Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’ And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
Matthew 8: 1-3 (ESV)

“When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.’  And he said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’”
Matthew 8: 5-7 (ESV)

“And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.”
Matthew 8: 14-15 (ESV)

“And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’  And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8: 23-26 (ESV)

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’ And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.”
Luke 23: 34 (NLT)

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?’”
Matthew 16: 24-26 (NLT)

There is only One—to believe and follow.

The One Who hung from the cross, while soldiers threw dice gambling for His garments, as the last of His blood dripped to the ground below Him.

The One Who was the long-awaited Messiah. Surely to take over control from the Roman government and make their lives easier.

But His mission and purpose was more eternally life-changing.  

Only One—Who hung on the cross for each of us, creating the path for everyone then, today, and tomorrow to embrace Christ as their personal Savior assuring their eternal spot in Heaven.

His purpose for coming to earth was beyond His personal self-interest, and all about our best interest.  

The One Matthew depicts in a rapid string of passages, some set out above, demonstrating Godly supernatural powers, coupled with a heart and sensitivity to hear, help, and heal those around Him—always pointing them to Hope.

There is only One. The Son of God.  

Only One—Jesus Christ.

It was never about Him, but always all about others.

Finding people where they were and taking them where they should be. People like you, and like me. 

Calling them to believe, and then to follow Him and His example, and touch and bless life-after-life in the world around them—hearing, helping, encouraging, lifting each one to a better place.

Pointing them to the only One—Jesus Christ—to believe, embrace, and follow as their Savior and Lord.  

The only Hope for their lives for here and eternity. 

The Hope of the only One—Jesus Christ.

Then, with Him, lifting lives, one life at time to a better day.  

By the example of the only One—Jesus Christ.

Only One to believe. Only One to follow. Jesus Christ.   

In His Name–Scott

Enjoy this Thai Insurance company video—focusing not on stuff, but on a larger purpose for our lives—lifting, helping one life at a time—for good.