Author: astherainandsnow

“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,  do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.  Then you will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.  And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:17-25,29

It is man’s flesh tendency to want to earn favor with God, and therefore take credit for it. Where I was born, how I was raised, the quality of my faith, all I do. We are either proud of our spiritual credentials, or we try to clean up, work up, and show up others so we stand out or shoulder our way ahead. We want to be a favorite. Even when we know there is nothing we must contribute to our salvation, it seems we slip into thinking we did or can contribute. There is much folly in forgetting who our vinedresser is.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser… I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1,5

There is no room for cocky in a heart that recognizes we are nothing without Christ. We are either broken branches, as were the Jews, temporarily set aside (cut off), or wild, contrary shoots, alien Gentiles who would die apart from the Vinedresser’s merciful hands grafting us in. All kindness and credit belongs to Jesus, the Root from which we draw life. We are wobbly, helpless, fruitless, without Him. All salvation is a mercy to those saved, and in humble faith and gratitude, there is no gloating. (Isaiah 11:1)

How might it change our sense of self-importance, and our attitude toward others, if we daily remembered who we were, and whose we are? That our only spiritual lifeline is Christ? With fresh, sober assessment of what is true about us all, how will we live out God’s grace in our world? (Romans 12:1-3)

Lord, keep me in awe at Your wondrous salvation. From You and through You and to You are all things. To You be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free… from the law of sin and death… For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you… If Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:1-2,5-11

“He rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’” Mark 8:33

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

“If… you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2

The mind is easily impressionable, and many forces in this world pander and cajole to make their mark. Religious beliefs, prejudices, scientific hypotheses, academic studies, popular opinion, social media, all have offerings that entice and take up mental room, that shape and dictate how we process information and make decisions. So what is a Christian to do? How does an image-bearer of God determine the mind of Christ in a godless culture? By fostering the mind of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

We are not born with a mind of life and peace. We are anything but righteous, and our mere flesh has stained our thinking through and through. But when we are born again, and have been raised with Christ into new life, and His Spirit dwells in us, we are no longer hostile to the mind of the Spirit. We warm to the things of God, and seek out spiritual truth as daily food. Our deepest hunger may be slow to transform, but holy desire is awakened, and by practice we begin to seek what is above, and recount what is true, noble, right, and pure. By discipline of our will, we set our minds on things of God, and camp there.

What old cravings of the flesh, and habits of self-loathing and condemnation, need to fade? When we recognize rebellion’s poke, do we ignore its come-on by submitting to the Spirit instead? How are we nurturing a mind of the Spirit?

Lord, infuse and shape my mindset with Your Holy Spirit. May I daily reckon myself dead to the flesh, and fully alive to You. (Romans 6:7-11)

“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.’  So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this command before he died: “Say to Joseph, ‘Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’” And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.’ Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, ‘Behold, we are your servants.’  But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:15-21

Though Joseph had revealed himself to his brothers with affection, a full measure of grace for their misdeeds, and bountiful provision, his brothers couldn’t grasp the forgiveness God had wrought in his heart. Still burdened with guilt, they feared retribution, assuming his kindness was meant only to honor their father while he lived. But that very assumption was based on their own unwillingness to take hold of the Lord’s mercy. While they acknowledged their mistreatment of their younger brother, they were not freed from its burden. It took being forgiven for them to recognize the lavish grace of God. (Genesis 42:21-25; 45:1-15)

Without humbly receiving God’s full forgiveness, it is hard to accept it from, and extend it toward, others. The Lord had used Joseph’s harrowing experiences to teach him Who really ruled, and to mold his deep faith in the long view of His goodness and plan. Had his brothers never asked his forgiveness, Joseph had already settled it in his heart by an act of will. His God had orchestrated all things for His redemptive purposes. Joseph’s attitudes and actions were grounded in God’s promises, not the antics of people or the worst of circumstances. (Romans 8:28-30; Philippians 4:6-7)

When we honestly confront the cross of Christ, we are changed. Once it has its way in crucifying our flesh, we live with new perspective, and no longer nurse old wounds. Instead, in freedom and joy, we long to express and exhibit the cross and its power, especially to those who’ve wronged us. (1 Corinthians 2:2-5; Galatians 2:20)

Are we among those who say, “I know God forgives, but I can’t forgive myself”? This reveals a pale understanding of God’s rich grace, and espouses the power (and control) of me. Once we’ve received Jesus’s cleansing blood, His Spirit interprets that truth personally, and we’re released to forgive and be forgiven. (1 Corinthians 2:11-13)

Do I still fear punishment for past sins? Am I still nursing sins of others against me, and using them as an excuse, a weapon, a banner? Either way, I know not the forgiveness of Christ. Once freed by His forgiveness, we are free indeed to love and serve others. (John 8:36)

Lord, apply the full force of Your grace in me. May I ever rejoice in Your forgiveness, and the freedom it affords to forgive and bless others.

