“Touch me and see” (Luke 24:39).

A number of years ago, there was a very popular sports program on television.  For all I know it may still be on the air. What I do recall however is one regular segment the program contained. It was called, “Up Close and Personal.”  The purpose was to provide viewers with a more personal and intimate portrayal of prominent sports figures. Featured athletes were shown in a light that the typical sports fan would not regularly see. Athletes were shown in their homes, during leisure time, as well as during the difficult and hard preparation that made them successful in sports. The “Up Close and Personal” aspect of the program gave viewers a sense of knowing the athletes in a more intimate manner. After all, it’s one thing to watch an athlete compete and another thing altogether to see them in their homes with their families.
 
It is with that thought in mind that Luke 24:39 caught my attention this past week. Let me set the context for you. The entire chapter deals with the initial events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection. According to Luke, Jesus unexpected appearance in the midst of the disciples caused them to be “startled and frightened.” Luke further clarified their response when he said, “They thought they saw a spirit.” They were started, frightened and disbelieving. That’s when Jesus said, “Touch me and see.” His goal was to prove to them the reality of his resurrection and set their fears to rest.

Think with me now. Can you see how that applies to our lives, as well as the world in which we live? I speak to people frequently who know Jesus only from afar. They know his name and they may have some rough idea of what the Bible teaches about him. But they do not know him “Up Close and Personal.” I also interact with Christians who have never come to the point of interacting with Jesus on a deep and personal level. That’s too bad.

If there is one thing that the gospels teach us about Christ it’s this: He wants to be known. He consistently made himself available to his disciples and those who sought him out. He continually interacted with people who wanted to get up close and personal. And further, there were instances when he took the initiative to seek out individuals who might otherwise have been on the fringe of getting close to him.

I think you get my point. Jesus wants to be known, which leads to a simple question. Do you know him, “Up Close and Personal?” Have you touched him and seen him in the way he invited the disciples to do after his resurrection? Jesus said, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your mind? Touch me and see.”

“I will not drive them out from before you in one year… Little by little I will drive them out from before you until you have increased” (Exodus 23:29-30).

Exodus chapter twenty-three describes several of the initial experiences the Hebrew people had with God following their departure from Egypt. As you know, Moses was God’s spokesman, delivering to the people God’s laws. After Moses relayed God’s commands, the people said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.”

Little did they (or Moses) know the challenges that lie ahead for them. Certainly one of their most daunting challenges was the defeat of the people living in the lands that God pledged to give to them in fulfillment of his promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Frankly, if they knew ahead of time all that the next forty-plus years would bring, they may have rebelled against Moses and the Lord. Would you agree that God is good in not revealing all of his plans to us, including how he intends to bring us through the trials and difficulties we will face?

This now is where the passage cited above becomes quite instructive for us, I believe. Here’s what I mean. We all know what it’s like to face trials, difficulties and hard times. Sometimes we see them coming, while at other times they catch us by complete surprise. When trials come, we want out; and we want it now! Yet in God’s way of working, there are few instances when deliverance from difficulty comes immediately. You see, God has a plan and it may not include release from difficulties according to our timetable or preferences. That’s hard to accept, is it not?

In that light, note carefully what God said in Exodus 23:30.  He told the Hebrews that he would not give them immediate victory over the peoples of the land. He told them that their victory would take place “little by little.” Further, his purpose in working little by little was so that they might “increase.” In other words, what appeared to be God’s slowness in coming to their relief was intentional on his part. It was for a purpose, that they might increase.

The Hebrew word “increase” in verse thirty means to “bear fruit.” Do you catch the significance of that? God’s purpose in working little by little had a greater goal than simply giving them release from the trials they would encounter. His desire was that they bear fruit.

Can you see that’s always God’s purpose in the trials he allows to enter our lives? Quick escape from trials stunts the growth of fruit; whereas “little by little” fertilizes the fruit God wants to produce in the hearts of his people. Make no mistake, Christian friend. God may appear to be working little by little; but in his timing, the fruit will be sweet indeed.

“For I will satisfy the weary soul and every languishing soul I will replenish” (Jeremiah 31:25).

