Living With Expectancy

Scripture – Matthew 9:18-26:¹⁸While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” ¹⁹Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. ²⁰Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. ²¹She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” ²²Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment. ²³When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, ²⁴he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. ²⁵After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. ²⁶News of this spread through all that region.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Here are two different people who came to Jesus expecting Him to help them. I wonder where the ruler gained such faith. What would have led him to think Jesus could bring his daughter back from death? I don’t know. But I know he came and asked Jesus to come. Jesus went with him. And the girl was raised. On the way to the ruler’s house, an unnamed woman believed she could be healed of her chronic disease by simply touching Jesus’ cloak. Jesus saw her, and she was healed. Often I simply forget to come to Jesus. Here He’s ready and willing to help and to heal. It just takes the simple act of faith on my part to come expectantly.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) This is such a simple lesson, I can’t believe I have to write it down. Yet today I will remember to go to Jesus with my concerns and problems before I do anything else. I know He can and will help me with whatever I need. I will expect Him to continue His amazing work.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, I’m sorry I forget this simple lesson. Please lift me up and carry me into this new day. Be my Lord – the Director of my life and will. Be my Savior – the One in whom I find eternal hope in the finite concerns of daily living.

An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting tomorrow morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.

Reading for Sunday, December 9:

Scripture – Matthew 9:27-31:²⁷As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” ²⁸When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. ²⁹Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; ³⁰and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” ³¹But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.