MORNING MEDITATION
Glean the Word:
John 4:43-54
Glimpse of Glory: "He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave." (Psalm 107:20)
Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. When He spoke, His words were filled with power, not prophecy. Jesus returned to Cana in Galilee for another divine appointment; the first was for a joyful celebration at a wedding feast, but this second visit was for a more desperate and hopeless case brought to Him by a royal official whose son was dying. The first seeds of faith were planted in Cana when Jesus performed His first miracle; however only His mother, His disciples, and the servants were witnesses to the great supply of wine. News spread about the great "miracle worker" who had done many miraculous signs, drawing crowds of people who only came to be amazed. When the nobleman came begging Jesus to come home with him before his child died, Jesus responded, "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe" (v. 48). These words would become a test of the father's faith when Jesus' response to his plea was a simple instruction: "You may go. Your son will live." (v. 50).
The nobelman's faith stood on those seven words from the mouth of the Lord. And because he took Jesus at His word and departed as Jesus instructed, hope, healing, and salvation came to his entire household (v. 53). What blessings come to us and so many others when we are willing to take a simple step of faith. Today we have at our fingertips the entire Word of God that holds the answer to all our needs. Thousands of precepts, principles, and promises lay before us that we can claim for our very own. Hundreds of words of hope and encouragement are written on every precious page of God's Word. Countless keys are within our grasp that will unlock the doors to a life of victory and triumph. The Lord is waiting to activate the power of His Word in our lives if we will simply believe He is who He says He is and will do what He has promised He will do. Jesus isn't limited by time or space, what He spoke to the nobleman was accomplished the moment He said it, and Jesus took the opportunity to build upon the man's fragile faith, by showing him that He didn't have to come with him for His power to be displayed in the life of his dying child. "When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "You son will live" (vv. 52-53a).
May we take time this morning to pray and confess those times we believed God's Word for others, but didn't trust them for ourselves; and like the nobleman, who first believed that Jesus could only heal if He was present, after praying, we go so far as to prescribe the answer we expect to receive, rather than trust our Lord to perform in His perfect timing, His perfect will for our life. Let us praise the Lord that nothing is too hard for Him, and that His answer can come in an instant and with the greatest ease! "For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).
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