My guess is that each person reading this knows what it’s like to have a weary and languishing soul. Am I right? Well, if it’s any comfort to you, you are not alone. Jeremiah knew what it was like to be completely devoid of energy, spark and passion. You’ve known such times as well. Life has a way of depleting our endurance, which often translates into weariness of spirit. Even the actual words Jeremiah used to describe the condition of his soul speak of tiredness. For example, the word “weary” means thirsty; and the word “languish” means mournful or sorrowful. Now, as I’ve read and re-read Jeremiah’s words throughout this chapter, I note several things he made reference to as a means of rectifying the weariness of his soul. Let me show you what I mean.

In verse three, he made reference to God’s faithfulness. In verse fourteen, he spoke of being satisfied with God’s goodness. In verse sixteen, he reminded himself of a coming reward for his activities as God’s servant. In verse twenty-six, he made reference to pleasant sleep. In verse thirty-one, he reminded himself of God’s promises. In verse thirty-three, he filled his heart with the truth that he was God’s child. In verse thirty-four, he comforted himself with God’s forgiveness. And finally, in verse thirty six, he made reference to God’s sovereign control, his fixed order over everything.

I am convinced there is an important lesson for us to learn from Jeremiah. Yes, weariness of soul comes to everyone, even faithful servants such as Jeremiah. No one is immune from the “languishing soul.” But can you see that in the midst of his weariness, Jeremiah mustered the internal strength to remind himself of a number of things? He recalled God’s faithfulness and goodness. He found hope in a coming reward for faithful service. He made it a point to rest his body. He told himself that nothing could change the fact that he was God’s child. He rested safely in God’s forgiveness. And finally, he derived comfort and strength from recalling that God is the one who ultimately oversees the events of life.

Jeremiah’s response represents a potent antidote to the weary soul and the languishing spirit, don’t you think? Can you see how these things apply to your situation? Some of you have tired, weary and languishing souls right now. Yet Jeremiah shows us how God uses our actions to replenish us during the dry seasons of life. Would you take the time to think deeply about how Jeremiah responded and consider how you might imitate his actions. What God promised Jeremiah he will also do for you; “For I will satisfy…I will replenish.”

“Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.”
(Genesis 40:23)

One of the things I appreciate about the Bible is the way in which we can read and re-read something, only to discover a verse or passage that we did not notice before. Such was the case for me recently as I was working my way through the book of Genesis. I know I’ve read Genesis chapter forty many times previously. But this time, the verse I quoted above caught my attention as never before. Let me set the stage for you.

As you know, Joseph was the youngest of twelve brothers. Their father, Jacob favored Joseph. This made his brothers jealous of him, so jealous that they considered killing him. God intervened. Instead of killing him, they sold him into slavery in Egypt. Shortly after arriving in Egypt, he refused to compromise his morals with his master’s wife. He was falsely accused by her and thrown into prison for an extended period of time. It was during his time in prison that he correctly interpreted the dreams of two other prisoners, Pharaoh’s baker and his cupbearer. When the cupbearer was released from prison, Joseph asked that he remember him before Pharaoh. That’s when we read, “Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.”
 
Now put yourself in Joseph’s position. He was falsely imprisoned for an extended period of time. On top of all of that, he was forgotten by one whom he assisted in a major way. Think with me now about this. My guess is that none of us have been falsely imprisoned. Yet just as surely, I think I’m safe in assuming that each of us knows what it’s like to be forgotten.  Yet as I’ve meditated on this passage, my thoughts did not focus on the times we’ve been forgotten, but rather on the times we’ve forgotten others who have been used by God in our lives. In other words, the cupbearer forgot Joseph. Who have you forgotten?
 
It’s hard for me to imagine that you cannot identify individuals whom God brought into your life at a crucial time. I know I can think of such people. Would you agree that God has a special way of bring special people to us during the stretching seasons of life?

It’s in that light that I want to ask you if you’ve forgotten them, just as the cupbearer forgot Joseph. Here’s what I would ask you to do. Ask God to help you think of someone who has been instrumental in your life. Determine if you’ve adequately expressed your appreciation to them. If not, then act on it. Call them, send them a note, or speak to them face to face. Express how God used them in your life. You will be blessed as you do so. Your expression of thanksgiving is another way of not forgetting God’s goodness to you.