Monday Morning Musings ...

We had a very good day yesterday. We were back to full schedule and that added some energy to the building and the day. Had some good discussion in my Sunday School class and we had a great time in our small group last night. It had been 3 weeks since our small group met and it was great to be with them again, even though we were down in numbers, I love that group. Worship went well and I love the new song that was introduced and especially so because it matches the theme of the sermon series I began yesterday.

The new series is entitled "Yes Lord ..." The focus is on our belief and then living what we claim to believe in our everydays. The foundation scripture is Matthew 9:27-31 and Ephesians 3:14-21 and a bunch of others throughout the series. Augustine said, "Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe." I love this explanation, or definition, of faith by Philip Yancey, "Believing in advance in something that will only seem logical when seen in reverse." Look at the picture in the passage of Matthew 9:27-31. Two blind men following Jesus, asking for mercy from him. They would have had to really work to follow him, after all they were blind. They plea to him was for mercy, they understood who he was and what mattered most. Then when Jesus confronted them about their belief in him and his abilities they answered "Yes Lord". (thus the title of the series, and you thought I was creative)

The need seemed obvious, they were blind. They had more needs than just the obvious, as do people today. Theirs was a lack of physical vision, they had the spiritual vision. Today most of us are the opposite of these two men. We often don't see... needs, hurts and potential. God will meet needs, heal hurts and he has great plans for you. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "...plans to give you hope and a future". What are you seeing around you? What are you seeing in you? What aren't we seeing?

The request was for mercy. The implication may have been for the physical healing, but they requested mercy. Mercy is much bigger than any one need. Mercy is much broader than a single area. Mercy is something we all need. What are you asking for? Our requests tell a lot about our priorities.

The question Jesus asked was not "what do you want me to do for you?" His question was, "Do you believe I am able?" So do you believe he is able? This a key question and the answer is even more important. How are you answering this question? Not just with your words, but how are you answering it as evidenced by how you are living?

Do you believe he is able to provide for the burdens you are carrying today? Yes Lord needs to be more than a slogan, it needs to be more than the words in a song, it needs to be how we live.