READ: Matthew
8
In this chapter we find a key principle to live by. This is a principle,
not a directive. Some have taken these very passages and taken them as
personal, and even general instruction, rather than what they were: words of
Jesus to a specific person.
In the first story Jesus told the leper not to tell anyone what He had
done for Him except the priest. In the second one, He told the centurion that
his faith had healed his servant. Next we see that He healed everyone who was
brought to Him. Then Jesus told a scribe that following Jesus meant he’d not
have a permanent home. The disciple was told he wasn’t allowed to bury his dad.
Jesus then got into the boat with the disciples and calmed the storm and when
he encountered the demon-possessed men He cast them into a herd of pigs.
These stories tell us how Jesus related to the specific situation and
not necessarily how we can expect Him to relate to us. He might – but He might
not. For us to receive healing and then not tell anyone is to hide the glory of
God! If we expect God to heal everyone we pray for, we demonstrate that we
haven’t understood this passage at all. Just because we follow Jesus doesn’t mean
we can’t have a home or bed or that we can’t have funerals for our loved ones.
No! Not at all. In each of these situations Jesus was speaking specifically to
the heart of the person. The things He did and said were not rules for all-time.
Sure he calmed the storm for the disciples but that does not mean He will calm
the storm we find ourselves in today. And if the Lord frees someone from a life
of demon-possession it does not mean there has to be a herd of pigs nearby!
A beautiful part of this chapter is seeing how personally Jesus dealt
with each person and each situation. He knew the centurion’s commitment to
submission and therefore He willingly extended healing to his household. His
words cut to the heart of the scribe who wanted to know what was in it for him.
And Jesus wasn’t saying that burying parents was bad, but rather pointing out
that his heart that was not fully committed.
It’s sometimes our tendency to make rules out of what God has told us
instead of accepting it as His words for us personally. Perhaps God has
directed some of us to fast once a week. It would be easy to obey and be
blessed for our fasting and then eagerly instruct others to fast once a week.
Or not to watch TV, or to give up Facebook, or to give 20% of our income. We
want others to experience the same blessing, yet we forget that the blessing
doesn’t come from following a formula, but in listening to the voice of the
Holy Spirit and obeying what He tells us personally.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1.
Ask the Lord to bring to mind anything He has told you personally, or
that you have been convicted of, that you have then imposed on others – whether
innocently or out of great intention. Ask Him if you need to release someone of
a burden you have inadvertently placed on them. Confess if needed.
2.
Ask the Lord if there is a directive He’s given you that you have walked
away from instead of obeying. If you have walked away without obeying, confess
that to Him and make a commitment to obey immediately. If you have obeyed
everything He’s required of you, thank Him for the way He has grown you in
obedience.
3.
Ask Him if there’s something new He’d like you to obey so you can grow
closer to Him. Thank Him for having such a personal relationship with you.
Thank Him for loving you individually and giving you individual attention
instead of lumping you in with the crowd.
