After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
REFLECTION
She got up immediately, and waited on them.
I have had surgeries, C-sections, COVID, the flu, concussions, ER visits, shingles and fractures. And when recovery is slow or complications arise, I pray harder—and I ask as many saints as I can to intercede for me!
And yes, when I finally started feeling better, I was very grateful. But I have to admit, never once did I immediately jump out of bed and start waiting on people!
Yet that is exactly what Peter’s mother-in-law did. Jesus healed her fever, and immediately she got up and began to serve them.
Her gratitude became action.
I ask myself: When God answers my prayers, what do I do with the blessing? Do I simply say, “Thank you, Lord,” and go back to my normal life? Or does His goodness move me to serve others?
Answered prayers carry an invitation: You have received—now go and give. You have been loved—now go and love.
Peter’s mother-in-law reminds me that gratitude is more than saying thank you.
Gratitude gets up and serves.
Praise God, tell all about the miracle, and seek a new path of loving, service and testimony.
Comments