Restless

The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law is one of Jesus’ miracles that is performed without much fanfare. No one begged Him to heal her, He didn’t give any instructions before or after, and no response from the woman is recorded.

When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. Matthew 8: 14 - 15

There are lessons to be learned from the simplicity:

Sometimes actions speak louder than words. With our children, friends and others who need our help or even correction, sometimes just fixing the problem is sufficient. They don’t need to be reminded of their error or lectured about their responsibility.

When Jesus restores us, we should respond by serving Him. I often see people hold back from serving, because they aren’t qualified, or they are new Christians and don’t know as much as others, or they have recently repented from a serious sin. Peter’s mother-in-law didn’t say, “Thanks Jesus, now I need some time to recuperate.” He healed her, so she got up and served Him.

In the Bible, fever often symbolizes restlessness. No culture is more restless than ours today. We try to fill every moment with activity. Some of it is fruitful, serving God or our families or others, but much of it is an effort to prove something to ourselves or others and results not in the satisfaction that we seek, but in that feverish restlessness from which we should seek to be healed.

The title track from Casting Crowns’ The Altar and the Door CD sums it up perfectly:

I’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard.

Just let You be who You are–

Lord, who You are in me.

Jesus, I’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard.

Just let You be who You are–

Lord, who You are in me.

The busiest most feverish time of the year is now upon us. Will you ask Jesus to heal you of your restless spirit and help you focus on Him?