“He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.” —Isaiah 40:29

“You’re never as honest as you are with your search engine,” said a Google data editor. That’s where you really get a sense of what people genuinely care about and want to know—and not just how they’re presenting themselves to the rest of the world.

In a year that tested so many, what were people typing into that little search box on their browser the most? Apparently, the world searched “how to heal” more than ever in the past. Whether for mental health reasons, overcoming physical illnesses, restoring broken relationships, or finding ways to come back stronger, people want to know how to… heal.

In John 5, we read a story about an invalid who I’m sure would’ve been using his phone to search “how to heal” had he been given that technology. The Greek term used in this passage for “invalid” can be translated infirmity, paralyzed, lame, feeble, extremely weak, or disabled. This man was in a miserable condition, but the text says that Jesus “knew” (v.6) that he had already been there a long time. What words of encouragement! Jesus didn’t just happen upon the man’s plight randomly, He knew of this man’s weakness all along. So He fixes His eyes on the man and asks this sincere question: “Do you want to be healed?”

Jesus knew that not every sick person wants to be made well; not every debilitated person wants the truth, the responsibility, the expectations, or the accountability that comes with being made whole. Before Jesus heals the man physically, he examines his heart. Do you want to be healed? From the response the man gives, we can see that he could be suffering from a weakened faith as well as feeble legs. “I have no one” to help me, says the man. Plus, I just can’t catch a break here… whenever the healing waters are stirred up someone always beats me to the pool. Can you sense the discouragement in this man’s reply? Maybe even some self-pity?

Do you want to be healed? Sometimes that question might sound something like this: Do you want to forgive? Do you want to let go of that anger? Do you want to give up control? Do you want to surrender that addiction? Do you want to make peace with that person? Do you want to become more disciplined in your diet and exercise? Do you want to turn off the binge watching and spend more time in Bible reading, worship, and prayer?

I love how Jesus cuts through all the man’s excuses, and potentially a victim-mentality, to show him that everything he needs to be healed is standing right in front of him—namely, in the person of Christ. He doesn’t just repair his legs; He rebuilds his faith and restores his hope by dealing with the heart first. “Get up, take up your bed, and walk,” Jesus tells the man. At once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and suddenly walked out of there on a mission like parishioners making a beeline for the buffet when church lets out on Sunday. Perhaps.

No matter how bad of a hand you have been dealt, be encouraged by the fact that your hand doesn’t surprise God. He’s known your hand long before you ever looked at the cards. He knows what you are up against. He wants to show Himself strong by overcoming the odds stacked against you. Are you willing to hope, believe, rise, be healed, and dream big again this New Year?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness in our lives. Even in our weakness and our feebleness, you never forsake us. Jesus, we cast off our excuses, our self-pity, our victim-mentality, and our doubts and fears. We hear you asking, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ Google can’t heal us. The world can’t heal us. We can’t heal ourselves. We need you to be our Healer. Do the work in us that only You can do. Make us new. Make us free. Make us wholly yours. We pray in your blessed name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion

1. When have you felt like life dealt you a bad hand?
2. How long had the man in this story been an invalid? (John 5:5)
3. What did Jesus tell the man he had healed when he encountered him a second time? (v.14) Why is this significant?
4. How did the religious leaders respond to this man’s healing? When has someone tried to squelch your freedom in Christ with religious rules or regulations?
5. In what way has Jesus healed you? In what ways do you still need healing?

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The post Top Google Search: How To Heal appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” —Isaiah 7:9

Recent events in our world have left millions struggling with fear, anxiety, and instability. A deadly virus outbreak, political upheavals, violence on the streets, turmoil, broken families, illness, death of loved ones, as well as a pandemic of mental health issues. Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. hit the highest number ever recorded in the year 2020. It’s enough to make even the bravest of souls feel uncertain about the future.

Ahaz was an ancient king facing fear of the unknown and anxiety about what was coming next, as an alliance of adversaries were moving in on his city, Jerusalem. It says, “the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.” But God sent a message from Isaiah to reassure the king not to fear such an attack, for human threats are to be dismissed and divine promises are to be firmly trusted. The prophet bolsters the king with these words:

“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”

I’ve heard it said, “God isn’t moved by need; He is moved by faith.” “For the just shall live by faith,” and without such, “we cannot please God” (Hebrews 10:38; 11:1). God wasn’t going to show up for Ahaz simply because he had a need, or just because things had gotten really bad and it was His obligation to the human king; no, God was going to show up because of His own faithfulness—and the king of Judah does well to trust in God’s character (cf. 2 Chronicles 16:9, Luke 18:8). If his heart is aligned with God in faith, he shouldn’t fear any threat of invasion or any battle waged against him.

