Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Living (and dying) in the land of God Monday, February 25, 2008 Luke 4:25-27 Jesus said to the people of Nazareth, "I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed--only Naaman the Syrian." Jesus' neighbors and relatives were angry with him for pointing out that God chose to heal foreigners. Israel was his "chosen people," but He also chose to touch individuals who were not Israelites. God gets to do these things, and I don't get to tell him that he's wrong. Few of us quarrel when we're the ones chosen for healing or protection or success. Is God any less wise when we're not? I want to be filled with longing for God at every moment. "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God" (Psalm 42). But when I am arrogant enough to define God's behavior for him and demand services and goods for myself, my "longing" isn't what it seems to be. The story comes round again to patience with myself and confidence in God. His living water belongs on my forehead, on my parched lips and in my throat. He will never take it away; it is always there for me. Everyone of us is precious in your sight, Lord. Open our eyes. "; Add      Edit    Delete