Quote from Forum Archives on August 21, 2009, 11:00 am

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional

(A Devotional Classic from 2002)

Welcome to the 893 new subscribers since January 1, 2009

08.21.09

Being Approachable

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And
behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing,
You can make me clean.' Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying,
'I am willing; be cleansed.' Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. - Matthew
8:1-3.

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them
and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the little
children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of
heaven.' - Matthew 19:13-14.

Listening this morning (2002) to Michael Carneal in an interview shown on
the Today Show there was something that struck me as being needed by many;
especially Christians. Michael Carneal was a 14-year-old student at Heath
High School in West Paducah, Kentucky where one morning he shot and killed
three fellow students and wounded five others. Those students were gathered
praying around a flagpole. It was and is a horrendous, terrible thing that
destroyed lives and changed lives in a devastating way. The words that I
picked up on this morning were that Carneal said that he did not have anyone
to talk to prior to the shooting including his parents. At least he did not
believe that they would listen. Certainly, that was not a valid reason or
excuse for shooting someone, but it should make all of us think.

How approachable are you? The word "approachable" is defined in the
dictionary as: "easy to meet or converse or do business with" and as
"capable of being approached; accessible." Are we following the example of
our Lord? Jesus was (and is) the ultimate in approachability. Lepers were to
have no contact with non-lepers and were banned from even their own
families. Lepers had to announce their presence by shouting as they walked
"unclean," "unclean." No "clean" person was to touch the "unclean" or they
would also become "unclean." Jesus not only allowed lepers to approach and
talk to Him, He also touched them. The ultimate in cleanness on earth
touched the unclean.

Jesus also was approachable not only by adults but also by children. Jesus
also placed His hands on the children and prayed for them (Of course the
children were not unclean but considered by the disciples and others as
being unworthy of attention by a great teacher.). Many others considered
outcasts by the Jewish society were able to approach Jesus including tax
collectors, adulteresses, women of ill repute, and Samaritans. Why did Jesus
allow Himself to be approached by people like these? Jesus explains in
Matthew 9:10-12, "Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house,
that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and
His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples,
'Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' When Jesus
heard that, He said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a
physician, but those who are sick.'"

How approachable are you? Would any of these "unclean" people be allowed to
visit in your home? Would any of these people be able to talk with you
outside of your home? Would any of these people be able to call you and talk
with you by telephone? Would you even allow any of these people to
communicate with you by email? Before the spiritually sick will be healed,
we must allow them to have contact with us. We must be approachable. Are
you?

Copyright © 2002 - 2009. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
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