In Luke 4, after Jesus has overcome the wilderness temptations and preached in two different synagogues, he enters the home of Simon Peter. Upon his arrival, he was directed to Simon Peter’s mother-in-law who was sick with a high fever. Luke takes care to point out, “they appealed to him on her behalf.”
In other words, when Jesus arrived, Peter and the others in his house asked Jesus to heal this woman with a high fever. They believed Jesus was able. And, of course the text shows that he was.
Jesus is of course no longer with us in the flesh, but he sent the Holy Spirit to be among his followers at Pentecost, and the same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus to be victorious in the wilderness, to cast out demons, and to rise from the dead is present in and with Christ’s followers today. The spirit of Jesus is still as powerful today as it was then, and you can trust Him.
Believe in the power of the Spirit.
God can save. Everyone knows this. The Bible is clear that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved, and yet, Christians can sometimes fall prey to the belief that some people are beyond God’s grace. God can save. There is no need to qualify that statement, only to believe it.
God can heal. Most Christians claim to believe it, but do not pray as if it were actually possible. He can heal. Don’t pray safe prayers for healing, pray confident prayers to the God who is able and trust in his wisdom to act accordingly.
God can restore. One of the most interesting aspects of Jesus’s healing in Luke 4:38-41 is that Luke’s mother-in-law “immediately rose and began to serve them.” When Jesus healed her from a high fever, there was no need for her to convalesce or move into intensive therapy. Jesus restored her completely. He can still bring restoration. In your life. In the lives of those you love. Pray and believe in the God who can restore completely.
You can trust the power of Christ. He is everything he claimed to be.
