Day 63

Scripture: Ps 38; Ps 119:25-48; Daniel 5:1-12; 1 John 5:1-12; Luke 4:38-44


Scripture standout: Luke 4: "³⁸ Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. ³⁹ So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them."


Morning thought: Wow, that mother-in-law is tough tamales. If I had the fever, had a miraculous healing and was well again — I can tell you I'd be taking a long rest, or being careful with my new healthful self or perhaps even calling everyone to gab about what had just happened. I'd enjoy my last moments in my robe and probably ask for a few more items of comfort before I got back into my routine. I might even toast my new condition with a cold glass of bubbly. This is terrible, but sometimes being sick is like being on a forced vacation. I don't wish illness on myself in any form, but when I have a high fever and have to say in bed it is often a nice little break. I ain't waiting on nobody no how — even when the fever leaves me.


And here's this woman. She has a high fever, she's healed, she "gets up at once," and resumes waiting on people. She was touched by an encounter with God. Her immediate response was to serve. Could serving others possibly be a way of being thankful? Is that what she was trying to do — is that why her story is told? Is she an example? Her story gives deeding another perspective — Even when God pulls you back from the brink of death and makes you well again, don't dawdle. Serve. Should it be that instinctive?


Maybe it is — maybe it's already happening. Most moms do this every single morning, and throughout each day. And sometimes, it ain't service with a smile. Wake up, brush your teeth — serve. Serve breakfast. Serve a personal wake-up call. Serve some frantic instructions on getting ready to go. Serve a ride to school. Serve up a can of whoop @#$ if someone forgot their lunch. Serve others through work or chores, or participate in some community service, until pick-up. Serve as taxi driver until dinner is served. Serve everyone a stern warning homework should be the first thing they do — not the last. Be a servant to exhaustion and hit the hay.