February 16, 2014: No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!

Scripture for this day:

Leviticus 1:1-3:17
Mark 1:29-2:12
Psalm 35:17-28
Proverbs 9:13-18

"A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. 'If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,' he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be healed!' Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed."  -Mark 1:40-42

"Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 'My child, your sins are forgiven.'"  -Mark 2:5

Both of these stories are some of my favorite miracles that Jesus performed. Both of these instances demonstrate one of the most valuable things we possess as Christians, and that is faith! The Word says "Without faith no one can please God" (Hebrews 11:6). And in both these encounters with Jesus, we can see incredible faith demonstrated. Neither of the men Jesus heals knew him personally, they had only heard of him, but still, they had enough faith in Jesus' power, in who He was, that their faith brought them healing from that which ailed them. They second story of the man who could not walk is especially touching because Jesus not only heals him, no, that's not enough. Jesus forgives his sins, and makes him a new man. The Bible does not tell us what happens to all those people who have miraculous encounters with Jesus, but I can only imagine that after receiving such incredible healing, they go on to lead lives in which they trust God and profess what Jesus has done for them, maybe even becoming one of his many disciples. Only God knows, but it's beautiful to imagine, at least for me. Their lives were completely changed from misery, degradation, isolation, etc., etc. How amazing is our God!

My prayer for this day is that God would help my faith grow like that of these men. That I could trust Him when things are going great, and when things are going horribly, knowing that my future is in His hands, and that He knows what is best for me and my family. May it be so, in His name, for His glory, Amen!