THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 9:18-26
“The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.” (Matthew 9:24)
The synagogue leader and the woman believed Jesus to reach out to Him for help.
The crowds were so focused on death, they could not see the hope of life.
They laughed at the prospect of hope, they laughed at Jesus.
I get this, I have only really seen sickness and death.
I’ve prayed for people to get well, I’ve prayed for dead people to revive… nothing.
All the evidence points to despair, not hope, to death having the last laugh.
But for some reason, I refuse to give up, I refuse to let go.
Like the leader and the woman, I still reach for Jesus, hope keeps me hanging on.
You may laugh at me too, many people do (seeing our faith as delusional).
Some people despair, some pretend everything is OK, and some distract themselves with pleasure.
The delusion of hope, or despair, denial, distraction – which path to take when facing sickness and death?
I choose hope (what others call delusion), rather than despair or denial or distraction.
I choose to reach out to Jesus, to hang on to Him.
One day those who laugh will see it too, and experience hope themselves.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, sometimes it would be nice to see a healing. But I will keep praying, keep waiting, keep trusting. May the sound of laughter come from those who have been touched, blessed, healed, helped!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
I was just thinking this last night!
Crazy.
I have that inherited sickle cell blood disorder passed down from my birth parents. And I often have to stick it out with its symptoms of fainting, extreme dizziness and/or in pain. Some days are harder than others and last night as I held my body in pain I said “honestly God it would be nice if you could bring some healing!” – but I too hold on to healing, hope, and trust that God will be my stronghold when I am not strong. Sicknesses can have the last laugh. 2 Corinthians 12:10.
Daughters.
One young.
One much older.
One a member of the family
and
one a member of the community.
But both were not – the one a member of the family because she was dead
and the other
because of her disease.
Yet both were children of God.
Included in the family.
Healed.
Surrounded by His love.
Living.
Living for Jesus.
Alive in Him.
May we all be like these ‘children’ – alive in Him.
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They’re all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
Whether you’re rich or whether you’re poor
It matters not to Him
He remembers where you’re going
Not where you’ve been
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They’re all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
If your heart is troubled
Don’t worry, don’t you fret
He knows that you have heard His call
And he won’t forget
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They’re all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
All around the world tonight
His children rest assured
That He will watch and He will keep us
Safe and secure
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They’re all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world