healing

Breakfast is Served

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Here’s what I wonder.

If your friend denied knowing you not once but three times, would you forgive him? If your friend hurt someone coming to arrest you for a crime you didn’t commit, would you heal the officer your friend injured and rebuke your friend? If you found your friend sleeping at the hour you needed him most, would you still trust him? If you had known your friend was going to desert you that very night, would you still call him friend? If that same friend later fervently promised that he loved you after all that, would you believe him?

Here’s the real story.

Early in the evening as Jesus was arrested, Peter fought back by cutting off the ear of one of the men arresting him. As Jesus was taken away, Peter followed from a distance. He stood in the courtyard watching from afar as the one he loved was tried for a crime he didn’t commit. Did he step up as a witness for his friend? Not at all. When asked if he knew the man, he denied it. He was asked three times by three different people. Each time, he gave the same answer. No. I don’t know him.

Then a rooster crowed.

If he was willing to fight for Jesus when he was being arrested, why not fight for him after the arrest? Did fear grip his heart so completely that he wasn’t thinking straight? Was he only thinking of himself? Trying to save his own life? Why wasn’t Jesus’ life worth saving? Jesus was being tried for a crime he didn’t commit. Peter knew that. He could have defended this man called King of the Jews. But if the King’s life was in danger, what did that say for his followers? It would be a death sentence to stand up for truth. Wouldn’t it? Is that why Peter denied knowing him? He was afraid for his life?

The miracle is that Jesus was raised from death to life. Oh sure. He was nailed to a cross and died. But on the third day in the tomb, the breath of life was breathed into him. The tomb where he was buried was empty. He had unfinished business to attend to. And rightly so.

And early one morning, Peter and some other disciples were fishing. Jesus came along and started a fire on the shore. He cooked breakfast for them. He was waiting for his friends. His followers. For those who believed in him. For those who knew him. For those who loved him.

But wait. He cooked breakfast for Peter after what Peter had done to him? How could he? Why would he willingly get up early and serve breakfast to a man who denied even knowing him? And he wasn’t just any man. He was a close friend. They had spent many hours together.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34

Is this how I would treat a close friend who denied knowing me? Someone who lied about our relationship?

Would I go out of my way to serve a friend who had wronged me? Would I still call him friend? Or would I write him off? Forget him? How would I want my friend to treat me if I had done the same to him?

Am I willing to spend time with someone who has betrayed me? Or thinks differently than I do? If Jesus was willing and able to forgive Peter and still love him, can’t I do the same for you? Can you do the same for me?

And at that fateful fireside breakfast, Peter’s relationship with Jesus was restored. As they and the other disciples ate their fish and bread, Jesus asked Peter a question. Not once, but three times. Peter, do you love me? And each time, Peter said yes. But oh. Peter knew the significance of being asked three times. He thought back to another question he was asked three times as Jesus was being assaulted. You know him, don’t you? And he answered no all three times.

But this time was different, Peter was committed to Jesus at all costs. Peter’s relationship with Jesus was restored as they ate their breakfast by the sea. Jesus challenged him to love. and love deeply.

Do you accept the challenge to love deeply? Love the unloveable. Love the lonely. The hurting. Love those who don’t love you. Love those who have mistreated you. Those who are different from you. Are you willing? At all costs?

Inside Out

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Over the past nine years, I have changed my eating habits. I started by eating clean, so I removed processed foods, white sugar, white flour and pop. As the years progressed, my eating habits changed even further. I removed gluten, grains and soy. I’ve even removed dairy, eggs, corn and peanuts. I eat low fat.

Some may ask what’s left to eat. Fruits and vegetables, of course. I drink a big fruit smoothie for breakfast. I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. I eat potatoes like they’re going out of style. I’ll eat a salad and steamed veggies at lunch. I throw in some chicken or beef with my salad and steamed veggies at dinner. Occasionally, I’ll throw in a chocolate treat as a treat.

I’ve recently begun juicing. I’ll drink a big glass of celery juice early in the morning. I’ve read that it’s supposed to heal your insides. It’s supposed to heal your body of many unknown diseases and ailments. So I’m drinking it. To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of eating celery. But drinking it? Well, it tastes like liquid celery.

Over the weeks and months I’ve been drinking it, I’ve become accustomed to the flavor. It’s still not my favorite, but it’s tolerable. I’m waiting to see if it does its internal magic. Some say the healing could take months or years. I’m still waiting. I’m not sure what healing I need, but I sure would like to get rid of some aches and pains, plus a few extra pounds.

There are days when I do eat eggs or dairy or gluten. I thoroughly enjoyed a cheeseburger lettuce wrap and fries the other day. I can’t say I’m perfect at eating this way, but I do my best. I lapse from time to time. I tell myself that eating the foods on my “NO” list won’t kill me, so it’s ok. But eating them may prolong or slow down any internal healing.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24

I think of my soul. My spiritual life. As a person who has made the decision to be a Christian, my life is different. I need to heal from the inside out in order to be presentable to God on the day of judgment.

I’ve learned that it’s not about all the do’s and don’ts of being a Christian that make me closer to God. I’ve discovered that as a believer, I must change certain behaviors and attitudes. I’ve found that in order to heal from the inside out as a believer, I must walk the walk of Christ. I’ve learned that my life must match up to His teachings. I must lose my pride and selfish ways in order to follow and obey my Savior.

Oh. There are certain things I don’t do. There are certain words I don’t say. There are certain events I choose not to participate in. There are lines I don’t cross. But there are also certain activities that I make sure to join. There are habits I must develop in order to make Jesus Christ my priority.

I attend church. I am involved in a Bible study. I share a portion of my income to build God’s kingdom. I pray. I read the Bible. I have close friends who are also followers of Christ. I have found that doing those things isn’t enough, though.

I’ve learned that it’s not so much the giving up of things, but it’s the giving in to obedience. Obeying what the Healer says. Going where he says go. Staying when he says stay. Listening to the words he says. Saying the words he provides. Acting out his love to those who need it most.

I must work to heal my insides of judging others. I must work to rid myself of gossip. I must remove anything in my life that takes priority over my relationship with Christ. This healing will take a lifetime. Daily I learn more about my weaknesses and failures as I walk this journey. But I don’t walk alone. I am walking side by side with the Healer.

I find that as I heal, I sometimes fall back into my old ways. I will mistreat someone. I will develop a bad attitude. I will gossip. I will think more highly of myself than I do of others. This healing is a lifelong process.

This healing from the inside out isn’t really about me. It’s about who is healing me. The one who died to save me and forgive my sins. My healing will make this unworthy soul worthy to stand in his presence for eternity.

I also must constantly remind myself that everyone I meet is in a struggle for spiritual survival, whether they know it or not. I must view others as Christ does — a soul in need of salvation. When I look at others, I must have concern for them, because they too will stand in judgment for their eternal destiny. They too require healing from the inside out. I carry a message that provides healing not only for me, but for everyone I meet.