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are you beginning God?

Powerful words from my time this morning.  Read these verses.  Think through them and ask God to help you apply them.  

Luke 18 (The Message)

8  But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

The story is about a judge who cares nothing about God and nothing about helping people.  Jesus' point is the judge had to do something for a lady who was persistent and begging the judge for a long time.  Are we begging god for anything?  Will Jesus find us praying and praying and praying for anything?  Maybe the salvation of a friend or for our community to change ...

27  "No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself.  Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."

Jesus now is talking about the rich guy who came to ask about salvation.  Jesus talked about the fact that is is hard for a rich man to get into heaven, and in fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.  Ouch.  But what are we rich in?  Where do we not trust God.

That verse hit me hard this morning.  If I put my trust in myself, I die.  I come to an end.  My faith is tough.  Think about that.

And finally, I just let you read this story for yourself.  But I want to be the man who hears Jesus is coming and begin to cry out to the one who makes a difference and believe that He will make a difference.  It is Christmas.  It is time we beg God to change us, to change situations and to use us to make a difference in the lives of people around us.
 
31-43  Then Jesus took the Twelve off to the side and said, "Listen carefully. We're on our way up to Jerusalem. Everything written in the Prophets about the Son of Man will take place. He will be handed over to the Romans, jeered at, made sport of, and spit on. Then, after giving him the third degree, they will kill him. In three days he will rise, alive." But they didn't get it, could make neither heads nor tails of what he was talking about.  He came to the outskirts of Jericho. A blind man was sitting beside the road asking for handouts. When he heard the rustle of the crowd, he asked what was going on. They told him, "Jesus the Nazarene is going by."  He yelled, "Jesus! Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!"  Those ahead of Jesus told the man to shut up, but he only yelled all the louder, "Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!"  Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought over. When he had come near, Jesus asked, "What do you want from me?"  He said, "Master, I want to see again."  Jesus said, "Go ahead—see again! Your faith has saved and healed you!" The healing was instant: He looked up, seeing—and then followed Jesus, glorifying God. Everyone in the street joined in, shouting praise to God.

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