Notes to the Lord: An Outstretched Hand

 Mark 1
Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew’s house, accompanied by James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed, burning up with fever. They told Jesus. He went to her, took her hand, and raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for them.

Lord Jesus--Tradition says that these stones were location of the house of Peter.  So it could have been through this opening in the rocks that you went into Petra's house.  It was a simple thing.  Peter's mother was sick with a fever. This could have been the illness that meant her death.  You walk into the house, maybe through these stones, and they told you of her illness.

You went right to where she was, and took her hand and raised her up.  You did not avoid or over look her need.  Her need was the first thing on the agenda.   I wonder what must have been going on in this women mind and body.  When fevers normally break it takes time and the change is incremental, almost unnoticed.  This fever left at the touch of your hand.  Things change when your hand is offered.

I wonder where the places are that I am missing your outstretched hand?  That is a lesson that I continue to learn.  So where are the places where you are reaching out to me and I am missing it?  Where are the places where activity has replaces prayer as the first thing to do.

Lord Jesus in the coming days, help me to make prayer my default action.  Let the first thought that comes in my mind be...."Jesus knows what to do."  Help me to look for the outstretched hand of healing and hope.

 [1.32-34] That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn't let them say a word.

Last but not least, you did not restrict access to those in need.  Did the line stretched down the city block? Did they have to direct traffic around the sick that had lined up outside Peter's house?  What a sight that must have been.  Lame, blind, demon oppressed and possessed were all surrounding this little house.  You healed them all.

Lord Jesus--The day is beginning all around me...a day awaits. Thank you for this day, work in it and through me.

Peterson, Eugene H. (2006-06-15). The Message Remix 2.0: The Bible In contemporary Language (pp. 1792-1793). NavPress. Kindle Edition.