My Ramblings

In Psalm 18, David is is listing several things that God has done for him in his life. The psalmist ends verse 35 with this phrase, "...you stoop down to make me great." As I was reading, this image struck me; the image of God stooping down (squatting down to reach David) in order to raise up, not just pick up, but to "make...great." I am reminded of the great humility (humbleness) of God. I think I tend to reserve humility for Christ the Son. He "emptied himself", he was "numbered with the transgressors", he washed the disciples feet, he gave over his life, etc. God is humble. Jesus was God in the flesh, behaving the way God behaves, loving as God loves, giving as God gives, stooping as God stoops; Jesus is God, in all his power, authority, and humility. Further, the stooping image is not of God just reaching down to pick up David. That is covered in verse 16. Here, there is much more involved. God is making something, making someone. ...

“Your loving kindness is better than life." Taken from an ancient psalm and more contemporary Christian song. Often I equate the good things in life with God’s loving kindness. The close parking space, the friendly receptionist, the sale at the grocery store, the pay raise, the warm reception at church, the green lights, etc. all point to God’s favor warmly extended our way. Who could argue with God’s loving kindness expressed so beautifully and practically on behalf of mankind. Even Scripture reminds us that we should be thankful and realize where the good things come from, “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the father of heavenly lights.” To go a step further, we can begin to equate these “blessings” with God’s communication with us. We pray, talk to God, and don’t hear a response with our ears, but allow God to speak through circumstances. For example, everything falls into place for a new job and we "hear" that as God speaking to us to take ...

Again this morning, I am amazed at the spiritual blindness of some. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 5, Jesus has just healed a man who has been an invalid for 38 years. Now that he is healed, Jesus tells him to pick up his mat (he used it to regularly lie in wait by the pool at Bethesda) and go home. This man has not been able to do such a thing in 38 years. It is a miracle. However, there is a problem. The day all this happened is a Sabbath and people are not supposed to work on the Sabbath -- this man is breaking the law by carrying his mat. The religious leaders of the day scold the man for his actions and he tells them, "The man who healed me told me to pick up my mat and go home." The leaders respond, "Who told you to pick it up and walk?" They completely overlook the healing. They skip over the miracle -- this man has not been able to walk for 38 years and today he is walking!! These religious leaders are so offended by the man's actions that they ...

A simple question. If only the answer could be so simple. Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel of John, encounters a man who has been an invalid for 38 years -- longer than I have been alive. Jesus asks the man his simple question, but instead of "yes" the man begins to make excuses... "I have no one to help me," "I am too slow getting in the pool," "someone else always gets in before me." Thankfully, Jesus gets beyond the excuses and hears the man's heart, "YES, but..." The man wants to be healed, but simply did not see a way out of his situation, except for the waters at the pool of Bethesda. His focus on this one "answer" blinded him from seeing THE answer. He could see no other alternative. How often do I miss what God wants to do in my life, my family, my church-family, simply because I can't see. I think I know the answer and if Jesus would just lower me into the pool, before anyone else gets in, then all wo...