“The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.” Exodus 13:22

“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” “Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you.” Deuteronomy 4:24; 9:3

“Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar,
    burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke; his lips are full of fury,
    and his tongue is like a devouring fire;
his breath is like an overflowing stream
    that reaches up to the neck;
to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction…

You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel. And the Lord will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones.” Isaiah 30:27-30

“Our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29

There is nothing like a fire. Nothing like crunching over icy snow, stomping off boots, and coming through an open door to warmth, to sit by a fire. There is nothing like the blaze and glow that dances, mesmerizes, continually changes, that thaws harshness and cares of the day, and flickers into motion dreamy meandering. The stone hearth beckons, the fireglow captivates, the heat soothes as it sinks in.

But fire has its harsh side. As the holy blaze of light draws us near, we see the consuming fire as hotly jealous for us, full of fury at all that steals our affection from Him. In righteous anger, this fire goes before us to destroy the enemy, and sometimes is so close we get burned. God as our consuming fire is worthy of respect. (Exodus 13:21-22)

The Word’s fire guides, and guards. It teaches us the pain of catching a wayward spark, and the hypnotic paralysis of looking too long without acting on the light we glean. It convicts of sin, and goads us to righteousness. God as our constant fire is worthy of trust. (Psalm 119:11; Jeremiah 20:9; 23:29)

The Spirit’s fire burns away rebellion and resentment, softens hearts of stone into flesh. As it warms it melts resistance into repentance, guilt into freedom, and shame into acceptance. It envelops, enlightens, and encourages. We absorb its blaze of insight, warmth of compassion, and power of divine love for the unlovable. It attracts others to Jesus’ light by our peaceful countenance, patience, and lovingkindness. God as our spiritual fire is worthy to be sought and savored. (Ezekiel 36:26; Acts 9:31; Romans 8:1; Ephesians 1:16-18; 1 Peter 2:9)

From what cold does God’s fire beckon? Have my love for God frozen because of my suffering? Have I coddled a cold heart toward one who has wronged or hurt me? Have I abandoned my spiritual fire to fizzle by neglect and busyness? Do I put off friends who would stoke faith embers back to life, choosing instead to relish my sin? When will I return to the hearth?

Lord my fire, separate from me the dross of sin, lead me by Your light, and burn brightly to all around as the splendid glory in my midst. (Zechariah 2:5)

“And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?.. Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him...

“And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

“That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons…

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him,  and they found him and said to him, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ And he said to them, ‘Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.’” Mark 1:21-26,29-38

Immediately. Immediately again. That evening. All who were sick. The whole city. Many. Very early in the morning. Everyone. Let us go. We feel the press, the tyranny the urgent. There was much ‘immediate’ every day for Jesus. His was no cushy life, no rolling over and pulling covers over the day’s demands. His was a heart thumping with, and a life fully yielded to, His Father’s will: be all there for every needy person, each challenging situation, within His parameters, according to His plan.

He taught and healed and spent Himself for others along His way and into the night. Then He arose before dawn to pray. Only alone, and quiet, could He receive and rely on the spiritual direction, fuel, wisdom, and stamina His Lord would give. Here was He refreshed, and sustained.

The fatigue of Jesus did not slow or alter the mission of Jesus. Just as His food was to do the will of His Father, His rest was in staying in the center of His will. Crowds and requests clamored everywhere, but when He sought His Father, He knew where to stay, what to do, when to go. This day, following His lead, centered in His wake, He would not be pulled off course by the demands of the begging. (John 4:34)

Even when, and because, we’re tired, we need time with Him. Even when, and because, we’re tired, we’re called to serve His will. Even when, and because, we’re tired, we keep on. The Lord Jesus is our cause, our sustenance, our end. He is sufficient, and always enough.

Lord, keep me following Your example and Your lead, even and especially when I am tired. May my prayer, attitude, and deeds exalt the truth that You are my All in all.

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many…

“Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life… Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners… Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys…  Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well… Greet one another with a holy kiss…

“Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive… I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil… The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

“Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you… I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.” Romans 16:1-9,12-13,16-23

The personal greetings Paul dictated from a Roman prison highlight a varied and special team of comrades in faith who stand and work together in the fray of the world. Servants, workers, the bold and beloved, mentors, care-givers, stenographers, hosts, teachers, and number-crunchers- all contributed significantly to a healthy church. Their passionate bent to serve the Lord, not themselves, unified them in holy affection.

Living in the world, we will always have opposition, individuals and movements that niggle into our brains with dissension, disrupt harmony in fellowship, and perpetuate division in relationships and churches. Alone, we are vulnerable to the enticements of the flesh, the whispers of ill-will and falsehood, the allure of stroked pride and gossip. But as the church, we can be firmly planted in truth, supported by communal prayer, and sharpened by the wisdom and deep faith of others. Together, we can lock arms, sharpen each other, and sing in unison to dispel the smooth talk and flattery of those who would divide us. (Psalm 34:3; Proverbs 27:17; Ephesians 2:19-22)

When was the last time I voiced appreciation to another who has served well? Written a letter to or prayed for, by name, a fellow worker? How willing am I to help in whatever way is needed? How am I expressing affection for the Lord’s children, even the prickly ones? How hard do I work? To what older, wiser one do I gratefully listen, and learn, and in whom am I gladly investing my time and experience? Do I regularly greet my spiritual siblings with love, and warmly welcome them into conversation, fellowship, my confidence?

Lord, may I do my gracious part in blessing the church amidst the culture’s fray, building up and loving Your people with the affection and unity of Christ.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:9-21

“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother... So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding… May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 14:13,19; 15:5-6

Let it. Let it. Let love be genuine. That’s what love is: genuine, strong, self-giving, generous. Love welcomes, beckons out of the cold, says come sit awhile. Love puts on no airs, breathes and sings in natural voice. Love embraces, sees inside and values each person, feels and applies compassion. Let love be what it is. Stop getting in the way. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

But when I raise my ugly haughty head, it muddies love’s very nature with my sin nature, and genuine becomes stilted, true becomes distorted, lavish becomes limited. Love tainted with selfishness says, ‘what’s in it for me?’

We must abhor all that is evil and pollutes genuine love. Stop keeping an account of offenses, preferring self, allowing laxness to creep into any part of love’s vitality. Are we even aware how self pokes into our desires, disorders emotions, and ruins genuine caring and compassion? How our ideas preempt listening, our plans push away another’s time-consuming sorrow or need? How our sense of rights, and smack of superiority in being right, dismiss the ‘inferior’ and diminish others’ sacredly-held beliefs?

For love to be genuine, it must first have its way in us. We cannot love apart from knowing and accepting Christ’s love for us, His selfless, all-encompassing, unconditional love spilled out and washing us in His heart’s red blood. Once grounded in His love, we begin to grasp the infinite measure of it, and learn by daily practice to work it out with open hands and warm heart toward others. (Ephesians 3:17-19; 1 John 4:19)

Lord, may I fulfill Your law by loving with purity, generosity, and grace. Remind me daily I have died to sin and self, and live to You, for the love and upbuilding of Your people. (Romans 6:4,6-8; 13:8-11,14; 14:7-8; 15:1-2; Galatians 2:20)

“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
    that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
    yet I will not forget you.
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:15-16a

“Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light about me be night,’
even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.” Psalm 139:7-12

The siblings challenged each other to plunge from the cliff into the winter water. Shouts and splashes turned to stun that the necklace had been torn off, the ashes of a son who did not survive, at the bottom, on a chain. Dive after dive in the frigid water, finally a sighting… and after nearly too many long shivering minutes, the brother emerged, treasure in hand. Tears, relief, joy at the retrieval of something so valuable almost lost. O, the depths to which a father and brother go for one so loved.

