April 4 ~ Luke 5:14
Jesus instructed him, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed self to the priest, along with the offering ordered by Moses. Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done." But the man couldn't keep it to himself, and the word got out. Soon a large crowd of people had gathered to listen and be healed of their ailments. As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Do you ever have what I call a “light-bulb moment”? I’m talking about a time when you are confused or don’t seem to understand something, and then all of a sudden… you get it! The “light goes on,” and you see the whole picture. That’s what happened to me when I read this passage in Luke recently. I’ve read this same story more times than I can count… and always, I wondered why in the world Jesus told this man not to tell about his miraculous healing. Surely this would be a true witness to the power of Jesus Christ! Certainly people would see this man, whom they had known to be ill for a long time… and they would know that he was Supernaturally healed!
As always… Jesus had a reason for His instructions. His point was that we shouldn’t have to always TELL people about what He is doing in our lives… others should be able to SEE for themselves the wonders and miracles because of our behavior and how we are living! Let’s be honest… anybody can talk a good game… but far fewer can live out their faith.
It’s one thing to say you forgive someone… but to truly forgive them in your heart is another. Lots of people vow to give up sinful ways and live for Jesus… but talk is cheap. Far fewer really follow through. Many of us talk about how great our faith is… how our relationship with Jesus Christ has made everything in our lives so much better… and then we fall apart at the first sign of trouble or when the first crisis or challenge occurs.
Jesus wants us to “talk the talk”… but He wants us to “walk the walk”, too. To do any less makes us something of a “lopsided Christian!” So the challenge for us today is to become more balanced in our faith… to back up any claims we make with real action. We must live in such a way that others see the power and healing of Jesus Christ working in and through us… even when we don’t say a word.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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