Good morning all,
We've been away from Elijah since Sunday, but now we're back to that story for a little while. God sent Elijah to a woman in Zarephath and gave her an endless supply of grain and oil so she, Elijah and her son could eat during the drought. After that saving miracle Elijah moved into the house and lived there for a while. I would expect it was quite an adjustment for Elijah to live with a family after being on his own; and I'm sure it was also an adjustment for the woman and her son to have this strange prophet living with them.
At some point in Elijah's stay the son dies. In those days, and unfortunately still sometimes today, it was believed that when something bad happened it was probably because the victim had sinned. That's the woman's first guess as to why her son has died; she feels that she has sinned and the presence of a holy man like Elijah has brought that sin to God's attention. Elijah doesn't make the same assumption, but instead (in private) he yells at God for taking the boy's life. You can hear his frustration with God that he would bring suffering with him to this place he has found kindness and refuge . It's OK to let God know when you're angry with God. God can take our anger or disappointment. The more open we are with God the stronger that relationship will be.
Blessings,
Sam
1 Kings 17:17-24
17After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” 19But he said to her, “Give me your son.”
He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. 20He cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” 21Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” 22The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” 24So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
Showing posts with label raising the dead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label raising the dead. Show all posts
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Father of orphans and defender of widows
Good morning brothers and sisters,
Having just healed the slave of a centurion, Jesus and his disciples continue their journey and arrive at a town called Nain. There Jesus raises a a young man from the dead. It's interesting that both in our readings about Elijah and this reading today we hear about God taking special notice of widows. In ancient Israel (and many other places) women's places in society were mostly defined by their husband (or fathers before they were married). Women had no legal standing meaning that without a husband or father or son, they were very vulnerable. Scripture often calls God the father of orphans and defender of widows because God takes special care of those in need. Jesus follows God's priorities, so it shouldn't surprise us that he performs this mighty act for a widow. The church is also called to follow God's priorities, so in our ministry we should keep our eyes out for the most vulnerable in our society too.
God bless,
Sam
Luke 7:11-17
11Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.
13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."14Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!"15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!"17This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
Having just healed the slave of a centurion, Jesus and his disciples continue their journey and arrive at a town called Nain. There Jesus raises a a young man from the dead. It's interesting that both in our readings about Elijah and this reading today we hear about God taking special notice of widows. In ancient Israel (and many other places) women's places in society were mostly defined by their husband (or fathers before they were married). Women had no legal standing meaning that without a husband or father or son, they were very vulnerable. Scripture often calls God the father of orphans and defender of widows because God takes special care of those in need. Jesus follows God's priorities, so it shouldn't surprise us that he performs this mighty act for a widow. The church is also called to follow God's priorities, so in our ministry we should keep our eyes out for the most vulnerable in our society too.
God bless,
Sam
Luke 7:11-17
11Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.
13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."14Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!"15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!"17This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
falling asleep in church
Good morning all,
Today Paul continues his travels on his way to Jerusalem. He has to perform a miracle to save the life of a believer named Eutychus who fell from a third story window after dozing off during Paul’s speech. Undeterred, Paul keeps talking until dawn and then continues on his way. This almost feels like comic relief in the midst of difficult travel and persecution.
Blessings,
Sam
Acts 20:1-12
After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia. 2When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece, 3where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia. 4He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. 5They went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas; 6but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
7On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting. 9A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. 10But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left. 12Meanwhile they had taken the boy away alive and were not a little comforted.
Today Paul continues his travels on his way to Jerusalem. He has to perform a miracle to save the life of a believer named Eutychus who fell from a third story window after dozing off during Paul’s speech. Undeterred, Paul keeps talking until dawn and then continues on his way. This almost feels like comic relief in the midst of difficult travel and persecution.
Blessings,
Sam
Acts 20:1-12
After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia. 2When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece, 3where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia. 4He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. 5They went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas; 6but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
7On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting. 9A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. 10But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left. 12Meanwhile they had taken the boy away alive and were not a little comforted.
Monday, March 15, 2010
simple healing
Good morning friends,
This morning brings us two amazing healing stories from the early church. Peter cures a paralyzed man and raises a woman from the dead through prayer. I love the simplicity of both of these miracles: Peter says to Aeneas: "Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!" and "Tabitha, get up." I love the faith and boldness in such a straightforward miracle. While this is certainly surprising in itself, we may remember that Jesus told the disciples (in John's Gospel) that when the Holy Spirit came they would do even greater works than Jesus had done.
God still has exciting plans for us through the Holy Spirit. Most of the healing we will do is healing relationships and hopelessness. Miraculous physical healing is pretty rare these days, but the healing that does happen in communities of faith is important and in its own way miraculous too. So keep praying and keep loving because God is with us.
Blessings,
Sam
Acts 9:32-43
32Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” And immediately he got up. 35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.
This morning brings us two amazing healing stories from the early church. Peter cures a paralyzed man and raises a woman from the dead through prayer. I love the simplicity of both of these miracles: Peter says to Aeneas: "Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!" and "Tabitha, get up." I love the faith and boldness in such a straightforward miracle. While this is certainly surprising in itself, we may remember that Jesus told the disciples (in John's Gospel) that when the Holy Spirit came they would do even greater works than Jesus had done.
God still has exciting plans for us through the Holy Spirit. Most of the healing we will do is healing relationships and hopelessness. Miraculous physical healing is pretty rare these days, but the healing that does happen in communities of faith is important and in its own way miraculous too. So keep praying and keep loving because God is with us.
Blessings,
Sam
Acts 9:32-43
32Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” And immediately he got up. 35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.
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