By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song  which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

SCRIPTURE:
“Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.” (Mark 3:7-8, NIV)

Observations::
I asked myself who are the characters involved!

I asked myself what were the actions of Jesus!
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake!
Jesus was doing things that attracted people from all over!

I asked myself what were the actions of disciples!
The disciples followed Jesus to the lake.

I asked myself what were the actions of crowd!
They were attentive to their surroundings and followed Jesus.
They came to Jesus from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Jordan, Tyre, and Sidon.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what is the significance of what was happening?
What Jesus was doing spread like wildfire that people from 7 different places separated by long distance heard about it too and came to Him. The news of all that Jesus was doing caught the attention of a lot of people that they came to see Him. That is so cool the impact Jesus was making because of His actions.

Implications:
I saw important implications to my own life. All these people came to Jesus for a reason and it was because of the impact Jesus was making wherever He was. I need to do the same and become an impact where Jesus has placed me so through my actions, people will be drawn to Jesus. My impact would then be seeing people come to Jesus Christ!

I ask you now dear friends what is your impact in life?
Dear friends, there is an impact we all make but the question becomes is it a good impact or a bad impact. Our actions can draw people to Jesus Christ when people hear about us or they can make people think if this is what Christianity is all about, I don’t want anything to do with this Jesus. People do base their decision to come to Christ based on those they have contact with many times.

There is an expression that states, “You may be the only Jesus they see.” In other words, our Christian life should reflect Jesus so much that people want to come to know who this Jesus is that has transformed and changed our life. They would be drawn to the impact Jesus is making! Yes, they will!

You have that opportunity as the Holy Spirit leads you to draw people to Christ through your actions. You can be used as a vessel for the Lord to make an impact right where you are.

The Bible says that you were brought here for such a time as this! You can be an impact where you are. If it is studying, study for the honor and glory of the Lord. If it is preaching, preach for the honor and glory of the Lord, etc. Anything done for the glory and honor of the Lord will not go unnoticed.

In all this we need to remember Jesus did everything to draw people to a relationship with God. We need to do everything not to bring glory to ourselves but to the One who has given Himself for us. No one ever need think that they cannot make a difference. Jesus did and His power will work in you to make a difference! I know His power will work in us! Amen!

I work as a floor manager for Market Central Dining Services to make an impact in the lives of students who come to eat there and also in the lives of our employees. My motivation for working there is to lead people to Christ through different means even though I cannot share Christ without the topic being brought up. Sometimes the topic is brought up. What has happened is people get to know me at MC and decide to facebook friend me.

When they facebook friend me, my hope is they will read the Bible verses there, my profile there, and the devotionals I post there. I started facebook as a means to ministry to make an impact in people's lives. You can do the same thing whatever you are doing, you can use that to impact people's lives for Christ.

I have used my classes as a means to ministry too and that is why I take classes now too. When exams are about to come up, I create sample exams and post it at http://www.pittsburghstandard.com under the EDUCATION section for students. When they go there a Bible verse is also embedded within the sample exam. The idea is to use the sample exams also as a way to impact people for the Gospel.

My favorite is using http://www.pittsburghstandard.com too! The newspaper exists to glorify Christ on campus and to make an impact in the lives of students and to influence students with biblical principles.

All 4 methods have been useful in making an impact for Christ. Christ may have placed you in other areas but you can use those areas for Christ when you seek Him with your whole heart.

More than anything friend, we can make an impact because Jesus loves us so much that Jesus decided to make an impact in our lives when He went to the cross, shed His precious cleansing blood to wash away all our sins, was buried, and came back to life to save us.  Jesus did that so we can be restored to God. That is exciting to know friend.

No matter what you have done or have been going through, let Jesus be the impact in your life for He wants to impact your life. That is exciting to know that the Creator of the Universe wants to impact your life. When things don't go your way, remember the One who can turn things around and make an impact for you. We need to trust and rest in Him and Him alone.

This election season things have not been going well and it has been very depressing for me but I need to tell myself that God is in control. We need to do our part and leave the results in His Hands. We need to make the impact we can knowing He will take care of the rest.

