The Witness of Abel

3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

8Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”^d While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. (Genesis 4)

Thoughts: Perhaps in some ways Abel was the first martyr and the first witness for God.  The word in Greek for witness and the word in Greek for martyr are the same word.  Tertullian once said that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."  That is wherever people stand up for their faith to death they inspire and witness to God and the cross and hope of Christ.  Abel's offering of faith was accepted, but Cain was jealous.  After Abel was killed, God said that his blood called out to Him from the ground.   The blood of the martyrs calls out to God to do something about injustice and to continue the faith.  Those who want to witness for Christ- to be missionaries for Him- must be willing to come and die.  Abel is a great example of witness for all of us. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all those who have witnessed unto death.  When I am given an opportunity to pass the faith on- help me to witness for you.  

The Elders' Role in Healing

13Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:13-16)

Thoughts: Prayer is the answer.  When we are in trouble or happy- we pray. The prayer may be supplication or praise or thanksgiving.  The sick are called to ask the leaders of the church to pray as well.  It is important for the leaders of the church to care for the needs of these people. When the leaders have faith- and pray accordingly- amazing things happen.  Forgiveness is also a means to physical, mental, and spiritual healing.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful.  Confessions of sins is important, but a willingness to live a righteous life should parallel confession of sins.  Confession without repentance or intention to live righteously means nothing.  True healing comes when we stop our wounds from sin and evil.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of healing.  May the church see its role in healing is important.  Give us the grace to bring your healing hope to the world.  

God the Healer

Praise the Lord oh my soul and forget not all his benefits: who heals all your diseases and crowns you with love and compassion. (Psalm 103)

Thoughts: God is our healer.  We sometimes give credit to drugs or physicians or therapy or technique or even luck.  But God heals any who are healed.  Who made the substance from which the drug came? God did.  Who made each physician-giving them brain, hands, talent? God did.  Manipulation of matter is not done apart from the Maker of matter.  We attribute much to secondary causes, but God is our help. The immunization system was designed by Him. Hygienic measures Of washing and removing waste and not eating roadkill are found in His Word. Let us not downplay His role in both the design of healing, the process of healing and His ability to intervene in our lives to help even now.

Prayer: Lord, keep me from taking your love and power for granted!

I am willing- The willingness of Jesus

40A man with leprosy^h came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41Jesus was indignant.ⁱ He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said.“Be clean!” 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. (Mark 1)

Thoughts: The question the man had was not in the power of God, but in the willlingness of God.  The reaction of Jesus is translated in almost two opposite ways.  One way is that Jesus was indignant at what the man was implying by asking, "If you are willing."  The other translation says that Jesus was filled with compassion at what the man said.  So which is it: Indignation or compassion?  Often when Jesus heals someone he talks about their faith playing a role in their healing ("Go your faith has made you well" Lk.8:48, 17:19; Mt. 9:22 et al).  Here the man had faith in the power of God, but not so much faith in the willingness of God to help him.  Jesus helped him with his lack of faith.  Perhaps he was indignant that he didn't believe in his compassion.  Jesus healed him anyway.  I once read in the Book of Common Worship a statement that said it is not God's will that anyone is hurting.  How do we know?  God is for us.  He showed that in creating us, and coming down for us. His ultimate will is for our salvation. However, the lessons of Job, Paul's thorn in the flesh, and the cross is that He has the prerogative to say no -but the ability to say yes.  We are called to trust in his goodness either way. God is God not just for what he can do for us right now- but for His overall good plan.

Prayer: Lord, be willing to help me in my time of need.  May my faith respond better to our willingness.  

The Freedom of Jesus

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,  (Isaiah 61:1-2)

18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”^{f (Luke 4)}

Thoughts: This was quoted by Jesus (recorded in Luke 4) when he preached in his home church.  When the Spirit of the Lord comes in power- shown especially when the Messiah comes- it is freedom for people.  Jesus ads in Luke 40 "recovery of sight from the blind."  He brings release from darkness- bringing us into the light of hope and truth.  When Jesus said he fulfilled this prophecy, the people of his hometown tried to kill him, but failed.  Yet Jesus has set millions free.  Jesus set many free physically to show He sets millins free spiirtually.  He releases only those who wish to be set free.  He opens the eyes of those who put their faith in him.  

Prayer: Help me, Lord to put my faith in you and be set free from evil, hurt, and harm.  

Psalm 41- Mercy elicits God's Mercy

1Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;

the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.

2The Lord protects and preserves them—

they are counted among the blessed in the land—

he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.

3The Lord sustains them on their sickbed

and restores them from their bed of illness.I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

Thoughts: Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy."  This Psalm reflects that too.  Blessed are those who have regard for the weak- for in their weakness , their sickness, their sin, God has mercy on them.  More than that, God protects and preserves them so that they are able to show more mercy to others.  The Lord not only gets them through their sickness ("sustains them on their sickbed" vs. 3), but God also raises them up- restoring them (vs. 4 and vs. 10),  There is more hope for God;s mercy upon the merciful. A similar saying would be to say forgive others as God has forgiven you.  Be merciful to others so that God may have mercy upon you.   The doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, and those in the healing and helping professions are people to whom mercy is shown  Dr. Kent Brantley risked everything to face Ebola- contracting Ebola himself.  But he survived, and took his family back to Liberia.  Today there is a hopeful vaccine for Ebola.  But it took people like Dr. Brantley to work and research in order for there to be a cure. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to have a merciful heart and merciful hands that I might experience mercy for oth3ers and mercy from you.  

Psalm 34 Deliverance

17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.19The righteous person may have many troubles,but the Lord delivers him from them all; (Psalm 34:17-19)

Thoughts: It is not that the righteous- and those who pursue righteousness- do not have trouble.  Their problems are real and are hurtful.  Verse 19 says they are many. The point here, rather, is that God delivers us from all our troubles, brokenheartedness, and afflictions.  The cross is the ultimate example.  It was not just brokenness in body that Jesus suffered.  It was also brokenheartedness that Jesus suffered.  Those He loved mocked Him, betrayed Him, deserted Him.  The rulers of His own people tried and mocked Him.  But the cross is not the end of the story- the resurrection is.  Our trials are not the end of the story either. God's deliverance from them is the end of the story. 

Prayer: Lord, help me remember you are the God of the end of the story.