During this LEARNING TO HEAR series I’m taking a different approach to these devotionals. I want to us work harder at searching the scriptures for ourselves. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ method below to help us with this. It’s well worth the hard work involved!
TODAY’S TEXT
‘As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.’ (Mark 1:29-31)
I’ve included my reflections on today’s text below. However, I encourage you to pray and spend time reflecting (writing can be helpful) using the 5 questions below before reading my thoughts.
i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?
ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?
iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?
iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?
v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.
MY REFLECTIONS (BASED ON JEM'S MESSAGE)
1. †GOSPEL
Jesus came to her. She was incapable to go to God but He came to her. God came to us in Christ. He raised us up. He gave us healing and new life. Jesus left heaven and came to the earth to suffer and save. Jesus left the synagogue and entered her home. Jesus wants to enter into your life.
2. UP
God is compassionate and gracious. He doesn’t demand. He took her by the hand. He touches her. He is God with us. The first thing is that He offers is comfort and restoration. Secondly, He’s a healer. Another thing we are reminded about God from this text is that He is faithful to His promises. Matthew adds,
'This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.’’ (Matthew 8:17)
3. IN
How do we respond to all the love, healing, forgiveness and presence of Jesus? Simon’s mother in law responds with service. She served all of them in her house. She is raised to use her home as a place of service. When He comes through the door of our lives we become hospitable.
Do we pray for the sick? Do we bring people to Jesus? We are raised to a new way of life of prayer and miracles.
Jesus wants to come into our homes in a fuller way. We can have idols in our homes. Lockdown has been an opportunity learn to worship in our homes. He has shut places of worship in order to create a people of worship.
4. OUT
We have a new purpose to invite people into our lives to meet Jesus. God is teaching us a new method of hospitality evangelism. How can we start connecting and being hospitable?
As in this story, one family or persons that has opened their lives to Jesus can have a massive impact. We can all show hospitality. We can all bring Jesus to people. We read of the impact of Jesus' presence in her home,
‘That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all who were ill and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.’ (Mark 1:32-34)
5. DO? - Here are a few examples of application that I’ve come up with:
Ask Jesus for healing or ask for others to pray for your or another's healing.
Pray about your response to this call to hospitality.
Make a plan to invite people into your life and home in a way that works for you.
HEAR - Pray about how the Holy Spirit might want you to respond.
COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY
