S) "52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, 'Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.' 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, 'Your son lives'; and he himself believed and his whole household."
John 4:52-53 (NASB)
O) This nobleman had come to Jesus, asking Him to heal his son. The first important thing about this passage, is that this man was seeking Jesus. That was already an act of faith on his part, insofar as he believed that Jesus could heal his son. Jesus, addressing the matter of faith in Him in a greater sense (i.e., that He is the Messiah), said that the man (and the people, presumably) would only believe if they saw signs and wonders. Jesus told him that the boy lives, and the man believed that he was healed. When he returned home, the above verses came to pass. The sequence is important, that this man believed in what Jesus could do, then in hindsight, he saw the divine timing of this miracle, then he believed in who Jesus is, both he and his whole household.
A) Sometimes, even after believing in both, the things Jesus can do and who He is, it takes hindsight to recognize a miracle for what it was. Timing is sometimes a big part of that. In my own life, I have experienced many signs and wonders, miracles that God has done for me. No small number of those miracles were really only appreciated, really understood in a greater measure, after the whole thing was over. When I could look back and see a bigger picture. The challenge, then, is to increase my faith and trust from the start. I want to see God (not just what He does, but who He is), in a bigger, more accurate way. I have seen plenty by now, to believe in the power of Jesus to transform lives, heal spiritually, emotionally, and physically, to provide in every way. I have seen plenty by now, to believe in the character and person of Jesus, that He is who He said He is (specifically, that He and the Father are one; that He is God). I have seen plenty to believe His words about being the propitiation for my sins, about preparing a place for me to join Him when I die. Even so, I suppose it's just a flaw in my limited ability as a human, sometimes it's just plain difficult to see His miraculous hand in the midst of circumstances. I will pray to believe, to see better, as things are happening, as He is moving. But, at the very least, I will pray that I continue to see it clearly after the fact, that it will be a testimony to me and to my whole household.
P) Father, thank You for the mercy and grace at work in my life. Thank You for softening my heart to the gospel, for the simple fact that I ever heard the gospel in the first place. Thank You for transforming my life, for healing me over the years, for providing for my needs and blessing me with my desires. I look back and I see Your hand plainly at work in my life. If it's possible, God, and if it is Your will, please open my eyes to see Your hand at work in my life, even in the midst of the circumstances You are touching. Increase my faith, that I may trust and understand what You are doing, even in the middle of my needs. Let me be more active in my prayers to You, in seeking You with every concern I have. I don't want to address issues in my life on my own. I confess that I am unfit to lead my own life. I have limited perspective and power. I confess that Your ways are infinitely, immeasurably better than my ways. Let Your will be done in my life, and let me recognize it sooner than later. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment