Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Taking Him At His Word? Are You Truly 'Taking Him At His Word'? Do we really take Jesus at his word?   I know we many times say we do, but do we really trust him before we see his hand at work or do we really just say we trust him after the fact as we are acknowledging his handiwork in hindsight?   Well, one of the most vivid examples of trusting Jesus before seeing his hand at work was displayed by the Royal Official whose story is presented in the Gospel of John in Chapter 4 and verses 46 thru 53.   The story of this Royal Official and his trust in Jesus is as follows:  And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.  When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.   "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."   The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."   Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."    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."   Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed. In reading this story I could not help but be continually drawn to the simple yet awesome statement made by the writer of the story, the Apostle John, as he captured in writing the reaction of the Royal Official to Jesus' pronouncement that his (the Royal Official's) son would live.   This reaction was simply stated as 'The man took Jesus at his word'.  How many times are we like the Royal Official and simply, trustingly, take Jesus at his word?      Prayer: Our Father, we are so thankful and incredibly gracious that you are a God of your word.   Please help us to learn more about you, your word, and your unparalleled compassion for us.  And please help us to demonstrate toward you the simple yet awe inspiring trust of the Royal Official whose son Jesus healed by taking you at your word. Amen.   Written By The Editor Of ChristianWalkOnline. 11:21:39 AM    comment []