December 21st

December 21st

The gift that keeps on giving… and no I am not talking about the jelly of the month club!

The perfect gift that we have been given in Jesus has so many layers to it that we will never reach the end of it! This puts us in a unique position, one that keeps us learning and experiencing new facets of our Lord and Savior and one that allows us to deepen our relationship with Christ daily and continue to experience healing and transformation.

Jesus gives us exactly what we need, not what we think we need. He also gives us more than we know to ask for! Let’s look at an example from His ministry here on earth.

Luke 8 tells us about a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Now to understand the full significance of this situation, we need to understand Jewish culture at that time. A woman who was bleeding was considered “unclean” and could not be associated with, touched or have shares housing with at that time. This woman would have been disowned by her family. She would not have been married and she would not have been allowed in her father’s house either. She would have been an outcast because of her uncleanness and would not have been allowed to share housing with others. She likely would have lived in a tent outside of town similar to the leppers. She would have been lonely, alone, poor, sickly/weak from so much blood loss and likely malnourished. In addition to her physical ailment, she would have been deeply wounded emotionally from being disowned. This would hurt even today but in that day even more so because the identity of daughters were so dependent on their father. Plus, since she was disowned for being “unclean,” she would not have the option of finding an accepting group of friends to take her in as pseudo-family.

As the woman approached Jesus, she believed that if she just touched the hem of His garment she would be healed. She pressed in to the crowd around Him, even though that would have been forbidden. She managed to touch His garment and sure enough she was healed. But when Jesus felt the power flow from Him, and found out she was the one who had touched Him, what did He say?

Luke 8:48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

How did He address her? He called her “daughter.” Jesus knew that even more than physical healing, she needed emotionally healing, she needed someone to claim her, she needed someone to identify her. So rather than just allowing the physical healing that she thought she needed, He spoke healing to her heart by calling her “daughter.” He claimed her and proclaimed her identity for all to hear. He gave her more than what she thought she needed. That is our Jesus!

Although we think we know what it is that we need from Jesus, He knows better. He understands exactly what we need and He speaks to our hearts and claims us as His own. He is trustworthy. He is capable. He is willing. He is willing to speak into us exactly what we need from Him. No matter your situation, let the God of your salvation also be the God of your healing this Christmas season. Let go of what you think you need from Him and open your heart to let Him speak into you exactly what He knows you need.

Thank Him for loving you so completely and wanting what is best for you. Thank Him for recognizing your needs that you don’t even realize exist.

Jesus, thank you so much for doing your plan instead of mine. Thank you for not simply answering my prayers the way I want but doing your will instead. Thank you for giving me more than what I think I need. Help me to surrender all of my needs to you along with my own ideas. Help me not to limit my understanding to what I think and help me to see myself and others through your eyes. Thank you for your perfect love Jesus!

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.