It's Holy Week.
Combine that with just coming home from 5 days with 200+ leaders from our global church family, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by Jesus right now. I'm amazed at His greatness and His glory, and I'm constantly reminded that He is worth of every tiny speck of praise I have to give Him. I also have what may seem on the surface like a crazy expectancy in my heart that He will show up and do extraordinary things.
I was recently reading in Luke 5, the story of the paralytic.
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” -ESV
The last sentence struck me.
"And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, 'We have seen extraordinary things today.'" (emphasis mine)
When crowds gathered to Jesus, they gathered with expectancy that He would do mighty things. They were constantly amazed at the things He did. In our American churches, it often seems as if we have lost that sense of wonder and expectancy. When we gather to Him, do we expect Him to do great and mighty things in our midst? When was the last time you were amazed by Jesus? When was the last time you saw Him do extraordinary things?
Healing. Salvation. Forgiveness. Great and amazing things.
When was the last time you truly beheld Jesus, in all of His power and glory, and EXPECTED Him to do great and amazing things?
When was the last time you took the time to reflect on what He has already done, and let yourself sit in awe and amazement at the greatness and glory of the Lord?
It's Holy Week. Give yourself permission to truly behold the greatness of Jesus. Come to Him with praise, thanksgiving, and expectation in your heart. Then watch and see what He will do.
Combine that with just coming home from 5 days with 200+ leaders from our global church family, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by Jesus right now. I'm amazed at His greatness and His glory, and I'm constantly reminded that He is worth of every tiny speck of praise I have to give Him. I also have what may seem on the surface like a crazy expectancy in my heart that He will show up and do extraordinary things.
I was recently reading in Luke 5, the story of the paralytic.
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” -ESV
The last sentence struck me.
When crowds gathered to Jesus, they gathered with expectancy that He would do mighty things. They were constantly amazed at the things He did. In our American churches, it often seems as if we have lost that sense of wonder and expectancy. When we gather to Him, do we expect Him to do great and mighty things in our midst? When was the last time you were amazed by Jesus? When was the last time you saw Him do extraordinary things?
Healing. Salvation. Forgiveness. Great and amazing things.
When was the last time you truly beheld Jesus, in all of His power and glory, and EXPECTED Him to do great and amazing things?
When was the last time you took the time to reflect on what He has already done, and let yourself sit in awe and amazement at the greatness and glory of the Lord?
It's Holy Week. Give yourself permission to truly behold the greatness of Jesus. Come to Him with praise, thanksgiving, and expectation in your heart. Then watch and see what He will do.
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