Scripture tells us that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. If Ahaz isn’t stable in faith, the premise is that every other aspect of his life will be characterized by instability. Even in the face of intimidating adversaries, the southern kingdom still has an opportunity to hold fast to God, but their faith must be firm. Yet when this human king fails to respond to God’s invitation to ask for a sign of hope (vv.10-12), we see the divine King taking initiative in declaring HOPE…

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” —Isaiah 7:14

God invites Ahaz to see beyond his visible circumstances and to trust in the promise of God’s not-so-visible sovereignty. The sign of hope that the Lord gives him is one of a future Messiah. “Immanuel,” meaning “God is with us,” is the message of the sign, and is one of the most famous prophecies pointing toward the birth of Jesus, about 700 years before the Savior was born in Bethlehem. The Lord’s invitation to Ahaz is the same invitation extended to us today: God invites us to trust in His sovereignty and faithfulness over every present hardship and societal uncertainty. He challenges us to see beyond our control and given circumstances, to a bigger picture of hope. That hope is found in the person of Jesus Christ. If you lack that hope today, find out more about how you can know this Messiah here.

One of the most beautiful aspects of God’s faithfulness is that even when we fail to take the initiative to ask for a sign of hope, God Himself takes that initiative for us. When we are feeling fragile and unstable in our faith, we are in a perfect place to receive His grace and His sufficiency. God doesn’t expect us to become firm in our own might; He wants to be our firmness! Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

God, when we find ourselves feeling unstable in this broken world, may your signs of hope and trustworthy promises continue to grant us the firmness we need to abide in you each day. You are the sufficiency in our insufficiency, the strength in our weakness, and the hope in our despair. Thank you for leading us in the way of stability, the firmness of a sincere faith in your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion

1. To whom do people tend to turn when they face difficult circumstances?
2. How was the morale of Judah affected when they heard about the alliance of Aram and Israel? (Isaiah 7:2) What word of encouragement did God send via Isaiah and his son? (vv.3-9)
3. What did God invite Ahaz to do in order to reassure himself? (vv.10-11) Though Ahaz refused to ask for it, what sign did God promise? (vv.12-14)
4. What are some of your first instincts when you are overwhelmed by fear?What are some examples of how God accommodates our fears and weaknesses?
5. What can we learn about God from the fact that He gave a sign that wasn’t even requested? What fear do you need to surrender to God in order not to be controlled by it?

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The post If You Are Not Firm in Faith appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34

For my daughter’s birthday, we went to see the movie Thor: Ragnarok. As he fights for survival and races against time to prevent the villainous Hela from destroying the Asgardian civilization (to a roaring Led Zeppelin soundtrack), Thor crash-lands on Sakaar, a garbage planet surrounded by wormholes. Here he finds himself in a savage gladiatorial contest against his former ally, Hulk. He must not only fight for survival, but must convince others who are hostile toward him that they can be part of a more heroic cause, including his sinister-prone brother, Loki. This is no easy task.

One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Thor is trying to explain the current reality to Bruce Banner, who is dazed and confused (sticking with the Led Zeppelin undertone) about his existence. Banner’s response is that he feels as if he has been thrown into a world that is intentionally designed to keep him stressed out all the time.

Maybe you’ve felt this way. One thing we can all agree on is that the story of our lives is less like Mayberry, and more like Sakaar, a place where we’ve crash-landed and must fight for survival. In the words of Job, “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Fortunately, God gives us a survival manual for such a place.

In Matthew 6, Jesus has some comforting words for those who feel they have crash-landed on a planet rife with stress and anxiety. “Do not be anxious about your life,” he says. Then he guides his disciples to look at how natural things on this planet survive, such as birds and flowers. He asks, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Jesus told his followers that the Gentiles are anxious, essentially because they are focused on the world rather than His kingdom. The antidote to these unnatural predispositions to stress is found in seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:32-33).

