Amazed
A couple of weeks ago I shared how I am reading all 4 gospels. One of the many things that has stuck out to me is how amazed people were with Jesus. I love how Mark 7:37 puts it:
This is me kayaking for the first time and let me tell you, yes it was amazing and peaceful and everything I imagined BUT I was so close to not doing it. That right there is Jesus in action changing someone’s life, one choice at a time.
“People were overwhelmed with amazement.”
When was the last time you were overwhelmed with amazement?
I remembered how amazed I was that I changed the oil on a school bus in Monterrey, Mexico; in Louisiana I actually climbed on a roof and helped with re-roofing it(not a fan of heights); when I see an amazing sky turning into a riot of colors or the perfect blue with the craziest clouds in all shapes; when I see someone do something that is scary for them; when I see my kids love and laugh and my grand-kiddos well, do anything! ;) Along with a million other things.
Without Jesus I would not be the mostly courageous, sometimes struggling with purpose, fairly ready to face fear, battle-scared girl that I am.
What truly amazes me and overwhelms me is how much Jesus loves me and how His love has changed my world. I can relate to the people in the gospels. I had no idea who Jesus was and how a simple prayer, an encounter would change everything!
Can you imagine how Jesus came and turned their world upside down. No matter who they were, each person who listened to Jesus was amazed by what He said. He healed them, yes physically, but more important He gave them peace and a fresh start.
Just for a minute picture Jesus coming down a mountain and the disciples and the crowd standing there:
”As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet Him.” Mark 9:15
When was the last we saw Jesus and ran to Him with wonder, knowing He could do what we couldn’t? Wanting Him to touch our lives in such a way, we would never be the same again?
That is my Jesus. He is the one who looks past my sin, my anger, my fear and sees me whole. He offers a place to belong and be. We don’t need to perform or measure up, we just need to accept and believe.
Look at that face! He made his own lunch and so proud. What an accomplishment!! Way to go lil’man. xoxo
Do you know what amazes Jesus? In Luke 7 a centurion has a servant he “highly favors” who is on his death bed. The centurion loves the people of Israel and sent a couple of Jewish elders to ask for the servants healing. The centurion understanding authority, knew all Jesus had to do to was speak and it would be done. In verse 9: “ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.’”
The centurion was a Roman and didn’t grow up hearing about the God of Israel and the Messiah, but He allowed Jesus to influence and change him.
Jesus is amazed when we have faith. Faith in who He is and what He can do: the Son of the Living, Loving God who has the power of all of heaven to move on in our lives, through our lives and with our lives. We are not supposed to be the same as we were a few months ago.
As we encounter Jesus, we will be challenged in what we believe and how that plays out in our lives. Just like the crowd following Jesus then, are we allowing Him to bring healing and peace or are we hardening our hearts because it means we can’t keep living and believing like we are now?
The choice is ours. Personally, I want to see Jesus move in my life and the lives around me and be amazed at the awesome love and power He has for each of us. Turn our world upside down, Jesus!!
What amazes you?
And I hope you have an amazing day! ;)
All My Love ~ Jodi xoxo
This song you guys!! Close your eyes and let the words remind you how truly, deeply, fiercely you are loved. xo
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