(Mat 8:14-16 NLT) When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him. That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life.” I believe we are on our final week of this series and I feel led to make just a few more points. The first one I want to make is the fact that we don’t need to reserve prayer (or divine involvement) to those things we consider to be MAJOR challenges. We know that Jesus prayed daily. Jesus was in constant communication with the Father (see John 5:19,20,30).
In Matthew chapter eight we read the story of Jesus healing the Centurion’s servant. This is a popular story and we have already covered it in this series. Later on in the chapter Jesus healed “many demon-possessed people,” casting out the demons “with a simple command” and when a crowd formed around Jesus He “healed all the sick.” Casting out demons seems spectacular and when we read that Jesus healed all the sick, most of us think of leprosy, palsy, blindness, and etc. We like to picture Jesus going around healing people from incurable diseases, because that gives us hope for whatever we may be facing. But I want to bring up a healing that is not often discussed from the pulpit and that is the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law. After Jesus spoke a Word of healing over the Centurion’s servant He traveled with the disciples to Peter’s house. When they arrived Jesus saw Peter’s wife’s mother lying in bed with a fever. We don’t know why she had a fever, but like most people, I would venture to say that the fever would have only lasted a day of two. A fever, in and of itself, is not a major issue. However, Jesus did not overlook it. Remember, Jesus never did anything He did not first see His Father do (John 5:19), so it is clear that Jesus had already received His marching-orders, in prayer, to heal this woman. Notice that Peter did not ask and that his mother-in-law did not beg. Jesus was motivated by the compassion of His character, and He touched her hand. When He did the same power that was used to raise the dead caused the fever to leave her body. She was restored to health, she got up, and she waited on her guests.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God cares. We serve a God who cares about us, to the point where He wants to remove anything that is keeping us from His best. The Father is just as interested in removing a headache or a fever, as He is any other hindrance.
2. There is nothing too small. Just like there is nothing too big for God, there is nothing too small for Him either. If you can do it, then do it, but if you can’t, then there is nothing wrong with petitioning His involvement, even if it is not a MAJOR issue.
3. Serve daily. You were not saved to sit, you were saved to serve. Just like Peter’s mother-in-law got up and served, you are to do the same thing. Serve God and man today! Don’t sit down on your abilities. If you have health in your body, then use it for God’s glory! What are you fully capable of doing for Christ that you have been failing to do? Whatever it is, determine to start today!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this reminder this morning. Just like there is nothing too hard for You, there is nothing too small for You either. There is nothing going on in my life that You don’t care about. You love me enough to want to be part of the smallest details. Every hair on my head is numbered. Every day of my life has been planned. I declare, by faith, that I will get You involved daily, through prayer, in every aspect of my life. And I also thank You for the health I have in my body. I will use my health for Your glory. I thank You to removing every hindrance and enabling me to maximize my purpose and potential today and every day. I am blessed and I will act like it! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