When we are dealing with a family crisis, financial hardship, health issues, conflict in the workplace, holiday stress, uncertainty about the future, or just feelings of being lost and alone, the pressure can be overwhelming. Yet Jesus invites us into a place of rest: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This place of rest is a refuge from the whirlwind of worry and panic.

God keeps those in perfect peace who fix their thoughts on Him (Isaiah 26:3). Wherever you may have crash-landed this week, remember that God offers a survival manual for those in distress. And in that manual He says “Fear not” (Matthew 10:31), and “take courage”—I have overcome this place (John 16:33).

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, sometimes the stress is overwhelming. In those times, help us to remember that there is nothing we will ever face that has the capacity to overwhelm you. May we find peace in knowing Jesus has overcome this world and in trusting in your faithfulness over every area of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:

1. Who is the strongest Avenger? A great debate for the kids!
2. Have you ever felt like Bruce Banner, overwhelmed by a world set on keeping you stressed out?
3. Why is it so easy to get preoccupied with our own needs and struggle to find rest in God’s faithfulness?
4. How is God described in Matthew 6:32 and how should that find significance in our daily lives?
5. What has God promised to those who seek first His kingdom and His righteousness? How will that be fleshed out in your life this week?

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The post How You, THOR, and Bruce Banner Are Alike appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“But one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42 ESV)

We have a dachshund that loves to dig. That’s probably a bit redundant as this obstinate natured breed of dogs was bred to scent, chase, and flush out burrow-dwelling animals. You can always tell when our ornery little Mocha has been digging in the back yard because her nose is covered in dirt. She can’t get the evidence off quick enough!

Biblical scholars reveal that the first-century Jews had an expression they used to describe a disciple who followed their teacher closely and relentlessly. They were “covered in the dust” of their rabbi. Some consider this to reflect the imagery of a group of disciples sitting on the earth at the feet of their master, who is seated on a stool before them. While others embrace the idea that a rabbi’s disciples—those who took on his yoke (his set of interpretations of scripture)—followed so closely that the dust his feet kicked up from the road is what caked their clothing and lined their faces as they journeyed. In either case, it may be understood to convey the idea that the disciple should always remain within the ambit of his master’s “dust” or influence.

They would often offer the blessing: “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.”

When we are following Jesus closely, there will be traces of his presence in our lives. We will be covered in the dust of our rabbi. Or, like our backyard wiener dog, there will be evidence that we have been digging. We should intend to live so much in our Lord’s presence that we become dusty disciples.

In today’s text we see that Martha was very busy for Jesus. She was working hard to please him. Her intentions may have been good but she was also filled with anxiety and worry. The preparations of life overwhelmed her. Martha did nothing wrong in working hard for Jesus—that was good. Her problem was that she became “distracted with much serving.” She was distracted from what was most important to serving Jesus well—abiding in Jesus. Sure, Martha was doing constructive work; she just wasn’t doing it with the “one thing” necessary.

Excessive religious activity void of intimacy with Jesus often leads to frantic behavior—even bitterness towards others, as we see demonstrated in Martha’s attitude towards Mary. Yet Mary chose that “good portion.” She sat at the Lord’s feet being covered in the dust of her Rabbi.

Charles Spurgeon noted, “The way to get the revival is to begin at the Master’s feet; you must go there with Mary and afterwards you may work with Martha.”

We all have those Martha moments when we live under the illusion that worry enhances our ability to control the world. The danger of our worries is that they keep us frazzled in the kitchen instead of being covered in the presence of our Lord.

What if you were to wake up each morning and begin with a prayer similar to this: “Today, I wish to be covered in the dust of my rabbi”? What if you were to repeat that prayer throughout the day every time you faced a challenge? Jesus has made God’s presence scandalously available to anyone who wants it. May you find yourself covered in the dust of the Rabbi as you seek to abide in Him this week!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, work is a gift with which you have entrusted us. Hard work is a heavenly virtue. Yet work apart from your presence makes us agitated, irritable, and edgy. It saps the life out of us, producing worry, discontentment, need for control, anxiety, even bitterness towards others. Yet you offer us a better way. We need our labor to be covered in the dust of your presence. Teach us to abide in your grace as we go about our daily toil and labor of love, and may your fragrance be upon us in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The answer to worry is not to try really hard to stop worrying. It is to be covered in the dust of your rabbi. Tweet this

Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:

1. When have you been accused of being like someone else, good or bad?
2. To what extent can you relate to the hurried, frantic personality of Martha?
3. When have you struggled with the need to be in control lately?
4. What do you suppose Jesus meant when He said “one thing is necessary”?
5. What can you do this week to be more “covered in the dust of your Rabbi” as you face life’s challenges?

