Dear Explorer,
Read Luke 7:11-17
Last time, we looked at a miracle that Jesus performed. Review it quickly so that you remember the incident where Jesus healed the Roman Centurion's servant (Day 92). Today we are looking at another miracle that Jesus performed. When I look at these two miracles side by side, I see some similarities and some differences.
How are they similar?
How are they different?
Why do you think Luke recorded these 2 specific miracles?
I believe that Luke, as a writer, wanted to give us some “samples” of Jesus' healing and miracles. There was no way he could record every one. Maybe he chose these two examples to make us look at what kind of faith is required to “get” God to do a miracle.
In the second miracle, there seems to be no “asking” for healing and certainly no faith on the man's part! And Jesus raised a man from the dead. Yet, the first miracle emphasized faith. They almost seem to be opposites!
Faith is very, very important in your relationship with Jesus. We're told in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God. But don't fall for Satan's lie that it is YOUR faith that saves you or YOUR faith that heals you or YOUR faith that carries you through hard times. It is God and God alone that saves us, heals us, guides us, blesses us, and protects us.
It makes me sad when someone states, “If I only had more faith, then God would have healed me,” or healed someone they loved. God is perfectly able to heal whether we have faith or not – but our faith pleases Him and allows Him to work freely in our lives and the lives of others.
Another reason, I believe Luke included these 2 miracles was that as a historian, he wanted to show us that Jesus loved all people and actively cared for them – regardless of their religion, race or background. And His miracles were not limited to any one type of person or situation. In fact, God is not limited period! That's pretty profound.
I hope that you will keep exploring and exploding the boxes that we try to keep God in. Let your understanding of God grow and expand so that you do not limit or restrict Him at all.
In His service, dale
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