Editors note: The devotionals that appear from this month on will be taken from the summer archives because I want to go over the Gospel of Mark from the beginning.. It is possible they will have updates and will be highlighted in pink.

Quiet Times: (Psalm 109,  Proverbs 19, and Mark 1:29-31)

"It is dangerous and sinful to rush into the unknown!" (Proverbs 19:2, TLB)

"A man may ruin his chances by his own foolishness and blame it on the Lord." (Proverbs 19:3, TLB)

"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." (Mark 1:29-31)

Observations:

I asked myself what were the actions and the results of Jesus’ actions?

There were five points I saw:

1. Jesus had just taught at the synagogue previously and healed a man who was demon-possessed (Mark 1:21-28)

2. Jesus went to the home of Peter and Andrew after they left the synagogue.

3. The disciples found out that Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever and told Jesus about her.

4. Jesus goes to her, takes her by the hand and helps her.

5. The fever left her and she waits upon them.

Observations/Interpretations:

Points 1& 2: Jesus went to the home of Peter and Andrew after they left the synagogue.

            It is interesting that after teaching at the synagogue and healing a person there, Jesus decides to spend time at one of the disciple's homes. You could call it an after-church activity that builds more unity and bonding. The unity and bonding does not end there but can be inferred at Peter's home. The importance of community is emphasized here.

            Let us look at Peter's family life. We know Peter, Peter's brother Andrew, Peter's wife, and Peter's wife's mother living under the same roof. This brings the concept of nuclear families into perspective. There must have been a lot of bonding and hopefully no in-law troubles. The importance of family life is emphasized here.

Point 3: The disciples found out that Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever and told Jesus about her.

When the disciples saw Peter's mother-in-law was sick, they knew exactly what had to be done and went to Jesus to ask His help with the situation they were faced with.  I found it interesting that the disciples and not just Peter alone intervened regarding Peter's mother-in-law. They wanted to help Peter's mother-in-law. It shows again the emphasis of community and bearing one another's burdens. Jesus was more than ready to help out. They did not talk to Jesus as a last resort but talked to Jesus as a first resort.

Point 4: Jesus goes to her, takes her by the hand and helps her.

Jesus could have just said to Peter's mother-in-law, 'get up and be healed' and she would have been healed but He did something more loving and personal:

Jesus went to her,
Took her by the hand,
Helped her up.

Jesus made it more personal by taking her by the hand and helping her up.

Imagine you were there on the bed being sick and the Lord comes all the way from the other room just to take you by the hand and help you off the bed bringing healing into your life. This is exactly what Jesus did there showing His love.

Point 5: The fever left her and she waits upon them.

A fever is not something to be taken lightly.  When I have had a fever I would not eat anything lest it becomes worse. What this causes is a weakness in our body because we have had no food. This results in a chain reaction making us just stay on the bed until we finally get over the fever and eat to regain our strength.

When Jesus healed her of her fever, we learn that she went and waited upon them. What she did is very important because it tells us about Jesus' healing too. She had fever and the next moment, she began to wait on them. Talk about a quick recovery.

If we lean on our own understanding, it is easy to think, 'I cannot believe they are allowing her to wait on them right after she gets over the fever.' This is where Jesus' healing comes into the picture again. When Jesus took her by the hand and helped her up, he was restoring her to complete health and strength. It would have been like she never was sick in the first place.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life. When Jesus heals, I can be healed completely. It will be in His timing though. His healing power can reach the darkest corners of my life. Where there has been sapped strength whether it is spiritually, physically, emotionally, or mentally, when I am touched by the Master’s healing touch, I will never be the same again in a positive way. Jesus can still touch us with His healing touch through His servants/followers.

I ask you now dear friend, where do you need healing?

Dear friend, there are so many areas in our lives that only the Lord’s healing touch can completely heal especially if those areas are scarred. The Good News is that Jesus wants to be there for you. He wants to take you by the hand and lift you up. He does not want you to be where you are in sickness but He wants to give you renewed vitality. Yes, He does! I do know that the Lord’s timing is not our timing. He brings healing in His perfect timing. Until then, He gives us the strength and willingness to endure. Let us not give up.

