Why do we live like we are in chains? One Sunday, I looked across the sanctuary and, from the way people looked, it seemed to me that many of them were chained. I think a lot of times we allow our insecurities and what others think about us to dictate what we bring before our Father. What will people think if I raise my hands? Will they look at me funny? What if I sing off key? If we're honest with ourselves and others, we've all had those thoughts before. The truth is, no one else cares! We worry ourselves with those thoughts, when no one else is thinking them! We need to let go of those worries and insecurities before we go before our Daddy to bring praise to Him. If we can't let those go, we're inhibited from giving Him ALL of our heart and soul and letting Him speak to us, because the focus is on US.
Switching gears, today's message in church was about Jairus, the official and the woman who'd been bleeding for 12 years....no that wasn't a typo...it was 12 YEARS. What I love about the teaching pastors at my church is that they want the members to be able to self teach/grow and they teach through Scripture verse by verse. Today, Lloyd (one of our teaching pastors) showed us the process he goes through when he prepares to teach a message. It was really awesome to be able to see how true Bible STUDY comes about. There are 4 parts of Bible Study: Observation (What do I see?), Interpretation (What does it mean?), Application (So What?), and Correlation (How does it fit in the whole Bible?). 80% of Bible Study is focused on Observation.
In this story, there are many interesting points. I don't have much more time to write, so I'll be brief. There are several parallels between Jairus and the woman. Jairus fell down before Jesus, imploring Him to come to his house. The woman came up behind Jesus and just touched his cloak. She fell at His feet later, but initially she did not meet Him face to face. Jairus' daughter was 12 years old and the woman had been bleeding for 12 years. So, as long as his daughter had been alive, the woman had been bleeding. What they both have in common is the fact that they both came to the point where they were SO DESPERATE for Jesus that NOTHING would keep them from Him.
The woman had been in isolation for 12 years (because in that time, when women were on their menstrual cycles, they were considered unclean and anyone that touched them would be considered unclean). She had tried everything to make the bleeding stop. She was so desperate for Jesus that she didn't care if she touched other people and made them unclean. Jairus waited a long time in the crowd to see Jesus. It didn't matter that he was an official (and officials don't fall at Jesus' feet), but he so desperately wanted Jesus that he sought Him out.
One question I had when reading the passage was why Dairus' name was written, but the woman was just called a woman...she had no name. Then I realized that she did have a name and it was far better than just any name. Jesus called her "Daughter."
W.O.W. (With Out Words) Many times I am rendered speechless when I think about how Jesus calls me HIS daughter. THAT sums up my identity. Nothing else matters. I AM a daughter of Christ. What an incredible gift!
I'm not exactly sure how to sum up all these thoughts that are raging in my mind. I guess the best advice I can give you is to seek after God with EVERYTHING that is within you. You won't be sorry you did. There is unimaginable joy and peace that comes in His presence. Let Him free you from the bondage you've placed yourself in. Run to him unashamed, with reckless abandon and see your life transformed by his all encompassing, unfathomable, and eternal love.
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