Template
November 25th, 2008
Scripture:
“Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” Matthew 20:34
Observation:
Here you go again! Doing another life changing, miraculous work in the lives of people and you do it in a unique and personal way. When reading through the ways that you heal, that you change lives, I am blown away that you rarely do it exactly the same way. Sometimes you speak words and heal, sometimes you touch and heal, sometimes you think a thought from far away and heal, sometimes you tell them to go to the priest and they are healed, one time you even used your spit to heal someone! I am even reminded this morning that a women was healed by touching you as you walked by her, not even knowing who touched you she was healed. You are amazing! You are limitless. You are the master of creativity. You do not exist inside of a predictable box. You are the furthest from “that’s the way we have always done it.” For every unique story that you enter, you uniquely change it, uniquely heal the people involved in it. You know each person individually and therefore you move in their lives individually in such a way that speaks directly to their heart.
Here you go again! Doing another life changing, miraculous work in the lives of people and you do it in a unique and personal way. When reading through the ways that you heal, that you change lives, I am blown away that you rarely do it exactly the same way. Sometimes you speak words and heal, sometimes you touch and heal, sometimes you think a thought from far away and heal, sometimes you tell them to go to the priest and they are healed, one time you even used your spit to heal someone! I am even reminded this morning that a women was healed by touching you as you walked by her, not even knowing who touched you she was healed. You are amazing! You are limitless. You are the master of creativity. You do not exist inside of a predictable box. You are the furthest from “that’s the way we have always done it.” For every unique story that you enter, you uniquely change it, uniquely heal the people involved in it. You know each person individually and therefore you move in their lives individually in such a way that speaks directly to their heart.
Application:
I am reminded this morning that your ways are higher than my ways, that your thoughts are higher than my thoughts. I realize that I have a bad tendency to limit your work to a specific and familiar template and in the process I seal your movement into a box that is small enough for me to carry, for me to understand, for me to grasp. I believe that you are the master of creativity. Each day you create a masterpiece that is unique, that uses different colors, different scenes, and different people. The only thing that is the same is that your name is signed at the bottom of each. The same name that has been creating masterpieces since creation, Jesus! Today I desire to sit on your lap help you dip into a new color, use a new brush, on a new canvas and place my hand on yours as you shape and create new life, a new healing, a unique redemption story.
Prayer:
My template is in the trash today. God use me, use your church to do your creative and unique work in the lives of the people you love more than anything in all creation! Help me be reminded today that if I pull out the box to minister to someone, you don’t fit inside and refuse to do so. Help me see ministry today as a canvas, and me as holding your hand as you brush a new and unique story into a beautiful masterpiece.
My template is in the trash today. God use me, use your church to do your creative and unique work in the lives of the people you love more than anything in all creation! Help me be reminded today that if I pull out the box to minister to someone, you don’t fit inside and refuse to do so. Help me see ministry today as a canvas, and me as holding your hand as you brush a new and unique story into a beautiful masterpiece.
— Jason Smith, student pastor, Pinelake Madison/Ridgeland campus