Tag Archives: God’s Grace

A Touchless Society

Emotional, Family Ministry, God Loves You, Self Care, Spiritual Food, , , , ,

The Modern Day Leper

Mark 1:41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

We live in a day of Touchless Technology.  This technology is used in numerous settings, including restaurants, stores, schools, and was especially vital during COVID.  It allows us to interact with devices and systems without physical contact and was implemented to reduce the spread of germs and viruses.  However, we never returned to interacting with each other.  I believe that while the effects of  COVID increased this trend of usage for safety, today it is used more for convenience, than anything else.  We seem to be looking for convenient ways not to have anything to do with other people.  Sad Right; yet I believe that many people enjoy the isolation. 

Leviticus 13:50 The priest shall examine the plague and isolate that which has the plague seven days.

Isolate: to shut, to close, to be shut up.  

The definition is interesting; shut, closed and be silenced.  Isolation is physically shutting you up and shutting up the community around you.  In isolation the enemy’s voice often becomes the loudest, and in isolation we remove our access to some essential needs.  

What needs: of the top 5 things that are documented as critical needs for a newborn, like being fed, good hygiene, and safety, is the Parental or Caregiver’s affection and interaction.  The affection and interaction include holding, cuddling, talking to, and responding to the baby’s needs; each are vital for the emotional well-being of the child.  Well just like for the baby, Affection is very important to us as children and adults; it contributes significantly to our sense of well-being, connection, and a feeling of being loved.  This need of emotional and physical intimacy through affectionate touch, hugs, kisses, and words of affirmation are key to grown people feeling secure and valued in a relationship.

Leviticus 13:45-46 “Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’  46 He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.

So imagine this leper who is coming to Jesus; this man’s body is literally deteriorating before him.  Not only the physical pain in his body; but the emotional pain of utter neglect had to be excruciating.  A Middle Aged man in Jesus’ day would be married with a pretty large family. So you would have to think that this man had been isolated from the city, from his neighbors, from his wife and from his kids.  Yet not only isolated from them, the very ones who loved him.  But rejected by them because they did not want to catch what he had.  Ridiculed by the people of the city because they treated the lepers lower than vermin.  An even ostracized by the religious leaders as they proclaimed their leprosy was tied to their sin.  Imagine being berated physically, emotionally and spiritually for weeks, months, or even years.  We don’t exactly how long this man was with this agonizing disease but we do know it was long enough that when he went and told the people and church leaders what happened many believed because they knew his condition.  

What does this have to do with Touchless Technology?  We have unknowingly created a bunch of lepers today as we in general have disconnected physically and emotionally.  Just like the leper isolated, lonely and ill repute (the state of being held in low esteem by the public).  The impact of lack of touch and affection, can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and even decreased relationship satisfaction.

Phones and other tech have replaced simple dialogue, conversation and even just being present with others.  Hugs, holding hands, cuddling, and normal physical contact is missing.  And just look at the impact below of what we miss, taken from a summary of studies:

*Emotional connection:
Physical affection like hugs and cuddles releases oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding and feelings of closeness, which is crucial for men and women to feel connected to their partner. 

*Self-esteem boost:
Receiving affection can significantly enhance a person’s self-esteem and sense of worth. 

*Stress reduction:
Physical touch has been shown to reduce stress levels in men and women. 

*Communication tool:
Affection can be a powerful way to express love and appreciation, even without words. 

Although the technology has Changed Jesus Remains the same.  When we’re isolated and alone; Jesus is always willing  (“I am willing; be cleansed.”) to touch us!!  His touch restores and makes us whole.  

Mark 1:41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

The Miracle of God’s Grace

God Loves You, Spiritual Food,

2 Cor 12:8-9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul more than any of the Apostles of Christ received a wealth of revelation regarding God’s Grace; he had a unique understanding, that he graciously shared with the body. We misinterpret His Grace often often; we’ve heard it taught in many different ways but what is His Grace and when do we need it. Very short answer; Everything and Everyday (min & hour)!! In Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthian church, he gave an incredible lesson on God’s Grace and if we do a little digging into his words, we will be able to see the Miracle that is God’s Grace.

