SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:12-16
I have been with people who prayed this prayer, and apparently God was not willing to heal them.
It’s interesting to notice that Jesus’ purpose is NOT to heal all people, all the time.
Instead of spreading the word, He limits the spread of the message (‘don’t tell anyone”).
And when the crowds come anyway, He often disappears to be alone with God and pray.
Willing, but not always available.
The way we need to see this is that somehow this strategy fit into His greater purpose.
Healing was not His greater purpose, the message of the kingdom was.
Jesus’ miracles were intended to verify His kingdom claims, they were not the main thing.
He knew that people would come for the miracles, but leave for the kingdom calling (deny self, follow me).
Why does God sometimes not heal someone… for the same reason, for His greater purpose.
Sometimes God uses our healing to help more people hear about the kingdom.
Sometimes God uses our sickness or struggle to help more people hear about the kingdom.
Our time in the hospital becomes a time to share our hope and confidence in God with others who don’t have it.
This is His greater purpose, and it’s the greater blessing.
Of this we can be sure – God is more than willing to bring people into His kingdom blessing.
Are we willing to enter it, to live it, to share it?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, You are not willing that any should perish, You want all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). Help me to see that how You work in my life – whether healing me or not – is always designed to accomplish this purpose. May Your kingdom come through me.
Observations/Application
Jesus’ show and tell ministry. In healing the sick man Jesus showed His power – to be made whole. And when others came for the same, Jesus retreated to be with His Father.
Christ came to establish His Kingdom. The ‘show and tell’ ministry – miracles and parables – were just a part showing the people what life in Christ Jesus will be like. Many more people came in the hope that they too would be healed. They could be but not in this life but the next. Jesus showed the Way and others must follow – follow the Way, the Truth and the Life. Today I still see through a glass darkly but one day I will truly see because His Kingdom has come in full.
In the meantime, I too must tell HiStory and what He has done for me – be His champion and tell others of that kingdom – a kingdom which is a reality for all who are ‘healed’ by the power/grace of God.
Prayer
Make me a channel of Your peace Lord.
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
I am not sure I have ever taken notice of the part of that verse that says “crowds came for healing but Jesus often went to lonely places to pray”. Interesting. It makes me wonder about those giant healing ministries. And I have heard pastors say “God’s will is for you to be healed!” but Jesus came for the “bigger picture” so to speak. Everyone he encountered was changed – often healed physically, or emotionally by his demonstration of grace. Interesting to think of those just as encounters along the way though… His true purpose was much much bigger. Food for thought… I love when my eyes are opened a slightly different perspective.
God, I thank you that your word is not dull and lifeless, but alive and eye opening and life changing.