Men are known to have a harder time with the disease than women. I am sure that many couples have experienced that with a "fever" of 37.2 degrees Celsius, the man cannot get out of bed for a week (with respect to the exception, I do not want to offend anyone).
„And the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” Mark 1:31 ESV
Mark 1:29-31
Today's story also starts with an illness, but before we run any further, please read today's passage. Be still and listen to what God has to say to you today.
Jesus knows exactly what our needs are, because He knows and sees everything, He knows our lives, He knows what we struggle with on a daily basis. Jesus knew exactly that the mother-in-law in Peter's home where he entered was sick. Today we know that a fever is a symptom of something else, but back then fever was considered a disease. Although the Bible doesn't say how ill she was, when I look at the end of the story and see that the woman was cured and immediately started cooking, it was probably not a case of faking a work-related illness. The woman must have been very ill indeed.
Jesus, although he knew what was happening in Peter's house, waited to be asked and then healed him.
Máté evangéliuma 7:7-ben azt mondja Jézus:
„“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 ESV
Serving with thanksgiving
Jesus often waits until we turn to him in prayer to ask for help. For me, there are two reasons for this:
- First, I cry out to Him in humility, knowing that He is the Lord of all, who has the power to do all things.
- Secondly, when there is no human solution, it must be seen that the solution is in Jesus alone, so that all the glory is clearly His.
It's fantastic to read that Jesus heals the woman who got up and served him. By serving her, he gave thanks to God for healing her. Why do you serve God? Do you serve him at all? If so, what motivates you? Is it because you are a Christian and have been taught to do so? Or because you are using your God-given talents? Or because you are full of gratitude and therefore serve him? Obviously neither of these answers is wrong, but whatever your reason for serving, the most beautiful way to do it is with thanksgiving. And we have so much to be thankful for, most importantly our eternal life, that he died for us and in our place so that we don't have to. How often do you think about what you are thankful to God for today? Serve Him with thanksgiving.
Reflective questions
- Jesus promised, "Ask and it will be given". Is he the first person you turn to when you have a problem, or do you run through every human solution first? Save the unnecessary rounds, let Him be the first one you tell your requests to.
- Do you serve God? Are you serving the church? If not, ask him what ministry he has entrusted to you, how you are using your talents. If you are serving, do it with thanksgiving.
Think about today, your week, your month, what do you have to be grateful for?
Judit
If you're thankful to God because ... and you can fill in the blanks, tell us.
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