Readings for 31 Aug, 1 Sep & comments

The Bible readings for Friday 31 August and Saturday 1 September are -- Deut 19:14-21:23; Ps 44:9-16; Pro 10:31-31; Lk 9:23-45.
Please feel free to leave a comment any time.

Callum has left a comment on Deut 19 about "an eye for an eye".
Ps John has a comment on crucifixion (Deut 21:23) and cross-bearing (Lk9:23).

Readings for 14,15 June & comments

The Bible readings for Thursday 14 and Friday 15 June are -- Lev 21:1-22:33; Ps 29:7-11; Pro 6:34-35; Mk 6:47-7:16.
Your comments welcome.

Ps John has a comment on Lev and Mk about legalism.

2,3 Mar -- The Power of Touch

The readings for Fri 2 and Sat 3 March are -- Gen 19:23-21:21; Ps 7:1-8; Prov 1:28-31; Mt 7:13-8:4.

The leper was only supposed to mix with other similarly unclean people. He was supposed to stay right away from healthy people. That was not just custom, or the polite thing to do. That was law. Yet as crowds followed Jesus, this leper "came up" to Jesus. He was desperate. And full of faith. Jesus said: "Be made clean." And he was. But Jesus also touched him as he spoke those words. Touched a filthy leper. Not only diseased, but unclean. He didn't have to. His words alone were powerful enough. We'll see that tomorrow when Jesus heals the centurion's servant who wasn't even present. But he touched the unclean leper. He did so, I believe, precisely because he was unclean. Not only diseased, but also declared unclean. Jesus was confronted with more than just a physical disease. He didn't say "Be healed" but "Be made clean". The man had been rocked to his core. He was damaged and hurting inwardly too, in his heart and soul and mind. Jesus' compassionate touch changed all that too.

Jesus could have also brought inner healing by a word. But the touch spoke even more loudly to the leper. And to the watching crowd as well. It said so much about Jesus and his character. And it said so much about the character he was looking for in his followers. Who can you minister to with a compassionate and healing touch today?