Friday, April 10, 2015

Paint Party Friday: Touch Me!

 "It is the Lord!" John 21:7
Isn't it amazing that the disciples did not recognize Jesus standing on the beach after a night of unproductive fishing?
It seemed as if Peter was going back to his old career of being a fisherman, and 6 other disciples joined him. Were they disheartened?
Confused? Rethinking what to do with their lives?


 Then they see a man on the beach, instructing them to cast their net on the right-hand side of the boat. They caught so many fish they could not haul the net in. Sound familiar? "It is the Lord!" John cried out and jumped into the water. This was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples. And they only recognized Him after they talked to Him and obeyed His suggestion. What if in our life, Jesus was always popping in and out with suggestions? But we don't recognize Him? We don't know it is God because we don't listen, we don't talk to Him, and we don't obey?

Jesus said, "Touch me..." and He showed them His hands and His feet. Luke 24:39-40
After the encounter of the two disciples with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and told the eleven disciples about it. I can imagine that were very excited and animated. While they were still speaking, Jesus appeared in their midst, and all of a sudden, they were all frightened as if they had seen a ghost. Jesus then said, "Touch me." Prove to yourself I am not a ghost, not a figment of your imagination. I am real.
Many of us do not believe that Jesus is really real, that He is alive and working in our lives, or we would live very differently. It's like this Pastor who asked his congregation to come and they would pray for rain. When they arrived, he got very angry. "Don't you believe that our prayers will be answered?" he asked. "Yes, we do!" the people insisted. "So where are your umbrellas???"
We too can "touch" Jesus like the disciples. We too can prove He is real. Jesus is the Living Word. The Word made Flesh.

 Tom Skinner was a devilish gang leader before he heard these words on the radio, "If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation." (2 Cor. 5:17) He went on to become an evangelist, and was even called the black Billy Graham. Saint Augustine's conversion from being a sinner started when he heard a childlike voice telling him to to read the Bible. The first thing he read was " Let us behave properly, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." (Rom. 13:13-14)
Our encounter with God's Word will always have an effect. Isaiah 55:11 says, "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Jesus' mission continues. God's Word touches people's lives today just as it did when Jesus walked the earth.

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7 comments:

  1. Super work . happy PPF

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  2. Dynamic lesson today. I always heard Him on my daily walking. Laid up with knee injury, it is more difficult not being outside in nature, but He leads me. Cute - 'no umbrellas.' I love your posts always on target. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  3. nice work, have a blessed Friday

    much love...

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  4. Lovely illustrations - I love that you used the magazine pictures. As usual - beautiful message. I am sure someone needed to hear just those words.

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  5. Another inspiring and beautifully illustrated post, Patsy. I like the story of the pastor who rebuked the people for not bringing their umbrellas.
    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs,
    Teresa

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  6. Great work! Havea creative Sunday - Irma

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  7. I love seeing your reference photos for the "stance" of your fishermen! Really wonderful post.

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I am so glad you dropped by! You are a blessing!
:^) Patsy