Our heavenly Father sees, and loves, the dead at the bottom. Jesus gave His life to pursue and redeem the helpless, the lifeless. He plunged the depths of the grave, our names engraved with the nails of Calvary on His hands. What wondrous, what boundless, love is this? (Romans 5:6-10; Ephesians 2:4-7)

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?.. No… For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35,37-39

Rent with brokenness and imperfections, we may doubt His love. Surrounded with trouble, or saturated with emotional or physical pain, we may not feel the blessed balm. Knowing our own fickleness and weak will, we may question His fidelity. Yet His promise is true and steadfast: He will never forsake His own. (Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 94:14; 2 Corinthians 1:20; 4:7-9)

Held fast in the arms of Jesus and His salvific love, how do we love in return? How fully are we surrendered to this Lover of our souls? How willingly are we reaching out in selfless love to our fellow image-bearers? How intentionally, and clearly, and broadly, do we communicate Christ’s love that will not let go?

“Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.” ~Henry Van Dyke (1907)

Lord, let me never forget the depths to which You have gone for my sake, and that You will never forsake. May I love You and others so selflessly and well.

“Joseph, being seventeen years old,.. was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. [He] brought a bad report of them to their father… But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him...

“[His brothers] saw him from afar, and… conspired against him… Let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams…’ Reuben said, ‘Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness…’—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. ²³ So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe of many colors.., took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty…

“Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan coming from Gilead… on their way to Egypt. Judah said, ‘What profit is it if we kill our brother? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites…’ His brothers listened to him. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt…” Genesis 37:1-2,4,18,20,22-28

“Joseph said to them,.. ‘If you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me…’ Then they said to one another, ‘In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.’” Genesis 42:18-21

The initial account of Joseph’s mistreatment is factual, and we catch the contagious hatred and bitterness, and the frenzy of cruelty and greed involved in his capture and ‘sale’ by his siblings. But years later in the story those brothers fess up. So taken with their wicked opportunity at the time, every impulse went to fleshing out their evil inclination, to revenge against this favorite of their father. We sense not a thought triggered as to how Joseph suffered, what he endured. But time brings back memories, and mental images emblazoned on their hearts unveiled Joseph’s “distress of soul” they’d fiendishly and selfishly ignored. His pleading still echoed, and stung, in their ears, and time only turned up the volume.

In our day to day, do we get caught up in emotion, quick decisions, crowd-think and mob-do that prevent us from recognizing the gravity of our actions? Do we let a sense of urgency, a need to be accepted, or an impulse to be busy, push us ahead of or beyond thoughtfulness? Doing so leaves us with mismatched socks, feet that run into selfish muddles and ruin. (Proverbs 6:16-18; Isaiah 59:7)

Would we early and carefully order our mind in God’s word, set right our heart, and be saturated with the Spirit before setting out? Would we untie our tendency to haste, discard thoughtlessness, and put on the readiness of the gospel? (Ephesians 5:18; 6:15)

Father, teach me to take time to consider my ways and connect Your truth as my filter. May I never run swiftly after anything, or anyone, but Thee.

“Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’” Mark 7:31-37

Imagine being a watcher and follower of Jesus, and bringing someone you love to Him for healing. You strain your head to watch His expression of mercy and His hands touching. You tune your ears to hear His words: a prayer?.. a demand… and suddenly your friend who could not hear or speak can do both! Your heart jumps, you gasp, astonished. How can it be?

Yet it can, and is! Jesus individually deals with each one for whom we pray, whom we bring before His throne, and He transforms lives. Yes! He does all things well! Not always in our time, or our prescribed or thought-best way, but divinely well!

“Look, you scoffers,
    be astounded and perish;
for I am doing a work in your days,
    a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.” Acts 13:41

Oh, would we stop our unbelief, and marvel at His work! Would we stop our scoffing, complaining, whining, criticizing, demeaning of others, growling at those who disagree, and being disagreeable ourselves! Look to Him! Be astounded at the marvelous and intricate and infinite ways He orchestrates time and history, our communities and nations and world! Be quiet, and still. Watch the unfolding, trace His love and majesty, and let us allow our marveling to swell!

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” Romans 11:33

And when we cannot understand, or bear to wait longer, let us dive into Him. Let us dig into His character and explore His ways. Let us press on to discover the marvels of His grace, and wisdom, and goodness, and love. In all our deficiencies, our hustling to do and our fretting for things we cannot control, come to Jesus, be astonished, and worship.

“O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!

His love my heart has captive made,
His captive would I be,
For He was bound, and scourged and died,
My captive soul to free.

Hear him, ye deaf, his praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.” ~Charles Wesley (1739)

Lord, keep me astonished at Your well doing of all things, and marveling at Your infinite greatness.