The Healer

 Luke 7  The centurion's servant.  The grieving mother's son.  The diseased.. the afflicted.. the blind.. the lame.. the deaf.. the dead..  Jesus came for "all people" .. Hallelujah!   He was the "Expected One".. that Israel had longed for.  He had compassion and offered forgiveness of sin.  ".. blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me."  He tells us.  O help us not to stumble!

Yet, the religious leaders would not believe. They refused to accept the truth that was being revealed right before their eyes. How sad it is that there are so many who have heard the Word.. who have perhaps even tasted a bit of His grace.. yet cannot admit their own sinfulness and helplessness.. and will not love the One who loves them so.. 

Jesus went to dine at Simon, the Pharisee's house.  As He reclined at the table, a woman.. known to be an immoral woman.. came and wet His feet with her tears.. anointed them and wiped them with her hair.. and kissed them.  Simon immediately judged Jesus.. for allowing this sinful woman to touch Him.  Jesus used this opportunity to teach about forgiveness and love.  The woman.. forgiven much.. went away in peace. The Pharisee.. unable to confess his need of forgiveness.. stayed unforgiven.  Perhaps there would be a time when Simon would understand.. that he would bow before the Lord.. that he would recognize his spiritual poverty.. mourn his sin.. and find the Redeemer's forgiveness.  I hope so.  As I hope for those today who are still without the salvation that Jesus came to offer to all who would believe!

This Christmas season.. my prayer is for the salvation of the lost.. in my family.. in my neighborhood.. in my country.. and in the world wherever the message is being preached.. 

Father in heaven,  we give You thanks..  " .. thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life." ( II Corinthians 2:14-15)  Let those who hear the Good News choose life.. in Jesus Christ the Lord..  We rejoice once again for the good news that "there has been born for [us] a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.."  for He came to bring joy to "all people". Hallelujah and Amen!  Father, may there be today.. a great harvest of souls.. brought into the Kingdom by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.