Are You Prepared to Be Healed?
Good Morning Friends,
It is time to get up and make our beds. It is time to turn to the Lord and believe in something that is holy. It is time to be thankful for God. Are You Prepared to Be Healed?
Scripture: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100 (NRSV)
Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” And immediately he got up. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Acts 9:32-35 (NRSV)
When you allot the land as an inheritance, you shall set aside for the Lord a portion of the land as a holy district, twenty-five thousand cubits long and twenty thousand cubits wide; it shall be holy throughout its entire extent. Of this, a square plot of five hundred by five hundred cubits shall be for the sanctuary, with fifty cubits for an open space around it. In the holy district you shall measure off a section twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide, in which shall be the sanctuary, the most holy place. It shall be a holy portion of the land; it shall be for the priests, who minister in the sanctuary and approach the Lord to minister to him; and it shall be both a place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary. Another section, twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand cubits wide, shall be for the Levites who minister at the temple, as their holding for cities to live in. Alongside the portion set apart as the holy district you shall assign as a holding for the city an area five thousand cubits wide, and twenty-five thousand cubits long; it shall belong to the whole house of Israel. And to the prince shall belong the land on both sides of the holy district and the holding of the city, alongside the holy district and the holding of the city, on the west and on the east, corresponding in length to one of the tribal portions, and extending from the western to the eastern boundary of the land. It is to be his property in Israel. And my princes shall no longer oppress my people; but they shall let the house of Israel have the land according to their tribes. Thus says the Lord God: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Cease your evictions of my people, says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 45:1-9 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s lectionary offering is about how praise, worship and healing is relate to the conversion process. In the passages we see how praise and planning and worship and healing reveals a new life in Christ that is immediate and visible. We see a miracle of healing that is done through Peter but also in Peter…we see communities transformed into the holy and we see in praise and thanksgiving a change that is both spiritual and practical. Here we learn about God’s healing power in our lives. Here we learn that we are made alive in Christ. And if we want a new life. And if we need a new life. And if we ask for a new life. God’s answer is yes. And our response is to be transformational and spill over into the lives of others. It begins with putting our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ so the effort can be multiplied. And if we do this then we will have an impact on those around us. And every person who has been transformed now has a testimony which extends the transformation. Friends, people need to see a visible change in us, not just words of faith but a palpable presence that points others to the Savior. Friends, Jesus is still miraculously working in this world and Jesus uses us as vessels to accomplish His work of healing, redemption, and love of life. You can be a witness to others. And we can be vessels that He uses to accomplish His work. Like today’s scripture it is evangelistic with a testimony of a transformed life that extends the results in people and places forever growing and healing and loving.
Pray we work together to advance the good works of those called to God’s purpose. Pray we seek the Holy Spirit’s presence to use us to heal others and ourselves. Pray we shout for joy. Pray we worship with gladness. Pray we recognize the power and presence of God. Pray we be thankful. Pray we realize that we are dependent on God for our very life. Pray we enter into a place of holiness that brings harmony into our lives. Pray we be imitators of Christ. Pray we set aside a time and place for God that grows to fill all future time and all future places. Pray God’s love be in us healing the nations.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 