On Rounds with Jesus

Tag: Jesus

  • Watch!

    Watch!

    Scripture reading: Matthew 25:1-13

    One too many times, I have encountered clients who present to the clinic with symptoms too late their prognosis is often already poor. What began as a minor complaint was ignored for far too long. By the time they sought help, it was often too late. In some cases, they had obvious risk factors but never screened. This is why diseases like cervical cancer remain so prevalent in our part of the world: many women do not get screened, and when they finally present with symptoms like persistent vaginal discharge or abnormal bleeding, it is often too late.

    In today’s reading, it was too late for a group of virgins, described as foolish because they failed to prepare adequately for the return of the bridegroom. When their lamps went out, they needed extra oil, but they had none. As the Master delayed, the chances of their lamps still burning at His return grew slimmer. They wasted what was meant to be an opportunity to refill. They waited too long, and their lamps burnt out. When they finally went to get more oil, the bridegroom came. They missed the celebration of a lifetime. Jesus ends the parable with the chilling admonition: “Watch…” This parable was about His second coming. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise— He tarries out of mercy, longing for all to turn to Him. But the call is clear: we must be continually ready, sustained by His Spirit and His word that keeps our lamps burning. We cannot afford to let complacency lull us to sleep.

    Being ready is an act of faith and wisdom. As the saying goes, he who fails to plan, plans to fail. What you postpone today may cost you dearly tomorrow. Watch! Stay alert. Don’t let your lamp go out. Do not defer to tomorrow what must be done today, lest you miss your appointment with destiny.

    To watch means to be alert, to be careful, to be vigilant, to be conscious, to be intentional, to be well aware, to be in tune with the times and seasons. Watch—lest you fall. Watch, for no one knows the hour…

    Let us pray                                          

    Lord, help me not to delay obedience.

    Keep me from the complacency that makes me ignore the promptings of Your Spirit.

    May I be found ready, my lamp burning brightly, when You return.

    Give me the wisdom to watch, to act, and to live each day prepared.

    Amen.

    Reflection                                                

    What have you been postponing— spiritually, emotionally, or even physically— that you need to act on today?

    Don’t wait. Seek counsel, take that step. Stay ready. Watch!

  • When we pray

    When we pray

    Scripture reading: Matthew 6:5-15, NKJV

    Strong relationships are built on robust communication. Many relationships falter because of communication breakdowns. Christianity, unlike organized religion, is a relationship— one that must be actively maintained through constant, heartfelt communication with God. Prayer is not optional for the Christian; it is essential. It is on this premise that Jesus taught His disciples to pray.

    Jesus emphasized that prayer must be sincere. It must not be draped in flowery language to impress onlookers or ‘manipulate’ God. Prayer is not for show; it is not an exhibit of piety. Eloquence and verbosity do not sway God—it is the heart that moves Him. Prayer must be intimate and precise, and grounded firmly in faith.

    When we pray, we must know who we are addressing: Our Father in Heaven. A Father who cares and loves us deeply. A Father who has our best interests at heart. A willing Father. A dependable Father. Our Father. The word “our” reminds us that we are not alone. We are not alone in our struggles. We are not alone in our journey. We have community, and we have a God who hears us. This understanding must shape our posture in prayer.

    “Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Prayer begins with God—not us. When we pray, our primary focus should be God’s glory—His Name, His Kingdom, His Will. We pray for God’s name to be honoured in our lives, our circles, and our world. We pray for the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. We pray for His Kingdom to be established on earth and for His will to prevail. We pray for the spread of the gospel, for the salvation of many searching for hope, for healing for the sick, and for liberation of the oppressed. Our prayers must first be directed toward God—and then they can reflect on our needs. Seek first His Kingdom…

    “Give us this day…” One of the cures for worry is daily dependence on God’s provision. In prayer, we entrust our needs to Him. We have a Father who knows us and knows our needs even before we voice them. A Father who gives good gifts to His children. A Father who forgives—and, as He forgives us, our default response to those around us must be one of ready forgiveness.

    When we pray, we must ask for the discipline to resist temptation, and the grace to be delivered from evil. We must pray for wisdom to navigate the inevitable “thirst traps” that plague today’s world, and for the laser-sharp focus to pursue righteousness. We must ask for the strength and endurance to run without growing weary, and the resilience to ultimately overcome.

    When we pray, we lose ourselves and become more and more like our Father in heaven.
    When we pray, we make room for God to reveal His glory more clearly in our lives.
    When we pray, we build the resilience to withstand the storms that life brings our way.
    So pray—because the fervent, constant prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

    Let us pray.

    Our Father in heaven,
    Hallowed be Your name.
    Your kingdom come.
    Your will be done
    On earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our debts,
    As we forgive our debtors.
    And do not lead us into temptation,
    But deliver us from the evil one.
    For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

    Amen.

    Reflection

    What is your prayer life like, and how can you improve it by incorporating the lessons from today’s message?

  • Who touched me?

    Who touched me?

    Scripture reading: Luke 8:40-48, NKJV

    Amid a crowd pressing against Him, Jesus feels a singular tug on the hem of His garment…

    “Who touched me?”

    Here’s Madam X—we don’t know her age—who had been suffering from an issue of blood for twelve long years. She had spent her life’s savings visiting various clinics in search of a solution, but had nothing to show for it. Her condition, one can imagine, was incredibly distressing. She desperately needed the bleeding to stop.

    Most women experience their menses once a month, and it’s unusual for it to last more than a week or exceed about 80ml a day. When it does, it’s considered abnormal and could be due to several conditions—from hormonal or clotting disorders to structural causes like fibroids or cancer. Abnormal uterine or vaginal bleeding can be deeply distressing.

    But Madam X had heard about Jesus—and she knew He could heal her. So, she made her move.

    Though considered unclean by the laws of her time and unfit to mingle with the crowd—let alone touch a holy man—she pressed on. Nothing would hold her back. Just a touch of the hem of His garment… After all, what was the worst that could happen? Who would know? Who would see? Who would feel?

    Jesus knows. Jesus sees. Jesus feels.

    Many followed Jesus that day. Many pressed against Him. But He felt only one touch. It was a touch of faith—intentional, calculated, and born from a deep, unwavering belief that He could heal her. He didn’t have to notice the touch, yet He did. He didn’t have to see her, yet He did. It was risky… but Jesus was ready.

    He knows all about your struggles—even the ones you can’t say out loud. The ones you sneak around with. The ones you’ve spent years seeking help for in all the wrong places. The ones that make you feel unclean.

    What if, today, you let go of the shame, the fear, the unworthiness—and just reached for the hem of His garment? He might just turn your life around.

    Let’s Pray

    Pray… that unlike the crowd that nonchalantly pressed in, we would truly touch Him. That our daily encounters with Him would not be routine, but intentional. That our worship would not be casual or mechanical, but full of faith, hearts brimming with desire to grasp the hem of His garment—amidst all the distractions of the world.

    That even though the world won’t notice—He will feel it.

    That as we touch the hem of His garment, as we genuinely pursue Him, as we yearn daily to draw near to Him—our struggles, our worries, our pain—will begin to fade away.

    Amen.

    Reflections

    1.  Jesus knows about you, but more than that, He wants to know you on a personal level.
    2. The “who” is not as important as the “how.”
    3. The “how” is always by faith.
    4.  Faith is not “business as usual.” Faith is intentional.
    5.  Jesus is always ready and willing.