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The post Covered in the Dust of Your Rabbi appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

Text: Luke 10:38-42

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” (Luke 10:41-42 ESV)

One of the things that makes me very proud as a father is that all three of my children love to serve others. They go about it with an earnest joy. But they also like to hold one another accountable to the workload—especially when doing chores around the house. If one is asked to do a certain project, they have this uncanny awareness of knowing precisely what their siblings might be doing at the same time. And if one seems to be lagging behind while the other is working strenuously, there will be no small grievance with management!

I can just see Martha now, stewing in the kitchen and getting all worked up about her sister slacking off on the preparations for dinner. Why doesn’t she get the importance of this moment? Martha must’ve thought. Jesus was a guest in their home for dinner and Martha wanted everything to be perfect. So she labored feverishly while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus.

Have you ever worried irrationally over something and it bothered you that other family members didn’t seem phased by it? Maybe you had anxiety over something and your spouse didn’t, so you got upset with your spouse for not dancing with you in the whirlwind of neurosis. When we are bent out of shape, we want company—we want others to be bent out of shape with us.

This seems to be Martha. She did nothing wrong in working hard for Jesus—this is a noble thing for a Christ-follower. Her problem was that she became “distracted with much serving,” as one translation says. She was distracted from Jesus and became obsessed with doing for Jesus.

The Greek word here also carries the meaning of being anxious or troubled about many things. Jesus used this same word to warn his followers about “worrying” over their material needs (Matthew 6:25). It’s also the word Paul uses when he urges the Philippians to be “anxious” for nothing (Philippians 4:6).

The problem was that Martha wasn’t just making dinner preparations; she had become obsessed with trying to make everything perfect. This bred a troubled spirit in her—a state of anxiety.

It’s noteworthy that this story in the Bible comes right after the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The priest and the Levite who callously passed by the beaten man could’ve rationalized their humanitarian negligence by saying they were on their way to “worship” and “sit at the feet of God.” But it was the Good Samaritan who was commended for seeing and responding to the need in front of him.

Anxiety is often the result of protecting a self-conscious image rather than resting our conscience in the thoughts of God. Tweet this

When we read the Bible as a whole, we see that joyfully serving the needs of others is at the heart of Jesus (Matthew 24:45–46). What seems to be the issue with Martha is that she was serving out of anxiety, not from grace. She had the Messiah under her roof and she was going to make everything perfect—or at least look that way.

This kind of anxiety can indeed be very subtle. It is self-serving at the root. It’s the desire for approval dressed up to look like the desire to serve. It has an image to protect. But Mary had chosen the “one thing necessary,” the “good portion.” In that moment, Mary was more captivated with Jesus than with her own self-image. She cared more about what Jesus was saying than what others thought of her, or her home. Jesus applauded what was in her heart.

Martha was graced to have Jesus’ gentle rebuke. It was an act of love to her and to us, reminding us that Jesus is asking: whom are we serving in our serving? This gentle rebuke will free us from the anxiety of serving out of a self-conscious image of what others think, and free us to be enthralled with Christ alone in all of our serving.

For further study: Matthew 6:1-30, Colossians 3:23, Ephesians 6:7-8

Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:

1. Which attributes in your children make you very proud as a parent? Share your thoughts with them.
2. What causes anxiety in you? Ask your children the same question.
3. When have you most recently resembled the hurried, frantic, nervousness of Martha? Can you identify the root of that troubled spirit?
4. Jesus is more concerned with our growth in grace than He is with insulating our feelings. Martha must’ve felt a little embarrassed by His gentle rebuke. When have you ever experienced His gentle rebuke in a way similar to that of Martha?
5. When you are serving others, how can you do it with more consciousness of Jesus and less consciousness of yourself, or your own image?

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The post Where Does Your Anxiety Come From? appeared first on Jimmy Larche.