Healed By a Dime?

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

Who doesn’t need to see and understand what it is about children’s faith that touches God’s heart? God help me.

I smiled, having just caught a glimpse of the beauty of childlike faith. Simple, unadulterated belief in God’s power.

“Look at this,” Devon said, as he pointed to a thumbtack-sized welt which had just appeared below his eye.

In a few minutes Devon and six other teenagers found their seats for Tuesday night Bible study. Now he was drawing attention to himself because he had a dime, apparently with saliva, stuck over the welt.

But soon everybody ignored this dime as we carried on. Devon engaged well in the Bible study with good answers and comments. Soon I even forgot about the dime as we interacted.

Forty-five minutes later the Bible study was over. Suddenly, Devon came back into the room. “Look,” he said. “It’s gone.”

His face was clear

I thought, “Did the dime heal the welt?”

Almost before I completed my thought, Devon pointed at the dime, “It says: In God We Trust.” He smiled big. Devon believed the motto stamped on the coin was linked to his speedy cure.

Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” He was talking to a man who desperately wanted to have his son cured from seizures. Hearing this, the man cried out: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

This man seemed to be wavering; not pure in his faith. But he asked the right person for help—Jesus.

Childlike faith. Pure. Unconcerned about what others think. Unwavering trust in God. No Devon, you don’t need a dime. Your faith healed you.

Serving God—Your Way

“I really felt like doing some ministry last night,” Pete said. He then asked me if I knew a situation where he could serve God when his schedule and urge met at the same time.

I live on the edge of a town of six thousand people. The surrounding area is dotted with small towns and rural countryside. Seemingly rather peaceful. And fifty-plus churches are in the immediate vicinity. Still, the need for people to engage in ministry screams.

An idea instantly popped into my head. The thought of someone who might go into retirement homes excited me. Pete has an amazingly likeable personality. Plus his Bible knowledge and skills are topnotch. And he even plays guitar and sings.

But Pete seemed lukewarm to my suggestion.

So, what does “ministry” mean exactly? Looking at the original Greek Biblical language, we see ministry simply means, “Serving—like a waiter.” Then the Bible says of Christians: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

Then if you’re a Christian, you are in ministry. Serving God through serving people is a responsibility.

We’re on duty to reconcile, help connect the not-yet Christians to Jesus and to bolster the faith of those already following Jesus. And the ways to fulfill these obligations are as vast as the stars and human personalities.

Two weeks later I saw Pete. He was in an over-the-top good mood. God had opened up a ministry opportunity for him. God’s guiding far surpassed my suggestion. Pete agreed: “I love it…it’s not even work to me.”

Likewise God has a ministry designed just for you. Find it. And do as the scriptures say; “…fulfill your ministry.”

Mercy Kissed

It almost seemed like a comedy routine. But it was real. And it was happening in my back seat on the way home from Tuesday night church.

Two teenagers were making a case for the huge educational benefits of playing video games. Brandon started by claiming it helps his math abilities. Rich upped the ante by adding budgeting, and auto part’s knowledge.

They would mention a video game and then its enhancement to their intellect. Now I’m not a gamer. So my knowledge is limited, but the game’s names alone would probably cause a banned-status at my house. .

Still Brandon and Rich kept feeding each others enthusiasm. They added learning history to the video game benefits list. Rich said, “I’ve learned a lot about hippies.” I almost laughed. But it is actually sad how they think.

Then Brandon said, “Rick isn’t it neat all the things you can learn from video games?”

So now the door was open for me to really vent my take.

I was silent. Sure I could have said something. But I was pondering. I was pondering, “Mercy.”

The Bible says: “Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.” What is this saying? The correct blend of mercy and truth will lead to right living before God and peace with people.

If I hammer Brandon and Rich with pure Bible truth, these two who have just begun exploring the teaching of Jesus, probably couldn’t handle it. Now mercy is cutting them a lot of slack—initially. Allowing them to grow a step at a time in their God-life.

And this isn’t ignoring untruth or permitting confusion.

Here’s the plan. Blend God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s power with a loving, merciful, and patient approach. This is the gateway to long-lasting life change.

I’m Addicted

“I’m addicted to junk food,” Cyrus told me. His over-heaped plate of deserts at the church’s all-you-can-eat lunch was revealing.

Cyrus seemed to be asking me for advice when he informed me of his dilemma.

When I think of getting free of an addiction, Jesus’ mission statement in Luke 4:18 comes to mind. “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”

Twice in His statement Jesus used the word “liberty.” To be set free. Junk food addiction is real. Did Cyrus want freedom from its captivity and oppression?

Probing a little deeper, I asked Cyrus: “Do you want to quit eating junk food?” With a slight hesitation, he replied, “No.”

Now Jesus can definitely set a person free from a destructive addiction. I know from personal experience.

Listen to these words from Jesus. “There is nothing that enters a man from the outside which can defile him, but the things which come out of him; those are the things that defile a man.” This may seem contradictory to a junk food addiction. That’s not so. For Cyrus, it isn’t the junk food that keeps him bound; it’s what comes out of him.

The word, “No,” came out.

That one word reflects what is inside. A heart satisfied to remain addicted is revealed. A heart not wanting freedom through Jesus. A heart defiled.

Then there is another type of heart. A heart that says, “Yes.” A heart open to the power of Jesus. A heart seeking freedom.

Jesus will provide freedom from any addiction to a person with this kind of heart.