Word@Work Luke67 - Luke 5:14-15
Published: Thu, 03/25/10
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Luke 5:14-15 Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. (NIV)
A leper had just been healed. But Jesus wanted no credit, and certainly no advertising. However, He instructed the man with new normal skin to go to the priest to certify that the disease had gone, then to offer the sacrifices required under Moses' law to complete the cleansing (Leviticus 14:1-32). So the man and the law were satisfied by Jesus.
News like that was just what ordinary people needed. With no social security system, no health service and no income support in case of illness, Jesus was seen as the only reliable answer to every need. And so many more travelled to find Him and to beg Him to transform their lives. They listened to His preaching about God's kingdom and believed that He was God's answer to them.
In part, advertising relies on a few excellent features to sell the whole product; and those good points must be presented in the best light. Jesus did not need any of that. Everything about Jesus was excellent; there was nothing wrong with anything He said or did. No hype was necessary, nor were 'satisfied customers' asked to go round canvassing the support of others to His cause. When God is at work, His work is perfect and wonderful in its timing and appropriateness. There is a natural integrity that attracts honest observers. Our best witness is not so much in our exaggerated claims of how prayer has been answered, as in the transparent satisfaction of our daily lives. People who are at peace, because of Jesus, radiate their contentment despite terrible turmoil in their circumstances. When needy people see that, they will seek-out Jesus; and they will not be disappointed by well meaning but inaccurate advertising.
Prayer: Holy God. Thank You that You are true in all You say and do. Please forgive me when I exaggerate even what I believe You have done, in order to make You sound more impressive. You are amazing and magnificent in every way: so please teach me to live a quiet life and to be satisfied with what You give to me so that my contented life may radiate the peace of God, and attract honest seekers to find the Saviour. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
A leper had just been healed. But Jesus wanted no credit, and certainly no advertising. However, He instructed the man with new normal skin to go to the priest to certify that the disease had gone, then to offer the sacrifices required under Moses' law to complete the cleansing (Leviticus 14:1-32). So the man and the law were satisfied by Jesus.
News like that was just what ordinary people needed. With no social security system, no health service and no income support in case of illness, Jesus was seen as the only reliable answer to every need. And so many more travelled to find Him and to beg Him to transform their lives. They listened to His preaching about God's kingdom and believed that He was God's answer to them.
In part, advertising relies on a few excellent features to sell the whole product; and those good points must be presented in the best light. Jesus did not need any of that. Everything about Jesus was excellent; there was nothing wrong with anything He said or did. No hype was necessary, nor were 'satisfied customers' asked to go round canvassing the support of others to His cause. When God is at work, His work is perfect and wonderful in its timing and appropriateness. There is a natural integrity that attracts honest observers. Our best witness is not so much in our exaggerated claims of how prayer has been answered, as in the transparent satisfaction of our daily lives. People who are at peace, because of Jesus, radiate their contentment despite terrible turmoil in their circumstances. When needy people see that, they will seek-out Jesus; and they will not be disappointed by well meaning but inaccurate advertising.
Prayer: Holy God. Thank You that You are true in all You say and do. Please forgive me when I exaggerate even what I believe You have done, in order to make You sound more impressive. You are amazing and magnificent in every way: so please teach me to live a quiet life and to be satisfied with what You give to me so that my contented life may radiate the peace of God, and attract honest seekers to find the Saviour. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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