The sermon at church this morning so great and really hit home. So I wanted to share it with all of you.
It was on John 4:43-54. There is this royal official guy who heard that Jesus was in a neighboring town and went to Jesus to beg Him to heal his son. It says that the son was sick and close to death.
‘“Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told them, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.”’
There were a few things that stuck out to me.
1. The man’s persistence in bringing his petition to Jesus.
2. This guy didn’t understand how God works. He wanted Jesus to come to his house and heal his son, but Jesus simply said a word and it says later the boy was healed. We don’t always know how God is going to move and work. But He does have a plan and He works on His timing.
But this is what really hit me…
“The man took Jesus at His word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that His boy was living. 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 (around noon).” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which at which Jesus had said to him, “your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.”
Theologians think that the royal official traveled about 15 miles to see Jesus that day. So if he had really booked it he very well could have made it home the same day to see his son and see if he had been healed. But instead the servants met him on the road while he was still on his way the next day. So it seems that he wasn’t in any rush because HE BELIEVED THE PROMISE JESUS GAVE HIM. It doesn’t say that he doubted that his son would really be healed when he got home; it says that he took Jesus at His word and left.
I love that faith because so many times I feel like I doubt the promises God has given me. Particularly right now I have been fighting doubts that He will provide the support I need to go on the world race.
But God calls us to believe His promises even in areas where there seems to be a lack of evidence that He is working.
Don’t get me wrong He has been providing and it has been amazing to see the ways He has done so. And I am so so so thankful for everyone that has already supported me. But sometimes I look at the amount I have left to go and think about how I only have four months left until I leave and I freak out a little.
If you know me well or have read my other blog posts you know that raising support was not something I was excited about. Right after college, my plan was to intern with the college ministry I was involved with during school. But I didn’t raise the support I needed. God had another plan. But I was hesitant to want to go through the support raising process again because of it.
Recently God reminded me of this passage in Luke 5. Simon has been out in his boat fishing all night but has caught absolutely nothing. Jesus tells Simon to let down his nets and Simon answered, ‘“Master, we have worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything but because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”’
You can almost hear the exasperation in Simon’s voice and if it were me I would have been thinking “alright. I’ll humor you.”
That’s how I felt when deciding to go on the world race. “Really, God? I’ve tried this whole support raising thing and it didn’t work out so well. Remember?” But all He has asked me to do is to be obedient and He will provide and provide abundantly.
Just like the royal official I don’t understand how God is going to work it out or how He will provide but I choose to take Him at His word and believe that He will provide me with everything I need.
I didn’t start off with the intention of writing a book but I hope this encourages someone to trust God and His promises in whatever area of their life they are struggling with. Take Him at His word because He is faithful even when we are faithless.
