Many of us know the story of Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram (2 Kings 5:1-15). We know that he had leprosy and leprosy was considered the "untouchable" disease. No one wanted to be near a person with leprosy for fear of getting it.
Naaman had to humble himself and wash seven times in the Jordan River (a very filthy river) in order to be cured of the leprosy. People must have seen this commander of the army bathing in this filthy water and wondered why such a noble man was not bathing in Abana or Pharpar (rivers in Damascas which were clean). Imagine the talk! Naaman came out of that filthy river fully cleansed.
Naaman had outer leprosy. Everyone could see it. People knew he was "unclean". What about those who have "inner leprosy". Appearances can be so deceiving. Talking the "Christian talk", doing the "Christian deeds"; in other words, keeping up "Christian" appearance. Such "leprosy" is not seen on the outside. It is so easy to hide our "secret" sins. People would have no idea that we are "unclean".
Inner leprosy needs a cleansing. Humbling ourselves enough to admit that we need to "come clean" and truly wanting to cleanse ourselves from the filth of our secret sin is necessary. It takes the desire and will to confess. Jesus is always there waiting for us to want to be cleansed through repentance...asking for forgiveness and totally doing a 180 and turning away from wanting to take part in that sin again. Bathe yourself in the cleansing forgiveness of Jesus. Come clean in Christ.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Dum Spiro Spero
I recently learned a Latin saying; "Dum spiro spero" (doom speero spero). Having learned its meaning, my mind began recalling scriptures and hymns that relate. In the Latin, "While I breathe, I hope," sounds so much more flowing than the English translation.
Breathing in Christ-likeness and hope should flow throughout our innermost being as we take in more of Jesus daily. As we breathe (go about daily life) our hope is in Jesus Christ. What a wonderful awareness.
As Christians, we know that we always have hope in Jesus...no matter what world events or personal struggles we experience. There is no need for me to expound.
Make "Dum spiro spero" your life "catch phrase".
Breathing in Christ-likeness and hope should flow throughout our innermost being as we take in more of Jesus daily. As we breathe (go about daily life) our hope is in Jesus Christ. What a wonderful awareness.
As Christians, we know that we always have hope in Jesus...no matter what world events or personal struggles we experience. There is no need for me to expound.
Make "Dum spiro spero" your life "catch phrase".
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Don't Look Back
"But Lots' wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." Genesis 19:26
I have never really studied Lot's wife. Like most wives, I wonder if she was the neck who turned the head. I wonder if some of Lot's "thinking" was due in part to her influence on him. Whatever the case, Lot ultimately made his own decisions. Lot's wife, like many of us who get used to living our own lives thought she would miss the "good" life.
When we first begin our relationship with Jesus we feel so free. The newness of change makes our hearts leap with joy. We develop our spiritual gifts, we share with others of our praises and concerns, our relationship with Jesus is open for all to see. There may come a time when stresses of life tear at you and you begin to give up hope. The "other land" looks so much better...so inviting. There is not much change in your heart and mind at first, but gradually your relationship with Jesus becomes less and less. You find things to fill the time you used to spend in prayer and Bible reading. Soon the things that used to be temptations to you are a part of your life. Like Lot's wife, you get used to an easy life of doing what pleases self.
There becomes an awareness in our lives that things somehow got out of hand. (Lot was ready to leave the land). I wonder if Lot and his wife argued about leaving. I wonder how much his wife struggled with letting go. We struggle...sometimes for very long periods of time. We know in our hearts what is right to do, but we so enjoy our life and the sin(s) we are living in that we simply struggle with doing the right thing. So, we try to make the choice...the right choice. It has to be our own. Lot could not make the choice for his wife. We say a prayer of forgiveness. We tell God we truly want to turn from the wrong life we are living. We step out to leave that "land". We go forward toward Jesus. Oh, but some of that lifestyle was just plain fun. Tears well up in our eyes because truly letting go and walking forward with Christ will be difficult at first. "But Lot's wife looked back, and became a pillar of salt." She did not want to let go. She chose to look back at what she would miss (so her mind told her).
Let us not be like Lot's wife. When we choose to turn from temptations we have given in to we need to truly be repentant...not looking back. My challenge to us is to do an "about face", always look forward, continue keeping a pure heart, stay truly repentant. In the long run, when our journey is over we will (with Paul) have won the race. Stay the course! Hold onto Jesus, He will lead you, walk alongside you, carry you, and always support you through anything you experience in life. Choose to walk forward!
I have never really studied Lot's wife. Like most wives, I wonder if she was the neck who turned the head. I wonder if some of Lot's "thinking" was due in part to her influence on him. Whatever the case, Lot ultimately made his own decisions. Lot's wife, like many of us who get used to living our own lives thought she would miss the "good" life.
When we first begin our relationship with Jesus we feel so free. The newness of change makes our hearts leap with joy. We develop our spiritual gifts, we share with others of our praises and concerns, our relationship with Jesus is open for all to see. There may come a time when stresses of life tear at you and you begin to give up hope. The "other land" looks so much better...so inviting. There is not much change in your heart and mind at first, but gradually your relationship with Jesus becomes less and less. You find things to fill the time you used to spend in prayer and Bible reading. Soon the things that used to be temptations to you are a part of your life. Like Lot's wife, you get used to an easy life of doing what pleases self.
There becomes an awareness in our lives that things somehow got out of hand. (Lot was ready to leave the land). I wonder if Lot and his wife argued about leaving. I wonder how much his wife struggled with letting go. We struggle...sometimes for very long periods of time. We know in our hearts what is right to do, but we so enjoy our life and the sin(s) we are living in that we simply struggle with doing the right thing. So, we try to make the choice...the right choice. It has to be our own. Lot could not make the choice for his wife. We say a prayer of forgiveness. We tell God we truly want to turn from the wrong life we are living. We step out to leave that "land". We go forward toward Jesus. Oh, but some of that lifestyle was just plain fun. Tears well up in our eyes because truly letting go and walking forward with Christ will be difficult at first. "But Lot's wife looked back, and became a pillar of salt." She did not want to let go. She chose to look back at what she would miss (so her mind told her).
Let us not be like Lot's wife. When we choose to turn from temptations we have given in to we need to truly be repentant...not looking back. My challenge to us is to do an "about face", always look forward, continue keeping a pure heart, stay truly repentant. In the long run, when our journey is over we will (with Paul) have won the race. Stay the course! Hold onto Jesus, He will lead you, walk alongside you, carry you, and always support you through anything you experience in life. Choose to walk forward!
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