The Power is in His Hands!

Ya know, I found myself journeying through Matthew this morning. I began in chapter 6 with God teaching on worry (the thing not to do, yet it's something we all can get caught up in):

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6:25-34)

I believe Jesus chose to use food and clothing in this teaching because they are necessities for EVERYONE; it's something that everyone can relate to because these basic needs apply to the masses. And if He expressly tells us not to worry about those important things because He’ll take care of it...us, how do you think He feels about us constantly worrying about other things? Hmmm.

And as I continued searching the scriptures, I was drawn to all of these accounts of Jesus performing miracles in Matthew:

• Healing one with leprosy (8:1-4)

• Healing the centurion’s servant (8:5-13)

• Healing Peter’s mother-in-law (8:14-15)

• Casting out devils and healing the sick (8:16-17)

• Calming the storm (8:23-27)

• Casting out more devils (8:28-33)

• Healing one who was paralyzed (9:1-8)

And as I read a little further in Matthew 9:9-13, I found Jesus (and Matthew) going into a house to eat. And the people who came to eat with Him were least expected – “many publicans and sinners,” scripture says. The down and out. The poor and the needy. The lame and the dumb. The weak and the lost. Those who didn't have much to offer. You catch my drift? And the Pharisees didn’t like it; they couldn’t understand why one of Jesus’ stature would give “people like that” the time of day. And Jesus, as straight up as He is, informs them, “…they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (12-13). He’s spending His time with the people who want Him. Who don’t have it all figured out, who know they need, who desire better, who are doing what they can. And did you catch that tidbit a little earlier, "many publicans and sinners CAME and sat down with him and his disciples." (10). The people came to Jesus! That’s powerful, yall!

I mean, think about it. How many times have you gone to visit your doctor when you were feeling well? How many times have you met with a lawyer that you didn’t need for court? How many times have you talked with a counselor while everything in your life seemed to go just right? I’m guessing the response to those inquiries are few times to never. You go to the doctor when you’re ill (or for a checkup to ensure you’re not ill). You meet with lawyers when you need their expertise and to represent you in court. Mostly, you talk with counselors to help you through difficult and challenging times. Just as readily as we go to those doctors, lawyers, and counselors, we need to learn to go to Jesus!

Because here’s the thing, my God is in the business of not only healing, saving, and delivering physically but mentally, emotionally, and SPIRITUALLY, as well. My God is the God of wholesomeness and completion. We can know this for certain by how the word of Jesus comes forth in some of the teachings and experiences outlined:

• In speaking on worry, Jesus told us, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

• Jesus told the centurion that he would come to heal his servant. But the centurion in humbleness thought himself not worthy for the Lord to come unto his house and knew that all Jesus needed to do was speak something and it would be. “And when Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” (Matthew 8:10) AND “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou has believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.” (Matthew 8:13)

• He didn’t just say, “Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (Matthew 9:6). He first said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2).

WOW! The power of God’s word reigns true. And as I journeyed through these scriptures and meditated on God’s word, I was reminded that:

When it comes to FAITH, my role is to seek God... to believe what God and I are desiring to happen… to believe and trust Him… and then receive it. Because the power is in His almighty hands! And His alone.

What. A. GOD!!! Thank you, Jesus! <3