365 Reflections

Many people like to say they've had an encounter with God. Perhaps they felt something at a certain point that made them feel spiritual or like something touched them on the inside. Those moments can be significant. But they are not always a true encounter with God. What I see Job experience in the last moment of his story is the true results that a true encounter with God produces. Job 42:1–3 (ESV) Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. The first expression of Job upon experiencing God is to surrender. "No purpose of (the Lord's) can be thwarted" . Job knows this now. He wanted answers and he came away with surrender to what God was doing in his life.  The second expression of Job is an admittance of his own foolish speech. "...

Some sickness are not physical... they ARE spiritual.  We have to begin admitting this with confidence if we are going to be effective workers in the Kingdom of God. Luke 13:11–13 (ESV) And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”  Jesus is in Synagogue on Sabbath and a woman has come to worship but cannot straighten up.  She has come bent over ... not because of a physical ailment but because of a spiritual attack.  Jesus makes sure to point out it was "Satan" who had her bound for 18 long years.  Luke 13:16 (ESV)  And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” There are those who deny healing is for today.  They say God only heals spiritually.  But thi...

Peter wanted to stay.  He wanted to build tents there... He even offered to build three tents for Jesus and His special guests Moses and Elijah.  The tent is where Moses when to meet with God.  Peter is sure it's a good thing to build a tent when Jesus is transfigured and meet with God. But two things happen to Peter to illustrate an important reality for us... 1. God interrupts Peter to tell Him who Jesus is and that Peter should spend more time listening to Him. I love how Luke inserts a little unspoken humor in this passage: Luke 9:34–35 (ESV) As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” God just disregards Peter's speech to give the more important word! You don't need a tent, you need Jesus... Jesus is the TRUE AND BETTER TEMPLE.  You can go to Him and you can listen to Him.  You meet ...