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I packed, I planned, I prepared. I was ready for this trip to the Middle East. I was going to go and be an encouragement to these men and women. I was going with a list of stories to tell and video I needed to get along the way. These were the things I wanted out of this trip.
But I left with something far different.
Instead of what I wanted, I left the Middle East with what I needed.
While there, my eyes were opened to these people. For years, especially since 9/11, Americans, to some degree, have been fearful of people of Middle Eastern descent. But in this moment, I found myself in a tiny mobile unit, filled with children. None of them had shoes or nice things. They had no real homes, as they were refugees from Syria, camping on a piece of land until someone told them to move.
But their eyes and their smiles lit up when they saw us. They taught me how to say their names and I taught them mine. But most importantly, we taught them to say “I love you.”
Because that’s what I wanted them to know.
They are loved.
They are not forgotten.
From Jordan to Egypt, we met person after person with a story to tell. Some Christian, some Muslim. I will forever be changed in how I view these people. Their traditions, their beliefs, their culture, all of it shapes their decisions and what their life will be like. The men and women who are investing in lives of the people in these places are teaching, discipling and loving. It was beautiful.
I came for something that I wanted, but I left with what I needed.
“And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.”
Luke 5:20-25
A man, crippled and unable to walk, was brought by his friends to Jesus for healing. Their desire was for him to be healed and be able to walk, not depend on others, be able to provide for himself, to run and be free from this burden.
But notice what Jesus said, “your sins are forgiven”. Not “get up and walk”.
And the religious leaders are furious! How dare this man say He has the power to forgive sins, only God can do that!
Exactly!
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, (by the way, there’s a little something for us to remember) He speaks.
Would it be easier to say a man’s sins are forgiven or for him to be healed and walk? Either way, the power to do both rests in the Son of God.
Immediately, the man was healed! Immediately, he got up and ran, glorifying God!
This man came for healing, something he wanted desperately. But he left with far more than that. He left with what he needed. His sins were forgiven!
If that’s all Jesus would have done – it would have been enough! But our God blesses abundantly! And in that moment, He gave the man the healing he so desired.
What are you coming to Jesus for?
Whatever you came to Him with, whatever want was in your heart, I guarantee you’ll receive more than that. God always gives us what we need, and sometimes, the things that we want, will come along with that. Or even fall away because what He offers is even better.
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