As you read God's Word today, ask Him to speak to you from it. . .

Scripture Reading: Luke 5.17-5.32 Today's Inspiration: Luke 5.31 It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Good Morning.

One thing I like about Jesus--His bold moves. Another thing--People made bold moves when they were around Him! In yesterday's study, we talked about the leper who was absolutely convinced that Jesus was able. . . able to do the miraculous, the impossible.

Today, we find Jesus teaching the people in a very crowded house--so packed that no one else could fit! However, some very determined men had to get their paralytic friend before Jesus, so that He could heal him. Undaunted by the fact that there was no room, the men made a very bold move--they went up on the roof, cut a hole in it--a big hole in it--large enough to lower their friend down into the room in front of Jesus. (Can't you just picture that from inside the room--while above, they are removing tiles, sawing and slicing through mud layers, dust and dirt are no doubt falling from the ceiling throughout the house) bold move. Jesus looks from face-to-face of the hard-working, compassionate friends, mentally noting their incredible faith. He looks at the paralyzed man and says, "Friend, your sins are forgiven.". . .bold move. Jesus doesn't leave it there--knowing what the self-righteous Pharisees were thinking, He goes right toward their contention--'you think blasphemy? Nah--why would I do a half-way job? This man does need his sins forgiven, and he does need to be set free from the paralysis. I can and will do both--neither is too difficult for Me, while neither is possible for you.' Jesus turns back to our friend and says, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." So, he did. The crowd went crazy! (I always wanted to say that line, like the sportscasters do. . . 'ladies and gentlemen, this crowd is going crazy! Raahhh. . .')

bold moves. How bold am I when it comes to my faith? Do I know someone who needs a touch from God, and sit idly by, rather than making a bold move on their behalf, 'rather than taking them to someone who has the faith to pray for them, ask God for a miracle, or preach the gospel so that they can understand it, do I just hang back? I remember a really bold move I made about six years ago--it took courage as all bold moves do, to lesser or greater degrees. I had been told about a local businesswoman, mother of three, who had been diagnosed with Stage-4 breast cancer. . . so? I felt in my heart that God was moving me to contact her and pray for healing for her (see--I really can't take any credit for this bold move.) I remember walking down the beach, praying about it, something like this, 'you're sure, Lord? You want me to go to this woman's house I've never met, lay hands on her, and pray that You will heal her? Is that right, Lord? Is that what You are asking?' yikes. I obeyed this leading I had. . . I went. And yes, I laid my hand against her breast and asked God to mercifully come and heal her. He did. bold move, God!

Jesus walks by the tollbooth of the tax collector, Levi--his job was to collect the surcharge as people travel from city to city. Jesus commits social suicide, and makes a bold move, saying to Levi, 'Follow Me.'

(Tax collectors in Jewish culture were despised as notorious sinners who cheated the people.) But Levi immediately responds to Jesus' call. . . love that. Levi throws Jesus a huge party and invites all his tax-collector friends. . . thereby sharing his newfound faith and his Leader with them. There are several ways to share our Christian faith; Levi, also called Matthew, had an INTERPERSONAL style--relationally sharing his faith as a natural outgrowth of friendship. The apostle Paul had an INTELLECTUAL style--He could reason with the educated mind with a persuasive, logical explanation of the Gospel. The apostle Peter had a CONFRONTATIONALstyle--bold, assertive, friendly and action-oriented. The deaconness, Tabitha, had a SERVING style--lovingly serving others out of her desire to serve God, and the purposes of His kingdom. Lastly, the Samaritan woman at the well, (John 4), had an INVITATIONAL style--she went back to town and said to the people, 'Come and see the Man who told me everything about myself. . ' People went with her, met Jesus, and chose to follow Him as well--all because of an invitation.

After Jesus recruits Levi, the Pharisees and their kind, again derisively question why Jesus ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners. . . to which Jesus says, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Luke 5.31 bold move. Having taught Bible study for women for many years, I want to tell you that when a 'tax collector' (or maybe a tattooed smoker in recovery) joins us, sometimes the church-y women miss it. . . they miss the privilege we've been given to embrace these women, offer acceptance, and enter into partnership with Jesus in loving them. No, it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but maybe the sanctimonious need a love lesson.

'Need to make any bold moves of your own?

So that you may know. . .

Christine