You know exactly where you wish for healing. Know that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Jesus who healed Peter’s mother-in-law has the power to heal you. Yes, He does!

Peter’s mother-in-law invited Jesus into her life to help her with it. Let us do the same. Let us invite Jesus into every area of our life. Let Him be part of it and let Him heal the areas where there is an aching for healing.

I used to have severe asthma and it would get the better of me! There were times I felt I was going to die and it would have been less painful to die. There were a lot of things I could not enjoy. One day, I was watching the 700 Club years ago and the speaker was talking about 'accepting Jesus into your heart'. I knew about Jesus and his love for us but I had never read the Bible or accepted Jesus as my Lord and Personal Savior. I did not also know what accepting Jesus into our hearts meant. But, I did know about the miracles Jesus did in the times of old.

I said to myself, 'the Bible says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow' and if that is the case whatever Jesus did then, He can do now. I knew Jesus could heal me if I turn to Him. So after my mommy explained to me about what it means to accept Jesus into my heart, I gave my life to Jesus making Him my Lord and Personal Savior. By the Lord's divine intervention, I was healed of my asthma. To this day, I can do things I was never able to do. I thank the Lord for His healing!

In these days, Jesus personally heals others through His faithful, available, teachable servants and still through His divine intervention. I know there are areas in my life that have been scarred but I also know Jesus gives the strength and endurance to move on and can take us to better places and situations that we would not have dreamed of.

Take your physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental wounds to the Lord in prayer. Be open with the Lord and know He loves you as you are and died for your sin. His blood was shed for you. He came back to life to save you. He wants to be part of your life. Yes, He does!

There was a time, I had terrible pain in my right knee and asked the Lord for His healing and knew He could heal me. The pain continued but I continued in prayer not holding back from my work. Recently, I could slowly feel the Lord's healing in my right knee. Interestingly, the Lord used a new pair of shoes to help in that recovery!

There are areas in my life, I am waiting for the Lord’s healing and I know He will send it in His timing. We need to ask the Lord to reign in our lives each day so He can take care of each dimension of our life. He wants to friend! Yes, He does! His strength is perfect and He will help us in our weaknesses.

May you know the Lord Jesus who wants to heal you and be your Jehovah Rophe, the Lord our Healer. May you let Him be your Lord and Personal Savior! Amen!

Jehovah-Rophe, my Healer
        By Ramesh C. Reddy

"Healing Everyday Almighty Lord Is Nurturing God! (H.E.A.L.I.N.G)"/”Where do you need healing?”

May the Lord Jesus Christ bring healing into your life each day with His healing presence knowing His strength is perfect when our strength is gone! Amen!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, it means a lot to know that you went to Peter’s mother-in-law and were personally involved in her healing. I love you Jesus. I need you in my life. You know the areas of our lives where we need your healing touch. You know the scars and pains that only your healing touch can completely remove. So, Lord we come to you as we are and ask you for your healing. I thank you Jesus for your healing. You can go into the darkest corners of our lives and bring us healing. Thank you for your healing! Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. Thank you for the after fellowship activities, you bring to our attention. Thank you Jesus your ministry did not end at the steps of the synagogue but followed even after the service. Help us not to just be Sunday people for your Kingdom but live for you each day. I thank you Jesus! Right now Lord, I bring before you those who are in pain and have scars only you can heal. You Oh Lord know their hopes and dreams, you Oh Lord know the pain they are in! Please Jesus come and touch their lives with your healing power and help them to experience your divine intervention. Please take their wounds and heal them by your stripes you took for us. Thank you Jesus for your cleansing blood. We entrust our lives to thee Oh Lord and depend on thee for help. Give us the strength and patience to wait on you. Whatever the outcome, help us to know your love and take the strength you give us. Thank you Jesus!  In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart.

Friend, you may feel something or you may not but this you can be assured that the Lord Jesus has come into your life and will give you a new beginning! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Fall of September 2005, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579.

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

Next Devotional:
"Where do you need an A.N.S.W.E.R?"

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