My observation today is not around a specific verse, but more of a characteristic that I see coming through in this chapter. It seems that every time someone comes to him with complete humility, falling on their face in his presence, his heart breaks for them. He heals the leper....he heals the paralyzed man....he calls Levi (Matthew). All 3 of these men were suffering afflictions of a broken world. 2 were physical and one was mental....but all were in desperate need of a Savior. Along comes Jesus and these men were smart enough to recognize him. That's step 1.
Application: Recognize him when he comes around. Then act accordingly to him. Treat him, or the situation or the person you are seeing him within, with the reverence and humility that he deserves.
tp
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
ReplyDelete16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Jesus is there for us, we just need to call all on him. He is waiting for us. I also take not that Jesus also took time often it says to get to lonely places and pray. It is beyond just quiet but lonely. Lonely seems like a strong statement about being so separate from things that you feel by yourself in thought and that is probably the best way to then engage with God. no other distractions at all.
even my mornings like this are not truly lonely with the computer at my finger tips.
knut