June 15
Mark 5:21-24
The population of the world right now is about 6,783,557,879 (I looked that up…I promise). Anyway, that’s a LOT of people. Can you imagine how many of those people are asking God for something all at once? It reminds me of the movie Bruce Almighty. He, playing God, gets so overwhelmed with all the prayer requests, and he was only hearing the ones from one city! There’s a lot of stuff being thrown at God in a day. The cool part is…. He hears it! He listens to us. Even in a big crowd, Jesus heard the needs of the individual people. “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.” (Matthew 6:30 NLT) Thank you, God, for loving me even when you have so many to love, thank you for listening to me even when there are so many to hear, and thank you for meeting my needs even there are so many needs to be met.
Principle: Jesus always meets an individual’s need even in the midst of a crowd.
Application:
1. What specific need should I bring to Jesus?
2. Do I view obstacles as impossible barriers or opportunities?
3. Do I get lost in the crowd so that I don’t have to meet the needs of others?
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I am struck by the intense emotion of the one making the request. He fell at Jesus feet and pleaded earnestly. James talks about "fervent prayer" accomplishing much. My prayers lack passion. I do not ask for the problems that produce passionate prayer. But I do ask for the kind of relationship with God that includes strong feeling as well as solid thought.
ReplyDeleteWhile there are a great many positive and comforting truths in this passage, I think it also points out one of our human weaknesses. Would the synagogue ruler have fallen at Jesus' feet if his daughter had been healthy and all things well in his world? Why does it take tragedy before we can recognize Jesus or our need for him? I wonder if Jesus ever gets tired of being the last resort.
ReplyDeleteBoy does that hit home, Bob! I wonder how many time I have said that old saying “ I guess that all that I can do is pray” Maybe I need to re-think that and find something (no matter how large or small) I can do first and then say “and you know that I am ALSO praying for you.” I think my answer to #2 would have to be that I need to re-think the situation and turn an obstacle into an opportunity with prayer tying it all together.
ReplyDeleteYea! Yea! Yea! While in Mexico, God was working to remind me of today's principle. It was very difficult for me to meet two men that I could not help the way I wanted to help. Both men needed large sums of money. One, a seventy-six year old man, needed money to pay for a special bike that he used to help him in his position as a gardener. It was broken when he passed our group, and he stopped to ask us to pray for his hurting feet. None of us could fix the bike--it was beyond repair--and none us could afford a new bike of the same make. Then there was another man who invited my husband and I and a translator into his home. He needed money to pay for his tiny two room place; his leg had been damaged, and he could not find work. Ultimately, I could not meet his need either. As I pondered these men and their needs, I felt a deep sadness settled over me. I hate such grief, and I began to talk to God, who was waiting to teach me.
ReplyDelete"Andrea, trust me. That's the point. You aren't suppose to be in control. I am. I sent you to these men to tell them about me. I love them enough to send you away from your home and your busy schedule. I'll keep sending people to meet their needs. Stop worrying. Just pray. You believe I'm in control. You believe I love these men. You believe I am able to meet their needs. You believe that when you ask in my name and when you ask persistently, I respond in the way I know is best. Go ahead and live what you believe."
Oh, I am excited. God is hearing the needs of these men!!!!!!
AS I read this passage I realize that this man came to Jesus with complete undoubting faith that He is in control and will heal his child. I am ashamed to say that my prayers are not always with complete faith and turning it over to Jesus. I ask for help but don't fully release the situation to His control. I have my human sinful nature wanting to control and do what I think should be done. I pray for the faith that this man had when he approached Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThis man pleaded with Jesus to heal someone in his family that was dying. He made everyone get out of his way so he could do it. It reminded me of all the inlaws I have that are dying in their sin. And I don't remember to pray for them. I shouldn't be letting anything get in my way of pleading for their souls.
ReplyDelete