Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Wednesday, August 31, 2016
We are focusing on getting to know God from the perspective of John the beloved.
Today’s Scripture Focus: “When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth” (John 4:47–51).
First Resort
Have you ever been in a situation so dire that all you could do was pray? You cried till you could not cry anymore. Every idea and penny you had, you threw at the problem, and it was still there. You phoned every friend and family member you thought cared. Every Bible promise you claimed, and you sang every encouraging song, yet your issue would not abate. At that point, what did you do? Did you make prayer, which should have been your first resort, your last instead?
When a nobleman’s son faced certain death, and when he learned Jesus was in the area, he stopped at nothing to get the Master’s attention. He succinctly told Jesus his son lay at home with a terminal illness, with just enough faith to believe that Jesus would heal him. Do you have faith to believe Jesus cares enough to intervene in your life?
Does Jesus care when your heart is dark, pain is great, or your life is burdened with trials? Oh yes, Jesus cares! Believe He cares!
Jesus swiftly encouraged him with an affirmative answer. His son was healed. Interestingly, when Jesus said so, the man believed (didn’t second-guess), and hurried home to see his healthy son. On the way home, one of the man’s workers met him with the great news. His son was healed!
He Cares!
They compared notes concerning the timing of his healing, and indeed it was the same hour Jesus proclaimed healing over the boy’s life. Does Jesus care when your heart is dark, pain is great, or your life is burdened with trials? Oh yes, Jesus cares! Believe He cares! Know and be assured that He cares.
There are times in our lives that we finally get the memo that the only solution to our problems is opening our mouths and talking to God about them. We can ask for His guidance and power to fix the situation. In those moments take a page out of the nobleman’s book and exercise simple faith. God will do what’s best for us, and be prepared to move forward knowing that in that same hour He is manifesting His answer in our lives.
