The Persuit

WARNING: This posting might be confrontational!

Today I read;"May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy, and whole, put you together -spirit, soul and body- and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

These last few days I have doubted myself, my calling to Rwanda and some of my most amazing experiences I've had with God. To open my bible and read this very scripture gave me mixed feelings.
Allow me to share my thoughts with you;
Blind Bartemeus was silenced by the crowd as he cried out;" Son of David, have mercy on me!" But he knew only Jesus could make him whole, so he took his chance and cried out again. We know the ending; Jesus heard him and healed him.(Luke 18)
(Luke 17) Tells of the ten lepers, they too cried out to Jesus. He send them away telling them to show themselfs to the priests, on their way they were healed.
The lady with the issue of blood; she kept pressing through the crowd, knowing "if I can just touch his cloths I will be healed. She too took her chance and sure enough, she was healed. (Luke 8)
What about the man with the withered hand. Jesus tells him to stretch out his hand... but he has none... yet as he takes his chance his hand gets restored! (Luke 6)
The man wanted deliverance for his demon controlled son, Jairus wanted healing for his daughter, the crowds brought there sick to Jesus...
All these people persuid Jesus. They knew, nothing and no-one could give them back health, sanity and peace. They all took their chances, they risked embarrasment, went against their culture and took a leap of faith.
If it is true that God is the same yesterday, today and always, and that the Holy Spirit lives in me to testify of Jesus, then I want to persue Jesus! I have to pursue Jesus. My wounds from the past... I want them healed. Roots of bitterness... I want them plucked out. My back... I need it healed. If it means to cry out to Jesus to have mercy on me then I will do it. If it means knocking and knocking on God's door until the door opens... I will do it.
I know Jesus still heals, saves and sets free. I am a living testomony of it. Without what God has done for me, I could not be a loving wife, a missionary or even be a decent mom. Maybe because I know AND experienced the saving, healing and deliverance power of Christ (we all know about it but not all have experienced it) that makes me so passionate about the wholeness in Christ. Yet at the same time it also hurts me deep when people don't want it. Though my only responsability is to point people towards Jesus and to testify of what he has done for me (much like Ezekiel), I want to be like one of the friends bringing their sick friend to Jesus. Making sure Jesus would notice their friends condition and do something about it. Sometimes it seems that people say; I know God can heal me, but no thanks, I rather walk on crutches than have my leg healed so that I can be in perfect conditionand leap, jump, run and walk. Really, I am o.k..
Sometimes people say they have to be ready in order for God to heal them... Tell me; how? Really, I don't get it I guess. Ready for what... You have a problem, you need a solution. Am I really to black and white?
Just the other day while in the village an old Muzee came and showed us a huge swelling or growth on his groin. Travis asked him if he believed that God can heal him. He aswered with a yes, but I need the money to go to the hospital to get it removed, he quickly added. At that same moment God told Travis very clearly, that if this man would ask God to heal him, that God would do it right there! Travis told the Muzee this and said;"All you have to do is ask.." The man threw his hands in the air and asked for money to get the growth removed. He didn't want Travis to pray with him. He did not ask God to heal him...
I know that I am sometimes like this man. My knowledge is my crutch. But what if I would just say the words; Jesus, heal me, heal the wounds that are hidden in my heart!" What if you would say these same words... What if you would pursue Jesus for your healing? Or are you more comfortable walking around on crutches or in denial, wanting to be ready?

The passage from 1 Thessalonians gives me hope as well. "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Rom 10:13) Now the word saved in the original Greek is SoZo meaning; being saved, healed, delivered. "...if he said it, He will do it..."