1. First thing we need to address is that God is speaking to us: And He said to me. This is the first miraculous portion of this text; do you recall who exactly Paul was? Paul was a persecutor of those who followed Jesus. He literally had these people jailed, stoned and even killed. Paul couldn’t be more of an enemy of God. Yet, Jesus still spoke to Paul; He actually went way beyond just speaking to Paul, He corrected Paul; He forgave Paul; He equipped Paul and He used Paul to glorify Himself. This is Grace; Jesus made His enemy His Son. This Grace is also extended to each one of us. We were once an enemy of God; yet Jesus corrected, forgave, equipped, and desires to use us. His plans for us are similar to the miraculous transformation of Paul. The Lord spoke to Paul and today speaks to us. What a miracle; God finds us worthy of His Grace

2. Distinction between His Grace and Our Grace: My grace is sufficient for you. The Grace Jesus speaks of to Paul is an inexhaustible empowerment that regardless of what we’ve done or will do; regardless of what we’ll ever need; is available to us in abundance. His Grace is sufficient because it never runs out; this word sufficient actually means to be content, to be enough, to suffice. His Grace however, is always more than enough; because He does exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think (Eph 3:20). No matter what you and I need, what is burdening us (like Paul’s thorn in the flesh), or even what we don’t realize is (God’s plan Jer 29:11) planned for us; His Grace is more than enough. Yet another miracle of His Grace, it’s Inexhaustible.

3. Our Weakness is His Strength: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. The Lord declares that His strength is perfected in our weakness. That means that every time we feel weak, it is an opportunity for God to show His strength in our situation. Therefore, we need to first acknowledge our weaknesses. Now our weakness is clear to us (and especially to those around us) yet when we don’t acknowledge that we have weaknesses, we are being Proud. Peter actually helps us with this, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Pet 5:5). It is by humility that we acknowledge our weakness, but we then must give those weaknesses to the Lord: casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Pet 5:7). When we do this; (Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time), God’s strength will lift us high enough to be seen (witnessed) by others. This means God has the opportunity to demonstrate His Strength in each of us, when we give Him consent (by casting our weaknesses). The miracle is that our weakness draws God’s Strength into our lives.

4. Boast on Your Infirmities: Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. The thought of boasting (the word boast means to glory, joy or rejoice in) in your weaknesses just defies all human logic. We want to glory in our strengths; those things we’re good at. It takes extreme humility to show our vulnerability and to do the exact opposite of what seems right to man. To take joy in or tell others about our weakness or shortcomings is exactly what Paul is doing and exhorting us to do. Being vulnerable and acknowledging our weaknesses gives us the ability to sit back and watch God show Himself STRONG in the very areas need the most. The miracle; is that Strength is demonstrated via our Vulnerability. The things we want to hide are the things that God will use. So Rejoice in the Lord and in your weakness; then God has the opportunity to demonstrate His great power in Us.

A Proven Method

Spiritual Food,

Jn 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The beauty of the book of John is that Jesus’ Lordship is being interpreted.  Jesus was indeed a King (Matthew), a Servant (Mark) and the Son of Man (Luke); but here in John’s Gospel, Jesus was portrayed as the Son of God. He’s The Word, He was with God at the very beginning and even though He could be seen throughout the Bible I many forms (Sacrificial Lamb, Angel of the Lord; Pilar of Fire, etc); it is the book of John that prepares us for Jesus’ coming in the flesh (the living epistle or living Word of God).  

God sent His word to the earth in the Old Testament, through Moses in the form of the Law (The Commandments) Jn 1:17 For the law was given through Moses.  Now His Word is coming in the form of Jesus Christ.  I want to focus on how how The Word entered the earth; Jn 1:17 … but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  Many Christians don’t follow Jesus’ lead; grace and truth.  Many lead with Truth, which often comes in the form of a “hammer”, a “Holier than I” attitude, or a judgmental presence.  Jesus is the Way and Truth (Jn 14:6), and He could easily come in judgment of everyone of us.  However, He leads with Grace first.  I like to think of grace being a pillow or fluffy mattress that the Lord allows us to fall on.  Regardless of how far we fall, God’s Grace gives us a soft landing spot. Rather than hammer us for not meeting God’s righteous standard, Jesus gives us Grace first, demonstrating His love for us.  After all, it is his goodness that leads to repentance (Rom 2:4…not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance).

We need to remember that God’s goodness is what opened our hearts to Jesus. It is a proven method that the Lord has demonstrated to perfection for centuries and if we want to win others to Christ, we need to learn how to lead with Grace.  If we desire to share Jesus, the least we can do is share Him the same way He does.