From:
Date: January 10, 2019
Subject: It's January 10; Good Morning Union

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“Lord, IF you are willing you can make me clean.”    Matthew 8:2

A man with leprosy came and knelt before Jesus with my verse today. In yellow highlighter I have marked two phrases in my Bible, the leper’s request and the Lord’s response!

IF you are willing

I AM willing

As I’ve said MANY times before, If it’s important to God, it’s clear in His word. It can’t get much clearer than this! It’s not a matter of His willingness to give, it’s a matter of my willingness to believe and receive. Do a google search sometime and look at all the things God’s word says He is willing AND ABLE to do. The only restriction appears to be me!

Here’s an example. 2 Peter 3:9, “He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” He was “willing” to die so I should not perish but have everlasting life. I marveled again this morning at God’s willingness to take good care of me. The question is, am I willing to let Him?

Just a sidenote- I also like the fact that as Jesus was showing the people His new way of living and leading for His people He did it in connection with the church “system” of the time. Corrupt as it was He did not try and work against the church, He tried to work within the church. “Go show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded.” My Church is not perfect but I’m better off staying with it to try and help it than just reject it. I cannot affect or change something I am not invested or committed to.

Have a great day discovering His willingness in your life,

Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: "We are too prone to engrave our trials in marble and write our blessings in sand." C.H. Spurgeon

 

PS        10 Days of Prayer: at 12 p.m. at the Church in the prayer chapel and 7 p.m. in the Heritage Room. Or join us in Campus Ministries @ 1pm for 10 minutes of prayer time.