Personal

Luke 4:38-41 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. 40 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
 
SEE how personal Jesus becomes with his creation. As we often read and hear of Jesus’ healing ministry, we can easily forget that this is a remarkable aspect of God’s favor. The Word of God, who spoke the universe into existence, personally comes as a human to speak his creation power into man’s sin-stricken bodies.
   Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn’t speak one word to heal all in Israel or even all in the world? Certainly this would have been a glorious thing to do! It would have been efficient, too. One word – all the work is done.
   But think of this. Who would know it was Jesus who healed? Consider how impersonal it would have been. We all love the personal touch, don’t we? Jesus touched, and he healed. “The Word became flesh” (John 1:1), so he would become our personal Lord and Savior. He demonstrated his purpose with his personal life-transforming healings.
   Note, too, that here is a second time Jesus has rebuked the demons to be quiet. We may wonder why he does so as they confess, “You are the Son of God!”  Jesus didn’t want to hear from the demons. Their words were certainly an affront to him. After all, they had left Heaven to follow Satan. Why would Jesus seek affirmation from such lying spirits? Jesus is Lord, but he’s not the demons’ personal Lord and Savior. Be alert. What an insult to our Holy God when we say to him, “Lord.” but we have no intention of obeying him.
   A second reason Jesus rebuked the demons is that the Jews could believe that Jesus was in league with the demons. Some Pharisees accused Jesus of receiving his power from evil spirits. Again, the demons were not honoring the Lord, but they were seeking to discredit him. 
   Be true to what you say. Do not speak of Jesus as your Lord unless you are intentional to follow him. If you tell someone, “I am a Christian.” and then live under your own authority, you are discrediting your Lord. I know, we will sin. But your efforts must always be to become more as Jesus teaches. He is not your personal Lord and Savior until you are ready to seek his truth, submit to his authority and serve his people.
 
Prayer. Thank you, Jesus, for your healing. You are Lord of my life. Amen.