“Simon’s mother-in-law was ill in bed with a fever. They told him about her at once. He came forward, took her by the hand, and helped her to her feet. The fever left her and she waited upon them ”. Mk 1:30, 31 NEB In many human activities there is a prescribed and accepted method of performing certain actions. You can’t hit a golf ball straight if you don’t hold the club right in the first place. There is a “proper” way to hold the steering wheel of a car (called “ten to two”) - your own and other people’s safety depends on it. But some people develop their own technique and get on better by being unorthodox. After the meeting in the synagogue Jesus went to Simon’s house. His mother-in-law was ill with a burning fever. In one of the Jewish guide-books there was a procedure laid down on how to treat it. “A knife wholly made of iron was tied by a braid of hair to a thorn bush. On successive days there was repeated, first Exodus 3:2,3; second, Exodus 3:4; and finally Exodus 3:5. Then a certain magical formula was pronounced, and thus the cure was supposed to be achieved” (W. Barclay, The Gospel of Mark, p29). Jesus promptly dispensed with this system, called on the healing power of God and the woman was made whole. This demonstrated again that the saving power of God had been entrusted to Jesus’ hands. Don’t be hide-bound by every last tradition that has been handed down. If you find a new way to communicate with God - and it is effective - use it even if “we’ve never done that before”. Jesus had his own unique way. It’s all right if you have yours. PRAYER THOUGHT Lord, thank you for the freedom to serve and glorify you.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 04:17:53 +0000