Who am I to tell God anyway that His choice I am not happy with if it is not who I want to win?

God is the Creator of the Universe and He knows who should come into power and who He wants to allow into power. We have to trust in Him not only in elections but every facet of life.

May you know the power that comes from the Lord to help you make an impact for His Kingdom knowing impacting many people always Christ triumphs!

“Impacting Many People Always Christ Triumphs! (I.M.P.A.C.T)/”What is your impact in life?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much even when you withdrew to places, people wanted to come to you. You were doing so many things that you had an impact on people from all over. Thank you Jesus they heard about your actions and came to follow you. Oh Lord help us please to make an impact where you placed us. You Oh Lord are our God and we need you! Thank you Lord for all your help and guidance! We rest in your care and depend on you. Please motivate and inspire us to be vessels for your Kingdom. Help us to draw others to you because of our own wonderful relationship with you that others see. Those of us that do not know you as we should, help us Lord. I know I want to know you more and more and be transformed by your loving grace! Please forgive all our sins and cleanse us with your precious cleansing blood. We are sorry for our sin and we are in need of a Savior. Come Lord Jesus into my heart and be my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus! Lord, help me to live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life as you have come back to life to give me life. Thank you Jesus and thanks that you have heard us and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

ANALOGY OF INVITING PEOPLE TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN:

We are like an ambulance taking sick people to the hospital. People are dying and there is an emergency because of an epidemic virus. The ambulance takes the initiative to go to the place people are dying and bring them to the hospital. They are not dead yet but there is no time to wait. The ambulance needs to get to the hospital for that virus to be treated. The virus has infected the mind, body, and soul spreading rapidly. You and I cannot do anything to heal our friends of this virus except be the AMBULANCE taking them to the HOSPITAL where the GREAT PHYSICIAN waits.

Once at the hospital, there is a GREAT PHYSICIAN that waits. The sick are gathered from all corners of the earth and come to this hospital.  This hospital is called CALVARY OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is called GOLGOTHA.

The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat patients with  physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS for every dying person there to be healed.

He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay down on the bed  made of wood.

The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on His back.  Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, a CROWN OF THORNS is used which draws more BLOOD.

As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a HAMMER is used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is out. All the BLOOD is out!

Now, the GREAT PHYSICIAN is moved into the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE being guarded by security.

Now the CALVARY OF SALVATION hospital has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD can be used to save everyone there from this EPIDEMIC VIRUS. 

Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE.

All that accept the BLOOD are being CLEANSED of this EPIDEMIC VIRUS in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul.  This BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at the virus cleaning them and making them pure. This VIRUS is known as SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, JESUS CHRIST.

The WOODEN BED is the CROSS OF CHRIST where the dying need to be led too.

72 HOURS LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE and will save all that come to Him.

It is true even to this day, for all that come to the HOSPITAL OF CALVARY come to realize that His CLEANSING BLOOD shed on the WOODEN BED (CROSS) will never run out. Anyone infected who wants to be healed of their sickness can accept what Jesus did for them and be covered in His precious CLEANSING BLOOD.

I have done that friend and know that at the foot of the cross where Jesus died shedding His precious cleansing blood for my sin and the sins of the world, I can find forgiveness and grace.

Thanks be to God that Christ's death on the cross was temporary to remove all His precious cleansing blood for our sake but after He was buried, Jesus came back to life to save.

To this day, all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved when they acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done for them and what He can do for them.

Friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you were the only one living on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you. What I shared with you was an analogy but in real life it has happened. Jesus went to the cross for you and me and His precious cleansing blood was shed so you and I could have life. Jesus came back to life 72 hours later and is alive but His blood continues to heal people on every corner of the earth to those that accept Him.

You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.

Dear Jesus, thank you for healing the paralytic after forgiving his sins. You set him free to go home. I want to be free. I don’t know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin. I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know you have forgiven me when you died on the cross. I want to accept that forgiveness. Thank you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and pounded the nails so I could be free. Thank you for willingly dying for me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your Blood to redeem humanity. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when God looks at me, He now sees me covered in your blood and His judgment passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being with me Lord. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will always be with me and have given me Salvation.  In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)