Two "Simple" Instructions

"Your daughter is dead."  It is a parent's worst nightmare.  A synagogue ruler named Jairus heard those words delivered in a crowd by some insensitive men.

Jairus' story is told by Mark in chapter 5 verses 21 through 43.  Jairus had approached Jesus in a large crowd. He fell at His feet and pleaded for Jesus to come to his house and heal his dying daughter.  She was 12 years old. 

Jairus was desperate.  He must have been full of hope for her future.  Yet, he knew he would probably lose his little girl.  He knew she was dying.  

He ignored the theological discussions that he must have heard.  Jesus wasn't popular with the religious leaders.  But his little girl had no other options.  So he begged Jesus for help.

Jairus had a glimmer of hope.  Jesus agreed to go with him.  Yet a woman interrupted the journey to his daughter.  She distracted Jesus.  While He was speaking with her, some men came and told him he was bothering the teacher.  The child was dead. His hope was shattered! 

Jesus directed His attention to Jairus and gave him clear instructions:  1.  Don't be afraid and 2.  Just believe.

In the face of the desperate news in our daily lives we need to follow these same two instructions.

1.  Don't be afraid.  Reject  the world's view of events.  The men at the house didn't believe in Jesus' power and authority.  They called him merely a teacher.  Jairus had believed that Jesus could do anything, even snatch his little girl from certain death.  Likewise, in this uncertain world which delivers  lots of bad news, we should not be afraid because we know God can and will do amazing works.  Why?  He is sovereign.  He is all-powerful.  And He has prepared an eternal home for us.

2.  Just believe.  Jesus didn't tell Jairus what was about to happen.  He didn't share His plan with Jairus.  He gave Jairus simple instructions to follow in a crisis.  Jesus ignored what those men believed about Him and their interpretation of the situation.  He knew they thought He was only a teacher.  He saw the crowd of mourners laugh at Him when He said the child was merely sleeping.  He took just His three disciples and just the girl's parents and in a private moment, touched the little girl and healed her.  Why?  He is loving and compassionate.

The men who delivered the bad news suggested that Jesus was bothered by Jairus' need.  This miracle reminds me that God cares about each one of my fears and needs.  I am never a bother when I approach Him for reassurance and deliverance.

To face the world today I must:

1. Don't be afraid.  God loves me, personally and intimately.  He alone will meet me, every time, and deal with my crisis.  Fear is the world's suggested response.  Faith in God is what I need to choose.

2.  Just believe.  God is bigger than any situation or circumstance I face. 

When the world gives me circumstances beyond my ability to handle, I have a choice, fear or believe in God, the almighty, the all powerful, the all knowing, the loving and the compassionate.

Two "simple" instructions to face the day.

Live to matter

I felt tears well up in my eyes.  My friend was sharing an experience with our small group.  We were discussing caring for other people.  She quietly shared about a little girl living in an unfortunate situation and how she and her church has shared with the little girl.  My friend has long since lost track of the little girl but I was moved.  I knew that for the few months those people were in that  little girl's life it made a difference.

Jesus made a difference in, what we would label, an insignificant woman's life.  In Chapter 5, verses 21-34, Mark relates the story of Jesus showing this woman and those in the crowd that she indeed mattered.

Jesus had again crossed over the lake and was met by a large crowd.  A synagogue ruler approached Jesus and asked Him to come to his home and touch his sick daughter.  So Jesus set out for this man's home.  Jesus had a destination.

In the crowd was a sick woman.  She'd been ill with a bleeding condition for 12 years.  This illness had drained her finances.  She spent her wealth on many doctors with no cure.  She had heard about Jesus and felt that if she could merely touch His cloak she would be healed.  So she moved through the large crowd, came close enough, reached out and touched Him.  And it worked.  She was healed immediately!

Jesus knew.  He turned and asked who touched Him.  The disciples pointed out that He was in the midst of a huge crowd so lots of people had touched Him.  Jesus knew one significant person had touched Him and had been changed.  So He asked again.  The woman realized she would not go unnoticed (as it is stated in Luke 8:47) and trembling she fell at His feet and told Him the whole truth.

Jesus called her "Daughter" and then reminded her that her faith had healed her.  He told her to go in peace and be free of suffering.

This large crowd saw and heard this miracle.  The crowd saw their version of an insignificant woman transformed into one who mattered to the All Knowing One.

We live in a world of extremes.  We strive to matter.  Too often the philosophy of selfishness and "it's all about me"  controls our life.  Or we feel so insignificant that we lose hope. When circumstances burden, we think we don't matter enough to God.

The story of this sick woman reminds me that I am significant to God. In the crowd of those around me and in the world, He knows me!  He cares about me and my life journey.  His way offers me peace and freedom.

My friend's story reminds me that God uses me to show others that the All Knowing One knows them and their situation.  I have the opportunity, as I travel through my life, to touch lives to bring Him glory and to make a difference.  I can't get so focused on my destination that I miss the work of God in changing lives around me.   I am significant and at the same time, I am a part of a huge crowd of others equally significant to Him. He knows me and He knows All.