DON'T ASK JESUS TO HEAL YOU...
In the book of Matthew, Jesus encounters two blind men. In chapter 9 verses 27-31 we have a record of the interaction. The two blind men follow Jesus, begging him to heal them. He asks them if they believe he is "able to" to it. They both say yes and Jesus says, "According to your faith, let it be done to you." And they were both healed immediately. There is indeed a big question as to how large a role does our faith play in Jesus ability to work miracles in our lives. But we'll save that for later (the month of November at the RISING).
Notice how after Jesus healed these men, he warns them to not tell anyone, but immediately they started spreading the news about Him. Now it's a difficult command that Jesus gives these two. They've been blind for who knows how long and of course they want to share their excitement of being healed with everyone. None the less, it was a direct command and they failed to follow it. One could say that these men were ready to embrace Jesus as their healer, but not yet as their LORD.
So I ask you, is Jesus only your healer? Are you ready to make him your master, whom you obey at all costs? That is what Jesus wants. He's not satisfied with just helping us through the hard times in life. He wants more than requests from us. He wants our hearts, humbled and ready to serve Him. If you're not ready for that, then I'd suggest that you don't ask Jesus to heal you.
Notice how after Jesus healed these men, he warns them to not tell anyone, but immediately they started spreading the news about Him. Now it's a difficult command that Jesus gives these two. They've been blind for who knows how long and of course they want to share their excitement of being healed with everyone. None the less, it was a direct command and they failed to follow it. One could say that these men were ready to embrace Jesus as their healer, but not yet as their LORD.
So I ask you, is Jesus only your healer? Are you ready to make him your master, whom you obey at all costs? That is what Jesus wants. He's not satisfied with just helping us through the hard times in life. He wants more than requests from us. He wants our hearts, humbled and ready to serve Him. If you're not ready for that, then I'd suggest that you don't ask Jesus to heal you.
posted by Tony at
1:57 PM
2 Comments:
That is a challenging thought. It is certainly a lot easier to ask for healing than it is to daily submit my will to His, and be willing to pick up my cross and serve Him by serving the others in my life with a Christ-like attitude on a daily basis. After all, we should not just be askers of the healing power of the Word (made flesh), but also DO-ERS of the Word.
And it also brings to mind Jesus' question to the invalid in John 5:6 - "Do you want to get well?". The obvious answer would be yes, but I don't think it's a rhetorical question - I think we get used to our sins or in this case "sickness". I think it's easier at times to continue in whatever "sickness" we're asking for release from, but we still go through the motion of asking to be healed, even if we're not fully committed to the possibility, lacking either belief, or even desire for true healing. I know I have been guilty of being comfortable in whatever area of life I might have closed off to Christ's redemptive work.
To me, Jesus' question is a reminder that we have work to do in addition to asking for healing. Not that we "earn" healing, but I think we do have a part in his work of sanctification - I don't think it always necessarily happens without us striving for it - maybe somewhat, but I don't think we get healed without desiring it. Then again, can we even desire holy things without His help and His spirit causing these holy desires?
So I guess it brings up some questions in me as to what our part of this sanctification looks like and how it's supposed to work in our lives. I do think we allow His work in our lives by surrendering our attitudes, thoughts, minds, to Him when we realize they're not honoring to Him and His purposes for us. But I think it's important for us to work out our role and learn what we must do to be healed, other than begging for it.
So, good posting - makes me really want to hear what we're going to be talking about in November!
By
CJ, at 3:04 PM
Interesting thought, and interesting comment. Carl, your comment raises for me the age old question, "How much of a role do I play in my salvation?" or "If I play no role in my salvation, how much of a role do I play in my sanctification?" I struggle with this daily. I personally don't think I had much to do, if anything, with my salvation. I do, however, feel the tugs at my heart toward sanctification, which leads me to believe that God through the Holy Spirit expects me to play an active role. If He did not, then why would we need Tony? The Holy Spirit would simply drag us along.
So, if we must, at the very minimum, at least listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in order to be sanctified, am I listening? Am I hearing? Is what I am hearing coming through as spoken, or are my internal filters distorting the message? Is my sin distorting the message? Am I so comfortable with my life that I choose to ignore any calling that would (or could) alter that lifestyle?
At various times, all of the above seem true for me, to me. I don't want them to be true, but they are.
I heard a great quote this morning, but did not catch the name of the person responsible for it. I heard it on Woodrow Kroll's "Back to the Bible" radio broadcast on KPXQ1360 AM radio. It goes something like this:
"When you are saved, you embark on a journey towards holiness. However, how long you have been on the road gives no indication of how far you have traveled."
Some days, I think I go backwards.
- Cliff
By
cliffmeister2000, at 9:51 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home