Posted on 06/30/2005 6:34:14 AM PDT by Salvation
Christ Our Lord Raising The Paralytic
Thursday, June 30, 2005 Meditation Matthew 9:1-8 Matthew tells us that when Jesus healed the paralytic, the crowd glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings (Matthew 9:8). While witnessing a miracle was amazing in its own right, the people were equally amazed at the authority and dignity that Jesus manifested. They were amazed, in other words, at the sight of a man so filled with God that sickness and sin submitted to him. Jesus authority when he walked the earth shows us that God has tremendous plans for all his children. Ever since he created our first parents and gave them authority over all other living things, our Father destined us to walk with the same dignity that Jesus knew. Not even our sin changed Gods intention. He sent his Son not only to forgive us but also to restore to us our rightful inheritance as his children. How do we recapture this sense of dignity and honor? By giving our whole hearts to God in trust and obedience. Remember how Abraham waited many long years to receive his son, Isaac? In spite of the fact that Isaac was so precious to him, Abraham held nothing back from God, and was even willing to sacrifice his son to him. Because of Abrahams trust and submission, God made his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and declared that they would have authority over every enemy (Genesis 22:17). God wants us to walk in freedom and dignity. We are baptized into Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in us. As we give our whole lives to Jesus, the floodgates of heaven will open to us. He will give us wisdom in our daily decisions and power to love others. Lets not allow the devil to convince us that God doesnt love us or has removed his promises and blessings from us. Nothing can be further from the truth! Lets not be afraid to pray for healing, for ourselves or for other people. Lets take up our God-given authority and ask him to fill us with the dignity that is rightfully oursthe dignity of sons and daughters of God. Jesus, I give you my whole life. I welcome your blessings, your teaching, and your authority over me. As I submit to you, let me know the honor and dignity that you give to all of your people. Jesus, make me like you. Genesis 22:1-19; Psalm 115:1-6,8-9 |
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