special treatment

Has God ever treated you special? Did it embarrass you a little? Or a lot? Did you accept it or even try to reject it because you were so embarrassed? Now that I read this back I've got to give this some background. The other day a little boy who I try to teach chess out of the blue gave me a book. How did he know? But it was a book I would really love to have. But it is an expensive reference book. I have seen copies of this book and some like it in libraries. But even most libraries will not have this specialized reference. I checked on a used bookselling site and the one copy that was available was going for $141. That's what I thought. How did this boy have this book? How did he know that I would love to look at this book? It's not about chess. I could not accept this book from this child. But I did enjoy spending an hour perusing it.

I was embarrassed that he would offer me such a book. I did not deserve it.

The disciple Thomas had an experience like that. (John 21:24+) Thomas blurted out a statement. He was disappointed that he was not there when Jesus came calling. Did he truly mean it? He was mad that he missed seeing Jesus. He wanted to be included. He certainly felt left out. Perhaps he was overstating his true feelings. Jesus called his situation doubting. Whatever it was Jesus heard his cry. He felt compassion on him.

Jesus met him right where he was. I suspect that Jesus coming to him specially, giving him a special gift embarrassed Thomas a lot. Thomas did not mean to be such trouble. Jesus came with compassion. And he told him to no longer doubt. I think Thomas was flustered. Nevertheless Thomas made the right response: "My Lord and My God!" I think this was a response of worship, of gratitude. I can vision him kneeling or bowing in awesome worship. He thanked Jesus for the personal gift.

Jesus uses this opportunity to speak prophesy to the ages, to us, to me: "Because you have seen me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see and yet believed." Brothers, sisters he is speaking about us. We have never seen Jesus face to face or touched his wounds and yet we believed.

I feel that since I have taken the leap of faith or step of faith I have seen enough to believe in a way like Thomas did. I feel I have touched God through other Christians along the way, in the body of Christ, in the community of saints, in the presence of the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. My weak faith has been strengthened by what I have experienced. I identify with being personally encouraged as Thomas was. It should not embarrass us. God is glad to do it, he loves us that much.

Do you have personal experiences like Thomas did that keep you going, that are anchors for your faith? How has God specially loved on you this past week?

Timeless truth

I just finished a class on speaking about God. I will take away one important thing, "Find the timeless truth in a passage and apply that to modern life."

Timeless truth: If you seek God with all your heart God will be found. He promises that. Jeremiah 29:13-14. I only cry over sports movies. But that is what tears tell God. That is often what tears tell us about a person.

Jeremiah 29:13-14. So God promises to be found by those who seek him with all their hearts. You can trust in this about God. It is what's at play with Mary at the tomb (John 20). She has been there, goes and gets the men. And then she comes back. The men get enlightened. But they do not talk to her. They are still processing. So Mary is left standing by the tomb weeping, confused.

So God wishes to be found. Her heart reaches out to God. She looks into the tomb and sees two angels. None of the men saw anything. The angels say, "Woman, why are you weeping?" This is a time for joy, not weeping. Her response has a tinge of anger to it, don't you think? "They have taken my Lord and I do not know where to find him." Jesus feels compassion for her. She is seeking with all her heart. God promises to be found by all who seek with all their heart. I find it hard to do that, through all my pride. Yet it happens for me where I am unconscious of trying. Surely Mary is not conscious of trying. She is just feeling her pain, letting it happen.

So Mary turns and there is Jesus. Jesus appears first to Mary. It is because Mary is seeking and confused. Jesus repeats what the angels said. "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you seeking?" God lets us process. Jesus helps her to figure it out. Mary has still not looked up into his face so she does not recognize him. Then Jesus calls her name, "Mary!" At that point her life is changed. God has allowed himself to be found. She responds with a word not translated, "Rabboni!" It means teacher but must mean more than that, perhaps "my teacher" is more accurate.

God promises to be found when we seek with all our heart. Lord give us the grace to seek you with all our heart.