharisees, that have a lot of issues with Jesus. It’s interesting. The “sinners” and tax collectors loved hanging out with Jesus. The religious leaders, the Pharisees, tended to despise Jesus. You’d think it would have been the other way around.
Why did the sinners like Jesus and the Pharisees hate Him?
Jesus offered forgiveness and healing. The sinners knew they needed that. The Pharisees thought they had it all together and had no need for that.
Everyone hurts. Everyone struggles. Some of us are aware of our hurts and struggles and some are less so. If you listen enough, ask intentional questions, and look for it, you can often start to see people’s hurts and struggles.
If we can see someone’s hurts and struggles, we can (carefully) talk with them about those hurts and share how Jesus is here to help them with those struggles and so are we.
Jesus came for the sick. We are all sick. He came for the sinners. We are all sinners. We can bring Jesus to the sinners all around us, not as a judge, but as a doctor, offering healing.
Today: Pray that God would give you insight and discernment to see people’s hurts and struggles and offer them healing through Jesus.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” – Psalm 91:1
What does it mean to you to rest in the Lord?
In our culture, the concept of being in someone’s shadow has a negative connotation. It usually implies that we can’t get out from under them or shine with our abilities. That’s not the concept of a shadow we’re talking about, here.
The concept of being in God’s shadow means being under His care and protection. Think of the relief of finding a shadow on hot, Florida day. Think of being the shadow of a strong, fortress wall, when an enemy attacks.
Rest and Relief Abiding in the Lord gives us life and strength. He protects us from our enemies. He gives us rest from our striving. He gives us comfort from our distress.
Heavenly Father,
May I dwell in Your shelter all the days of my life. Keep me safely in Your shadow that I may know your life, strength, peace, protection, comfort, and rest.