March 1: JESUS SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE ENGAGING THE PEOPLE MOST OF US HAVE SPENT OUR WHOLE LIVES AVOIDING.

Affirmation: I step into my power with confidence and Grace. 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭46:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Ponder, Personalize, Practice: Today read the verse over several times and carry your notecard. Ask God to help you practice and personalize this verse.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. 

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. 

by Bob Goff

March 1

JESUS SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE ENGAGING THE PEOPLE MOST OF US HAVE SPENT OUR WHOLE LIVES AVOIDING.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 

MARK 1:40-41 

I was at the grocery store one day, hoping to get in and out in a hurry. I was tired and wanted to just grab a couple of things and get home to Sweet Maria. Within moments of entering the store, it happened. It was the classic "I bumped into someone." I saw someone I knew, and I knew they were going through a tough time. I'll be honest-I was tempted to· duck behind a pile of grapes or camouflage myself with a pineapple and a few papayas. I'll admit, getting through the check­ out line and heading home was more important to me than engaging a friend. 

The Bible shares stories of how people in that time avoided the tax collec­tors and the very ill. I don't know any IRS agents or anyone with leprosy, but I still have the problem Jesus talked to His friends about. He gave examples about people who helped those in need and those who passed by them. These days we avoid people when they are inconvenient or their personalities rub us the wrong way or we strongly disagree with them. We avoid people who make us feel anxious or insecure. We may feign engagement and say something polite, but everyone on the receiving end knows they were just avoided. 

The ones we avoid are the ones Jesus engaged. He spent his whole life seeking out the people most of us have spent our whole lives avoiding. When he saw a leper, he saw a person with a dark history and a bright future. When he saw a woman, he saw a leader. When he saw a sinner, he saw someone in need of grace. When we pay attention to the people around us, we find a lot of people who are rejected by others and loved by Jesus. Those are the ones He wants us to move toward, and when we move toward them, we'll learn a lot about the God who moves toward us too. 

Who are you avoiding? What can you do to put their needs before yours?