Wednesday, August 31, 2011

It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference

The fragrance always remains on the hand that gives the rose. - Mahatma Gandhi

Gospel text (Lc 4,38-44):
After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God."
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, "To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent."
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

We may be a lot like Simon's mother-in-law. Jesus has come to our house, and we have the awesome privilege of waiting on Him and His disciples. However, there's a problem. We may be sick, weak, fearful, selfish, or sinful. We may be spiritually on "bed rest." We may be passive spectators and mere consumers who take but don't give. We need a miracle to free us from this rut.

Jesus wants to enter your home. He also wants your home to be a house of prayer and healing. Will you invite Jesus to be Lord of your life and your home? Will you pray daily with the members of your family? Jesus has promised: "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in their midst" (Mt 18:20).

Jesus not only wants to be enthroned in your home, but He also intends to make your home a center for evangelization, healing, and deliverance (see Lk 4:40ff). Will you let Jesus change the way your home has been used? Will you let Jesus radically change your lifestyle?

Your home is one of your most valuable resources for building God's kingdom. Make your home totally available to the Lord by obeying the Lord's every wish. When Jesus walked the face of the earth, He had "nowhere to lay His head" (Lk 9:58). Even today, Jesus is "homeless" because, when He knocks on our doors (see Rv 3:20), He is sometimes not allowed entry and lordship (see Lk 2:7). Throw open your home to Jesus.

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