Word@Work 012 - Mark 1:29-31
Published: Tue, 11/27/07
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 1:29-31 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
It may not be true that charity begins at home, but if divine service has no domestic context, there is a problem. As the task of the Lord Jesus was to do the Father's will - we must conclude that this healing in the home was the Father's will.
Perhaps we see God's will as being reserved for the big things of life - for the rest we just use our common sense. We might think that it was merely natural for the disciples to tell Jesus about illness in the family; but sharing that information with Jesus triggered a whole episode that was in the Father's will. After a day of intensive ministry to the crowds, the love of God was focused on a sick old lady - but why?
It was not simply the compassion of Jesus, but His gospel strategy that involved the disciples in a very personal miracle. This was stark evidence to them that what Jesus could do for others in church, He would do for them at home. With all that lay ahead for them they needed the confirmation of His personal involvement with them.
It is all too easy to separate the sacred and secular parts of life (although there is no such valid distinction). We can fail to see that the same Lord Jesus that we worshipped on Sunday is with us at work on Tuesday. By the time we get home in the evening, we forget He is there too.
In each of the mundane and apparently non-spiritual segments of life the Lord may well surprise us by the effectiveness of His involvement. When He touches our lives, grateful service should follow and that will encourage others to do the same. So let us tell Him everything and see what He will do!
Prayer:: Gracious Father, thank You for this reminder to look to You as much today as I did on Sunday. Help me to see that You are involving me in Your work - even during my working hours, and also at home. I want to see Your will being worked out in the ordinary parts of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
It may not be true that charity begins at home, but if divine service has no domestic context, there is a problem. As the task of the Lord Jesus was to do the Father's will - we must conclude that this healing in the home was the Father's will.
Perhaps we see God's will as being reserved for the big things of life - for the rest we just use our common sense. We might think that it was merely natural for the disciples to tell Jesus about illness in the family; but sharing that information with Jesus triggered a whole episode that was in the Father's will. After a day of intensive ministry to the crowds, the love of God was focused on a sick old lady - but why?
It was not simply the compassion of Jesus, but His gospel strategy that involved the disciples in a very personal miracle. This was stark evidence to them that what Jesus could do for others in church, He would do for them at home. With all that lay ahead for them they needed the confirmation of His personal involvement with them.
It is all too easy to separate the sacred and secular parts of life (although there is no such valid distinction). We can fail to see that the same Lord Jesus that we worshipped on Sunday is with us at work on Tuesday. By the time we get home in the evening, we forget He is there too.
In each of the mundane and apparently non-spiritual segments of life the Lord may well surprise us by the effectiveness of His involvement. When He touches our lives, grateful service should follow and that will encourage others to do the same. So let us tell Him everything and see what He will do!
Prayer:: Gracious Father, thank You for this reminder to look to You as much today as I did on Sunday. Help me to see that You are involving me in Your work - even during my working hours, and also at home. I want to see Your will being worked out in the ordinary parts of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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