A Nugget from New Life Network

(by Dr. Larry Ollison)

Scripture for the Day (December 28, 2017)

Your heart should be holy and set apart for the Lord God. Always be ready to tell everyone who asks you why you believe as you do. Be gentle as you speak and show respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

Last week, I was trying to write a radio program when the phone kept ringing. After about the third disturbance, I began to get a little irritated. No, I didn’t throw a fit or anything, but I did lean back in my chair, look away from my computer screen, and wonder what it would be like to have no distractions. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, I thought, to do something without anyone bothering me or slowing me down? After all, I was doing the radio program for God, right?

Just a few minutes later, I was reading in the book of Luke where Jesus ran into the same situation. Then, I realized my mistake. I needed to deal with things the way Jesus did. In Luke 8, Jesus was approached by a ruler of the synagogue named Jairus. Jairus fell down in front of Jesus and begged Him to go to his house and heal his daughter. His little girl was 12 years old and according to Jairus, she was about to die.

Whenever Jesus was asked for healing, He always agreed, and this time was no different. Jesus headed toward the house of Jairus to help his young daughter (Luke 8:42). As Jesus and Jairus traveled, the crowds pressed in. Jesus was surrounded with people and from within the crowd, a woman reached out and touched the hem of His garment. When she did this, she was immediately healed of a blood condition she’d had for twelve years and Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” (v. 45).

Peter was amazed that Jesus would ask who touched Him because there were people pressing in from all directions. So he asked Jesus, “What do you mean, who touched You?” Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me” (v. 46). Then He turned to the woman who touched Him and said, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

While He was still talking to her, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house and said. “Don’t bother the teacher. He doesn’t need to come. Your daughter is dead.” When Jesus heard these words, He said, “Do not be afraid; only believe and she will be made well” (v. 50). Then he continued on with Jairus to his house.

When they got there, Jesus spoke positive words of faith to the parents and the mourners. He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping” (v. 52). When He said this, the mourners ridiculed Him. They thought He was crazy. Of course, Jesus walked by faith and not by sight so He was not moved by the way things looked (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Then Jesus put all the doubters and unbelievers outside and went back in alone. He took the girl by the hand and said, “Little girl, arise” (v. 54). She got up immediately and Jesus asked her parents to give her something to eat. Needless to say, everyone was astonished.

Now, here’s the point of this. When Jesus was traveling to the ruler’s house, He didn’t consider the things happening to Him along the way as distractions. He considered them opportunities to minister. The woman who was healed along the way was worth the time to Jesus. We need to be like Jesus. When we have a project, even one that we feel God is calling us to do, and something slows us down, we must be led by the Holy Spirit. Every distraction may not be Satan. It may be an opportunity to minister.

 

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