There are times when I’m reading the Word of God that some of the strangest things jump right off the page and hit me right between the eyes. I have to stop reading and let my imagination go on a bit of a road trip for a moment, if you know what I mean. I believe it’s the beauty of each of us and how God has created us and who we are, that the living Word can catch us and inspire us. I know all of us could read a chapter of the Bible and probably something different would be noticed by each of us. The Word is life and power!
So today my Bible reading was Luke 7. In the first verses we meet an army officer who has a loved servant of his, who is sick and dying. He heard Jesus was in the vicinity, so sent some religious leaders to ask Jesus to come heal his servant. When they asked Jesus consented.
While they were still a distance from the house, some friends came to tell Jesus to just say the word and this army officer knew his servant would be made well. Jesus said He had never seen such faith. The servant was healed.
Then as Jesus and the disciples are traveling, they happen to come upon a funeral procession. A widow lost her only son, who would have been her means of financial support. When Jesus saw her, His heart was moved and He went over to the stretcher the young dead man was lying on, and touched him, and told him to get up. Then this is what I read today…
“The boy sat up and began to speak.” Luke 7:15 CEV
I’ve said this before, but have you ever noticed that Jesus has a way of ruining every funeral. But what stopped me in my tracks this morning was the verse I just read, “The boy sat up and began to speak.” Have you ever wondered what he was saying? Can you imagine what he was saying?
“Hey, what’s going on here?”
“Why does everybody look so shocked?”
“Why am I all wrapped up in this lining cloth?”
“Who are You?”
Isn’t that the big question? I can imagine this young man looking at Jesus, knowing that something isn’t quite right, but this Man standing right next to him has made everything right again. This Man standing right next to him, helping him off the stretcher, giving him back to his mom, has done something no one else could. He gave him back his life. Now can you imagine what he might have been saying?
Here’s my word of encouragement for you today: What has Jesus done for you? Has He stepped into your life’s procession and given you back your life? Has He lifted you up from your stretcher and offered you hope? So then, what is it you want to say?
Father,
Thank You for giving me my life through Your Son’s life. Thank You Jesus for raising me back up again. In Your name I pray, Amen.
So today my Bible reading was Luke 7. In the first verses we meet an army officer who has a loved servant of his, who is sick and dying. He heard Jesus was in the vicinity, so sent some religious leaders to ask Jesus to come heal his servant. When they asked Jesus consented.
While they were still a distance from the house, some friends came to tell Jesus to just say the word and this army officer knew his servant would be made well. Jesus said He had never seen such faith. The servant was healed.
Then as Jesus and the disciples are traveling, they happen to come upon a funeral procession. A widow lost her only son, who would have been her means of financial support. When Jesus saw her, His heart was moved and He went over to the stretcher the young dead man was lying on, and touched him, and told him to get up. Then this is what I read today…
“The boy sat up and began to speak.” Luke 7:15 CEV
I’ve said this before, but have you ever noticed that Jesus has a way of ruining every funeral. But what stopped me in my tracks this morning was the verse I just read, “The boy sat up and began to speak.” Have you ever wondered what he was saying? Can you imagine what he was saying?
“Hey, what’s going on here?”
“Why does everybody look so shocked?”
“Why am I all wrapped up in this lining cloth?”
“Who are You?”
Isn’t that the big question? I can imagine this young man looking at Jesus, knowing that something isn’t quite right, but this Man standing right next to him has made everything right again. This Man standing right next to him, helping him off the stretcher, giving him back to his mom, has done something no one else could. He gave him back his life. Now can you imagine what he might have been saying?
Here’s my word of encouragement for you today: What has Jesus done for you? Has He stepped into your life’s procession and given you back your life? Has He lifted you up from your stretcher and offered you hope? So then, what is it you want to say?
Father,
Thank You for giving me my life through Your Son’s life. Thank You Jesus for raising me back up again. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Rev. Dr. MM Marxhausen
Mark was Spiritual Director for VdC from 2016 to 2019. He's written many of the devotions, especially the Devote and Affirm series, found on this website.
