Instagram Jesus Week 7: Devotional Day 3
DAY 3
Daily devotional
Read
Mark 1:31, Revelation 2:3-7
Ask
What is our response to Jesus? Simon’s mother-in-law’s reaction to being healed by Christ was to serve. Where are you serving right now? How are you giving back in response to what Christ has done for you?
Reflect
I have never been sick—I mean really sick. But I definitely have had doubt. I’ve never doubted God’s ability, but I have definitely doubted his will. I wonder why I have doubt? Is it out of holy fear or reverence for the Living God? Or is it because of familiarity? Two stories that have helped me to reflect on this are found in Luke 7 and Mark 6.
Luke 7 is about a Centurion, a Roman high-ranking officer. He had a servant he highly regarded who was sick and about to die. He asked that Jesus say the word and his servant would be healed. Somehow this Gentile soldier knew and had faith that if this Jewish Rabbi said his servant was healed, he would in fact be healed. “Say the word and it will be done.” The faith this Centurion had actually caused Jesus to marvel. Jesus turned and said to the crowd, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”
In Mark 6, Jesus goes to his hometown Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue. The listeners were astonished, saying, “what is this wisdom given to him…? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary…?” He offended them. Dropping down to verse 6, it says Jesus marveled at their unbelief.
Two stories, one with a Gentile and one with his very own people who should have known him. Jesus, the Omniscient God who knows each and every one of us, who was present at Creation, who is King and reigns forevermore—“marveled”!
I wonder if my doubt lies in familiarity. Am I so familiar with Jesus I have forgotten how to be amazed? Jesus has authority over the whole earth. Familiarity can breed spectacular unbelief. Mark 6 says Jesus could do no miracles in his hometown because of their unbelief. In these stories, faith either hindered or allowed Jesus to do miracles. Wow.
Simon’s mother-in-law reached out and took the hand of the Living God. She swung her feet over the side of the bed, stood up, and proceeded to serve him and his friends. She could have said “Thank you, I’m going to rest a bit because I think I’m weak from this fever—food’s in the kitchen.” No, she took his hand and got up. My encouragement today: reach out and take the hand of God, get up, marvel at him! Remember your First Love and have faith!