Right Living: Don't Fear, Only Believe

Monday, March 24, 2014 Devotions: Ps 77, 80; Gen 44:18-34; 1 Cor 7:32-40; Mk 5:21-43 Asaph wrote: All day, all night, I think about God and cry out to Him. The Bible tells me to meditate on Him and on His word constantly. I recall past experiences, victories in memory, when God has proven Himself wise, almighty, faithful, merciful and loving. And then I realize that God does not change, and He Is with me in the struggles of these present days, too. Lord God, Your way is holy and wondrous. All creation bows to You, its Maker and Master. You led Moses and Aaron, and You lead me now. Let my great Shepherd hear, and let God shine His light upon me. Plant me, Lord, as You planted Israel. Restore me, as You expend Your wrath on the unfaithful and unbelieving. Don't recall our former sins, Lord, but have mercy. Keep us, so that the unbelievers will not mock or taunt You. We praise You now and always, for ever. Judah recounted for Joseph (though Judah had not recognized his brother) the conversations he had with their father Israel. Judah begged Joseph to take him, Judah, as a hostage in place of their youngest brother Benjamin, on grounds that losing Benjamin would be more than Israel could bear, and would put his very life in jeopardy. This story brought Joseph to tears, and shortly thereafter, he revealed himself to his brothers. Paul argues that the Corinthians would be better not to marry, so as to be able to focus on the affairs of the Lord. He is arguing on behalf of good order and minimizing stress and distractions--'to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.' But he also concedes it is better to marry than to sustain intolerable tension: 'so that those who marry their betrothed ones do well; but those who refrain from marriage do even better. Spouses are bound to one another while they live; those whose spouses die are free to remarry, but Paul judges that they are better off remaining in the widowed state, and 'I think that I have the Spirit of God.' As Jesus was teaching a throng near the seaside, Jairus, a synagogue ruler, came and threw himself down before Jesus, begging that Jesus come with him, because 'my little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on here, so that she may be made well and may live.' Jesus got up and followed him. As they went along, a woman in the crowd around Jesus came up behind Him and touched the hem of His garment. She had suffered from recurring hemorrhaging for 12 years, and had spent all her substance on medical treatments—but she was no better. She had come to the belief that if she could touch Jesus, she would be healed. When she did so, the bleeding ceased immediately, and she sensed that she had been healed. Jesus perceived that power had gone out from Him, and he turned around, asking 'Who touched My garments?' The disciples pointed out that many in the jostling crowd had touched Him, but Jesus was not deterred. The woman came in fear and trembling and fell before Jesus and told Him the whole truth. Jesus said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.' Just then, a messenger arrived from Jairus's house, and told the man 'Why trouble the Teacher any longer? Your daughter is dead.' Jesus ignored them, and said to Jairus, 'Do not fear; only believe.' And taking only Peter, James and John with Him, he continued to Jairus's house. There was a tumult of mourning there, but Jesus dismissed those weeping and wailing, and took His three disciples and the girl's parents with him. He took the girl's hand and spoke to her: 'Talitha cumi'--which means, 'Little girl, arise!' Immediately, she revived, got up and walked (for she was 12 years old). All the witnesses were overcome with amazement. Jesus strictly charged them all to tell no one about what they had seen, and then He told them to give the girl something to eat.