09/13/2018
Do miracles scare you? How about miracles performed by a man? We are inclined to trust in God and His divine goodness when it comes to healing us, forgiving us, or the other amazing things that we associate with him by our belief in His Word, and His promises? Yet, does it bother us when a man lays his hands on someone and heals them? What about the man Jesus Christ?
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" —he then said to the paralytic— "Rise, pick up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.”
Matthew 9:6-8 ESV
Although we are inclined to trust in God for healing and such, it too has a tendency to frighten or unsettle us, doesn’t it? Heavenly power, even when performed at the hands of God, or His angles, often frightens us, and the Bible is full of calming language delivered by Angels, and God Himself. So why do we fear such things in the first place?
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:18-19 ESV
We fear because we are imperfect creatures and we know the sin that is within us. Let’s use a hypothetical situation... you are ill, and in an attempt to feel better you are taking a short walk in the park when suddenly you are confronted by a black cloud and a voice comes out of it saying:
“place your hand within this cloud and I will heal your body, and forgive your sins!”
Would you place your hand in the cloud, or would you be too frightened to do so? What if the cloud said this...
“Be not afraid for I am your God, the God of Abraham and Moses; place your hand within this cloud, and I will heal your body, and forgive your sins!”
Would this reassure you? Would you then be inclined to place your hand in the cloud? Still no? What if it weren’t a cloud; what if it was a homeless man who looked like anything but an upstanding citizen? Would you let him lay hands on you? What if it was a man in the robes and collar of a priest with a Bible in his hand? Where would your trust begin? Where would your love of God overcome your fear?
We fear the power of God, even the power He gives to men, because we are sinful creatures and know our own sins. We feel the disconnect that our sin has created, and that distance from perfection unsettles us when we come into the presence of God’s perfection, and even the holiness of men of God.
Love is the key to unlocking our fear, and trust is the hand that turns it. Until we learn to love God, and trust in His goodness, then deep inside we are afraid of our encounters with Him. Jesus tells us to not be afraid, and He did so quite directly just before raising the ruler of the synagogue’s dead daughter.
“But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."”
Mark 5:36 ESV
What did Jesus think this ruler was afraid of? Did He perceive he was afraid because his daughter had died, or was he afraid because he believed in Jesus? Had his desperation over his sick daughter led him to leave his faith in God to trust in this man who healed people and claimed to be the Messiah? Was he afraid of sinning? Was he afraid because he was making this leap of faith into an uncomfortable belief in the power of Jesus? Was he afraid that his daughter was now dead because of his unfaithfulness to Jehovah?
Fear, we feel it quite naturally, and in the world it can keep us alive, but it can also hold us back from great rewards. It is the same when it comes to our spirituality... we fear spiritually because we are afraid of our own sin. If we have absolute love and trust in Jesus and God, then there will be no fear. Do you believe that? Do you believe that our faith in Jesus is a healing faith and not meant to destroy us? Does His mere presence reassure you? Does this man who can place His hand on you and cause you to rise up healed, or from the dead, and forgive your sins, unsettle you, or does He bring you peace?
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,”
Revelation 1:17 ESV
Trust in the love of God, and love Him in return. Trust in Jesus Christ, and place your faith in His love and authority as given by the Father... and love Him back.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
Psalms 56:3-4 ESV
Listen to Jesus as He speaks of peace, and not fear...
“And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:37 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your mercy, your goodness, your love and kindness, and thank you fo allowing me the ability to trust in you always; you are truth. I thank you Holy Father for sending your Son Jesus that I would be forgiven my sins, and be able to walk in relationship with you without fear. I thank you for those who pray over me, and lay their hands on me Lord, and I thank you for hearing their prayers of intercession and for your power that courses through their earthly sinew as it passes from your heavenly throne to heal. You are mighty, and you are merciful, strengthen my belief, tend to my faith, so that my love for you can rise up unabated. Give me the peace that exists in Jesus, and hear me with each of my prayers as I lift them up in His name. You are my God, and in your love I find forgiveness of every sin; no longer do I fear because my sinful nature has been accounted for in the blood of Christ. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God. Great is your name, and peace abounds in your presence. Praised be your name for your love knows no bounds.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Rich Forbes