Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Healing Simon's mother-in-law (Luke 4:38)

Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon's home. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her. (Luke 4:38 NASB)

The journey from the synagogue to Simon's mother-in-law's house is only a few yards in a straight line from the steps of the synagogue. Jesus went directly from the synagogue to her house. After He arrived there, He found that she was very ill with a high fever. There were no antibiotics and no acute care clinics. For a high fever of whatever cause, the treatment was, for the most part, cool compresses, some herbal remedies, and time. When Jesus arrived and found that she was sick, the people there asked Him to help, and, of course, He did. 

What I want us to see today is that Jesus responded with help when He was asked. He didn't tell them they should have called Him sooner. He did not rebuke them for failing to recognize that she was ill earlier. He did not ask them what remedies they had tried. He did not even say that His mission statement clearly said that He was here for preaching, releasing captives and the downtrodden, and restoring sight to the blind, and not healing the sick. He did none of that. When asked for help, He gave it freely. 

There is no evidence that the request for help came with specific instructions. There was not a request to bring the temperature down to 98.6 degrees. They simply asked for help and left the decision about what kind of help to Jesus. 

Our loved ones may not be serving our Lord for a variety of reasons, ranging from rebellion and lack of faith to poor priorities and tangled relationships to substance abuse and addiction. It's time to ask Jesus to help in whatever way He chooses. 

Today, pray that He will enter the situation and intervene in whatever way is needed to restore you and your loved ones to fully functional servants of God. Today, leave the choice of interventional method to Christ and trust Him to do what is best.  

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