“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.” Luke 4.38-39
When you were a kid, did you get an allowance? I remember sometimes getting $20 a week for expenses, which was a lot back in 1987! I also remember getting a coupon book for the Wichita Falls Country Club pool, with which I could buy a hotdog and a Coke, and maybe some candy! But the spending was limited; I did not get all the coupons at once.
Today, when I say “allowance,” I am not actually talking about a sum of money children get from their parents for weekly spending. I am referring to how Jesus made an allowance through His miracles for ministry to continue. For example, when He came to the home of Simon Peter in this passage, and Peter’s mother-in-law was sick, Jesus healed her.
Certainly, Jesus healed the mother-in-law because she was sick, but her healing also restored her pride in serving those honored guests in her house. Her illness, which prevented her from waiting on them, was hindering ministry. Her healing allowed those listening and learning from Jesus to continue uninterrupted. We see Jesus doing this in other instances, such as with the multiplication of the fish and bread. Jesus performed miracles to show His power, to amaze, to restore broken people, and to enable ministry to continue.
Now, we as humans commit many acts that prevent ministry. We sin, we distract, we get angry, we get tired or weary. When we fall away from God or embarrass ourselves or others in sin, we hinder the Kingdom of God from growing. But Jesus’ actions always allowed ministry and the gospel to flourish. His selection of the twelve disciples, for example, or Peter’s choosing of the seven, enabled ministry to grow. And the pouring out of the Spirit in Acts 2 empowered us to do the work God has called us to do.
Let’s be like Jesus and make allowance for God to work among us. Whatever prevents you from doing His work, get rid of those things. Choose ways and means that enable us to proclaim the gospel, build the Kingdom, and make disciples of all nations, by His grace and for His glory.
“O Lord God, You are good. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for Your power and might. Help us to know that You are good and that we might find hope through Your name. I love You, Lord, and praise Your name, for You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen