Life Notes—September 3, 2009
“They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Mark 7:37
It is often said that we are born with a God-shaped hole in our being and much of our lives are spent trying to fill that hole. We know from the Bible that many of Jesus’ followers followed in the hope of being made whole. The sick, blind, deaf, mute, crippled—all sought him out believing he had the power to restore them to wholeness. Through the many healings documented in Scripture we know he did, indeed, have the power to heal physical infirmities.
But what of non-physical ailments? What about worry or fear that paralyzes us into inaction? What about that nagging sense that our lives are directionless? What about that amorphous desire for a new something or other that we feel certain will make us happy and whole—New shoes? Ice cream? A new guitar? But experience teaches us those types of voids in our life are seldom, if ever, satisfied by things of the earth. Those types of ‘ailments’ may be manifestations of the God-shaped hole in our life. And new shoes simply cannot fill it.
Jesus’ followers were not only people with physical ailments. It would seem the majority were, like the majority of us, physically fine. What they lacked was harder to define. Some had a thirst for the knowledge Jesus imparted. Some ached to be in his presence. Many were just curious; but all were all drawn to him hoping to have some ‘hole’ in their lives filled, some deep need satisfied. Even today, in the absence of Jesus’ physical presence, we gather to learn, seek and follow and to be made whole. In Matthew, Jesus says wherever two or more are gathered in his name, there He will be, also. The healing presence of Christ in our midst, is that what we seek? I know I do…
Tom’s sermon title this Sunday is “A Healing Touch,” based on the scripture from Mark 7:24-31. Life worship is at 10:45 in Brady Hall. Traditional worship is at 8:30 and 11:00. Contemporary worship on the west campus is at 9:30. Communion will be served at all four services. What is ailing you this week? Whatever it is I suspect is no match for the healing power and presence of Jesus Christ.
Come home to worship this Sunday. We’ll leave the Light on for you…
Greg Hildenbrand, Life Worship Music Coordinator
Contemplating Grace 